Our Lady of Champion

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A place for each part of the journey.

A story of prayer and teaching

In 1859, Belgian immigrant Adele Brice, also written Brise, reported encounters with the Virgin Mary in this part of Wisconsin. The shrine's account connects the message with conversion and teaching children the Catholic faith. Adele carried that work into the surrounding community. The shrine explains that her story was preserved through oral testimony and historical records, with some differences between accounts. The shrine's account

On 8 December 2010, Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay recognized the apparitions as worthy of belief. This is an approved Marian apparition site; the pilgrimage is a Catholic response to that history and devotion. The shrine was formerly known as Our Lady of Good Help, a name you may still see in older books or photographs. Shrine history · Former name

Adele's cause for canonization formally opened on 30 January 2026, and she is now titled Servant of God. That is a stage in the Church's process, not a declaration of sainthood. Bring an intention of your own; a meaningful visit need not produce a particular feeling or outcome. Current shrine information about Adele

Choose a few places to linger

Arrange the whole journey

The shrine's visitor address is 4047 Chapel Drive, Champion, WI 54229. Save that exact address and use the shrine's own directions link when planning your approach. Give your drive enough margin for a rest stop, parking and finding the chapel before Mass. Hours and location

If you are driving from Minnesota or elsewhere in the region: compare a same-day return with one night nearby. The important calculation is the full day behind the wheel plus time at the shrine. A local overnight can protect the pilgrimage from becoming a long drive with a hurried stop in the middle. Check your route and conditions on the day of travel.

If you are flying: Green Bay's Austin Straubel Airport is the closest airport listed by the shrine. Its travel page recommends a rental car because there is no regular public transportation or shuttle service to the shrine. Taxi and ride-hailing services are listed, but arrange the return rather than assuming a vehicle will be waiting at this rural location. Confirm any accessible transport directly with the provider, including eligibility, advance notice and both directions. Official travel advice

Where to stay and how to plan lunch

Green Bay is a useful base to compare for a wider choice of accommodation and meals. A property closer to Champion or toward Luxemburg may reduce the drive to the shrine. De Pere may fit a visit that also includes another booked retreat or religious destination. Compare the exact address, arrival time and next morning's route before choosing.

The shrine's own lodging list includes hotels, small inns, retreat centers and off-site camping resources. Confirm rooms, accessibility and cancellation conditions with the property itself. We have not stayed in or reviewed these accommodations. There is no lodging, overnight parking or camping on the shrine grounds. Lodging options · On-site guidelines

The 1885 Schoolhouse Café serves sandwiches, snacks and other choices that may vary seasonally. Check its hours and holiday closures before relying on it for your meal. If you have dietary requirements, confirm what is available and plan an alternative. Groups of ten or more can use the shrine's advance meal-order arrangements, which request seven business days' notice. Food and group meal information

What needs a reservation?

Official reservation FAQ · Group planning

Budget for transport, food, any overnight stay and optional offerings or purchases. Free self-guided brochures are available. The shrine does not conduct ordinary guided tours; a group history talk may be arranged for a fee. Check a special event's conditions rather than assuming every optional program has the same arrangements. Visitor resources · Tours FAQ

An unhurried day at the shrine

The regular program reviewed lists 11:30 a.m. Mass daily, confession at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., and afternoon adoration. Additional Masses depend on the weekday and season. Check schedule updates immediately before your visit; a feast or large event can alter the ordinary pattern. All times are local. Regular program

Morning — arrive with room to settle. Aim to arrive comfortably before your chosen celebration, without treating an estimated road arrival as a promise. Begin in the oratory or History Center. If confession is part of your plan, allow for other penitents and ask where it is being heard. Choose either the film or an outdoor walk before Mass, rather than trying to fit both into a narrow interval.

Midday — Mass and a meal. Attend the confirmed Mass, then take a proper lunch break. Check the café first or use the meal plan you arranged. With children, this is a good point to let the next part of the day depend on their energy rather than a list of remaining stops.

Afternoon — prayer at your own pace. Return for adoration, follow a short section of the outdoor devotions or revisit the place that has stayed with you. The regular program includes the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m.; confirm the day's arrangement. Leave enough time for an easy return to your accommodation or the drive home.

A shorter half-day: choose the oratory, Mass if your timing fits, and one additional element such as the History Center or a short Rosary walk. With an overnight: use the extra time for a rested arrival or departure, rather than assuming the grounds themselves require two full days. These are editorial suggestions, not an organized tour.

Access, children and Wisconsin weather

The shrine states that its buildings and facilities are accessible and that wheelchairs are available, with golf-cart help during large events. Contact staff about your precise needs, including getting from parking to the oratory and the condition of an outdoor route. Do not assume that assistance offered at a large event operates identically on an ordinary weekday. Accessibility and conduct

Children should remain with an adult. Dress for worship and the weather, keep conversation considerate near people praying, and follow instructions about photography. In cold or wet weather, build a shorter indoor visit; in warmer weather, include water, sun protection and pauses. Check the forecast and road conditions before setting out.

An ordinary day and a major celebration offer different experiences. The shrine marks the Solemnity of Our Lady of Champion on 9 October with special arrangements; bus groups need to coordinate their arrival. Use the event's current page, and consider a quieter date if a large gathering would make access or prayer harder for you. October solemnity information

Questions before you go

Can I come without a parish group? Yes. Individuals and families are welcome; use the public program to shape your day.

Do I need to stay overnight? The shrine itself can be visited in half a day or a full day. An overnight is a travel decision, particularly after a long drive, and must be arranged off-site.

Is Our Lady of Good Help the same place? Yes. Older material uses that name; use the current Champion address for travel planning.

Can I use a 2025 Jubilee itinerary? Use current shrine notices for celebrations and special devotional arrangements. Old event pages can retain past schedules, so check the regular program and updates for your actual date.

Turn the idea into a plan

Compare this pilgrimage with our European destinations, make a personal checklist, or use the budget planner to compare a day trip with an overnight. The planning guide helps you choose the amount of structure that suits your journey.

Information reviewed: 6 September 2026. Confirm schedules, meal service, assistance and event arrangements with the shrine for your date. This is an independent guide. Official source links are ordinary links; the Expedia accommodation link is a paid link. We do not arrange bookings, speak for the shrine or promise a spiritual or physical outcome.