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Wisconsin Immigrant Who Reported Marian Apparitions Takes First Step Toward Sainthood
Green Bay Bishop David L. Ricken officially opens the Cause for canonization for Servant of God Adele Brice, Visionary of Our Lady of Champion, the only approved Marian apparition in the United States

CHAMPION, WISCONSIN (Jan. 30, 2026) – The Most Reverend David L. Ricken, Bishop of Green Bay, promulgated a Decree to officially open the Cause of beatification and canonization of the Servant of God Adele Brice. Today is the birthdate of Adele, a lay Belgian immigrant and Seer of Our Lady of Champion. Adele was born in 1831 and immigrated to the U.S. with her parents when she was 24. 

Adele is the Visionary of the only approved Marian apparition in the United States. Bishop Ricken promulgated the Decree during the 7 p.m. Vespers at the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay, Wisconsin. 

During the Jan. 30 evening service, Bishop Ricken shared how Adele encountered the Blessed Virgin Mary in October of 1859, and then dedicated herself to catechesis, helping others prepare for their Sacraments, and founding a school. The fruits of her labor have left a lasting impact on generations of believers. Adele died in 1896, and is buried on the grounds of The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, just steps away from where Our Lady appeared to her.

“In my 18 years as Bishop in the Diocese of Green Bay, I have heard many stories of Adele’s life and virtues,” said Bishop David L. Ricken. “Through my continued discernment of Adele’s life and ministry and given the testimonial I have received in recent weeks, I am compelled to open this cause and name her a Servant of God.”

He added, “The church has a very thorough and detailed process to study the life of a Servant of God, and we are just now beginning to engage in the process.”

The recording of the Jan. 30 Media Reception, along with a copy of the Decree, is on the Adele Brice Media Kit. 

Key Timeline

    • 1831: Adele Brice is born in Dion-le-Val, Belgium.
    • 1855: At age 24, Adele and her family immigrated to the United States.
    • 1859: The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Adele three times.
    • 1871: The Miracle of the Great Peshtigo Fire occurred at the Chapel.
    • 1896: Adele died on July 5, 1896, and was laid to rest next to the Chapel on the grounds of the National Shrine. 
    • 2010: Bishop Ricken declared Adele Brice’s Marian apparitions “Worthy of Belief” by the Authority of the Catholic Church.
    • 2016: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) designates the grounds as a National Shrine, making it the first – and still only – National Shrine in the U.S. with an approved Marian Apparition.
  • 2022: The USCCB recognized the Shrine as the newly-named National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion (from its previous name of Our Lady of Good Help) as an approved apparition site.
  • 2024: Dr. Valentina Culurgioni, lawfully appointed as Postulator for the Cause of beatification and canonization of the Servant of God Adele Brice, by the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, Actor of the Cause, submitted to Bishop Ricken the Supplex libellus, requesting the opening of the Cause of the Servant of God and of the Diocesan Inquiry on the life and heroic virtues as well as on the reputation of holiness and of signs of the Servant of God. USCCB announced unanimous support for the advancement of Adele’s cause. 
  • October, 2025: the Vatican Dicastery for the Causes of Saints issued a nihil obstat decree, recognizing Adele as a “Servant of God” and permitting a formal diocesan inquiry into her life and virtues. 
  • Dec. 28, 2025: Bishop Ricken read an Edict, which was also published online and posted at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, 140 S. Monroe Ave., Green Bay, WI.
  • Jan. 30, 2026: Bishop Ricken promulgated a Decree on Adele’s birthdate to officially open the Cause of beatification and canonization of the Servant of God Adele Brice.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, the first and only approved Marian apparition site in the country, is serving as petitioner for Adele’s cause. 

Prayer for Adele’s Cause, with Ecclesiastical Approval of Bishop Ricken

God our Father in Heaven, you lift up the lowly and the meek of heart to show your great mercy and power. With fervent devotion to the Mother of God, your servant, Adele Brice, sought to instruct the ignorant in what they needed to know for salvation. In imitation of her prompt obedience and simple faithfulness, may we do our part to work for the salvation of souls and pray for the conversion of sinners.

Asking the intercession of your daughter Adele Brice, and if it be Your Will that she be honored on earth for Your glory, we humbly beseech you to hear and answer our prayer [your intention]. May we also “go and fear nothing” with confidence in your care for us and the maternal protection of the Queen of Heaven. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

The Journey to Sainthood: Four Steps

Receiving the title of Servant of God is the very first step on the path to becoming a saint, which can take many years and a final declaration of Sainthood is also not guaranteed. Beatification and canonization each require confirmation of a separate miracle attributed to her intercession. There are four main steps in total:

  1. Servant of God: The Church officially starts to investigate a person’s life.
  2. Venerable: The Church decides the person lived a life of heroic virtue or was a martyr.
  3. Blessed: This usually happens after a miracle is confirmed to have occurred because of the person’s prayers or help.
  4. Saint: The Church officially declares the person a Saint after a second miracle is confirmed. In the case of a martyr, only one confirmed miracle is necessary. 

Adele Brice’s Life in Brief

Adele Brice was born in Belgium on January 30, 1831. When she was 24, her parents made the decision to immigrate to America and settle in the new state of Wisconsin. Although hesitant, Adele was obedient to her parents, trusting that the Lord had a plan for her in the new world. In the fall of 1859, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Adele three times while she was walking through the woods. During the third apparition, The Blessed Virgin spoke to Adele and instructed her to “Offer her Communion for the conversion of sinners,” and to “Gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation.”

This message was the catalyst for the many years of Adele’s service to the people of the Northeast Wisconsin area. In humble obedience to Our Lady, Adele traveled within a 50-mile radius of her home, evangelizing and teaching children about God and preparing them for their first Holy Communion.

Through profound trust in Mary’s intercession, Adele bore heroic witness to miraculous events, including the preservation of the wooden Apparition Chapel that was in the direct path of the Great Peshtigo Fire of 1871, and the many graces received to assist in her mission.

Eventually, Adele founded a school with some local companions on the grounds where Mary appeared to her. There, they would care for the children and teach them the Catholic faith until she passed away in 1896. Her headstone reads, “Sacred Cross under thy shadow I rest and hope”.

The public can share their testimonies and learn more at adelebrice.org.

Press resources are available in the Adele Brice Media Kit.

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About the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion
Located in Champion, Wisconsin, The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion is the first and only Marian Apparition Site in the United States approved by the authority of the Catholic Church. The Shrine covers the peace-filled holy ground where Mary, the mother of Jesus, appeared to a Belgian immigrant woman named Adele Brice on October 9, 1859, identifying herself as “The Queen of Heaven who prays for the conversion of sinners.” Recognized under the title of “Our Lady of Good Help” before 2023, The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion continues the mission of Servant of God Adele Brice – to foster conversion, teach the children, and minister to the sick and old.

For more information on the Shrine, its history, and events, visit championshrine.org or follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.