40th Anniversary of NASPA's first National Meeting
- Ashleigh Kassock
- Sep 10
- 4 min read
This year we made a pilgrimage back in time to explore the roots of NASPA. Thanks to the meticulous preservation habits of some of NASPA's past presidents, our current President Carol Bezak received documents outlining the origins of our association. Enjoy the following trip down memory lane as we review the mission that has fueled 40 years of service to pilgrims and shrines.
NASPA had its origin in 1983 when Father Silvano Tomasi, C.S. was asked by the
National Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States (NCCB) to establish
an office for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees at NCCB Headquarters in
Washington, D.C.
Part of the concern of the office of Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees was
the promotion of Shrine and pilgrimage apostolate in the United States.
Between 1983-1985, Fr. Silvano Tomasi, C.S. with the help of Sister Mary Louise
Sullivan, MSC, PhD, laid the ground work for the first National Meeting of
Directors of Shrines and Diocesan Directors of Pilgrimage which took place at
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. on
September 10, 1985.
The comprehensive topics covered at this meeting were:
1) Pilgrimage in America
2) Mission Statements for Shrines
3) Canonical Aspects of Shrines
4) Liturgical Celebration at Shrines
5) Popular Piety
6) Promotional Literature
7) Evangelization at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
8) Ecumenism in Action
9) Polish Festival
10)Charismatic and Healing Ministries
The second National meeting of Directors of Shrines and Diocesan Directors of
Pilgrimage took place at Our Lady Queen of the Universe Shrine in Orlando,
Florida on October 6 and 7, 1987. The theme for this meeting was “Pastoral
Response of Shrines to the Needs of Pilgrims.” The meeting explored the many
issues related to the spiritual needs of pilgrims.
The third National meeting of Directors of Shrine and Pilgrimages took place at
the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois on November 9-
11, 1988.
The four topics that were discussed:
1) involvement of the laity in the
Shrine Apostolate
2) Eucharistic devotion in the context of pilgrimages
3) sacraments and their role in the Shrine ministry
4) creative financing of Shrines.
The participants agreed at this meeting to form an association of Shrine Directors
for which a steering committee was elected to develop a mission statement and
to explore various models of the Shrine Apostolate in other countries.
The purpose of the first three national meetings was:
1) To identify the existing Shrines in the United States and determine their
effect and impact on outreach to Catholic pilgrims
2) To identify the needs of the people visiting Shrines
3) To provide adequate responses to pilgrims’ needs on the spiritual, cultural
and social levels
The fourth National meeting took place in Washington, D.C. at the National
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on November 8-10, 1989. This meeting
focused on the future of the Shrine and Pilgrimage Apostolate in the United
States. The theme of this meeting was “The Pilgrimage and Shrine Apostolate
on the Threshold of the 21st Century.” The participants at the meeting adopted
a mission statement. A Board of Officers was elected for the newly established
organization names NASPA.
1990 marks the formal beginning of NASPA’s annual conventions
1990 – Marian Shrine, West 1993 – West Haverstraw, NY
1991 – National Shrine of St. Therese, Darien, Illinois
1992 – Virgen de San Juan Shrine, San Juan, Texas
1993 – Holy Hill – Mary Help of Christians Shrine, Hubertus, Wisconsin
1994 – National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, Illinois
1995 – La Salette Shrine, Attleboro, Massachusetts
1996 – National Shrine of Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.
1992 - “Norms of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops regarding the
Designation of Shrines as National Shrines was approved and published.
Number of Shrines listed in the United States Shrine Directory is 122
16 – dedicated to the Mystery of Christ
59 – dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary
47 – dedicated to the Saints
AIMS OF NASPA
…Restore the meaning of pilgrimage as a religious and spiritual experience of
renewal, thus enhancing a sense of evangelization to a pilgrim people.
…Cooperate with diocesan directors of pilgrimages and pilgrimage leaders that
the pilgrimage experience will become a spiritual journey of faith.
…Inspire interest in pilgrimages to the Shrines sacred to our Catholic heritage
in the United States and abroad.
…Be of service to Shrine personnel and directors of pilgrimages in their
ministry to a pilgrim people, and to enable collaboration of efforts to this end.
MEANS OF NASPA
Regular annual conventions – stimulating interest in pilgrimages, providing
pilgrims with a more in depth spiritual experience, and training pilgrimage
organizers among the clergy, religious and laity.
First National Directory of Catholic Shrines and Places of Pilgrimage in the US
was first published in 1992, with second edition published in 1994. Purpose: to
facilitate mutual cooperation and exchange of information amongst the
Shrines in the US.
First newsletter for NASPA published in May 1995. Purpose: stimulate further
interest and participation in the Shrine apostolate in the US.
Brochure “What is a pilgrimage” – to be published before the end of 1995 and
disseminated throughout the entire United States in parishes and other places
of ministry.
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We hope you enjoy learning about NASPA's history. We are looking forward to what the future holds!
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