A group of 25 parishioners from Our Lady of Peace Parish in Cleveland visited the diocesan Shrine of St. Ann at the Oratory of the Blessed Sacrament in Highland Heights recently as a pilgrimage during this Jubilee Year of Hope. The shrine is one of the 11 designated sacred sites located across the Diocese of Cleveland. It was elevated to diocesan shrine status in 2023 by Bishop Edward Malesic.
St. Ann Shrine is located at the headquarters of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament Province of St. Ann, next to St. Paschal Baylon Parish in Highland Heights.
Father Gary Chmura, Our Lady of Peace pastor, and Pat Riley led the pilgrims on their visit to the shrine. They said the parish wanted to do something as a community to celebrate and promote the Jubilee Year of Hope.
During a presentation led by Father John Thomas Lane, SSS, provincial superior of the Blessed Sacrament Community (and St. Paschal Baylon pastor), they learned about the history of the shrine, a ministry of the Blessed Sacrament Community, that was first a seminary oratory. In 1987, the Shrine of St. Ann moved into the oratory. The United States headquarters of the Blessed Sacrament Community moved to Highland Heights in 1978. Other offices, including the publishing office, moved with the shrine to Highland Heights from their previous location in New York City.
Father Lane explained that at the Blessed Sacrament parish in New York City, the first American shrine to St. Ann, the mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus, was established. The shrine began because a French-Canadian parish, St. Jean Baptiste, retained an arm relic of St. Ann until their own relics were brought to St. Jean’s. He said the relic came through the port of New York City as it traveled to its permanent home at St. Ann du Beaupré, Quebec. Once the congregation released the arm of St. Ann, regular devotion and veneration of St. Ann continued at the parish and with the Blessed Sacrament Community across the country. Father Lane said this is why the Blessed Sacrament headquarters here received St. Ann’s relic. In both devotional shrines, – Quebec and Highland Heights – miracles of healing have been reported for more 100 years.
Annually from July 24-26, the Blessed Sacrament Community hosts a triduum for St. Ann with blessing of children, anointing of the sick and a Eucharistic procession. Each day features veneration of the relic of St. Ann. This year, as part of the diocesan Jubilee Year celebration, there will be a Eucharistic procession after the 4:30 p.m. Mass on July 26, followed by an ice cream social. The triduum also includes Masses at 6:30 p.m. July 24 and 25 in St. Paschal Baylon Church.
For more information about the shrine, to schedule a tour or to learn more about daily Masses at 11:30 a.m. and devotions at St. Ann Shrine, call Scott Gongos at 440-442-3410.