National shrine


A national shrine is a Catholic church or other sacred place which has met certain requirements and is given this honor by the national episcopal conference to recognize the church's special cultural, historical, and religious significance.

Process

For a church to receive the status of a national shrine involves a number of steps and certifications. It must first be designated as a diocesan shrine, an honor conferred by the local bishop or archbishop. To be designated as a shrine, the subject church must be a place "to which numerous members of the faithful make pilgrimage for a special reason of piety." It must exceed other churches in terms of worship, Christian formation, and social services. When these requirements are met, the parish petitions the bishop to canonically elevate the church.
When devotion has grown, the diocesan shrine may petition the national Conference of Catholic Bishops. Evaluation by the nation's bishops involves considerations including canon law, liturgy, and doctrine.
Declaration of an international shrine is conferred by the Holy See similar to basilicas.

International shrines

There are 230 national shrines in the world, as well as eleven international shrines.

Africa

There are four national shrines in Africa.

Democratic Republic of Congo

  1. National Shine of Blessed Marie-Cleméntine Anuarite, Isiro

    Kenya

  2. National Shrine of Our Lady of Africa, Village of Mary Mother of God, Subukia

    Nigeria

  3. National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Ugwogwo-Nike

    Uganda

  4. Basilica of the Uganda Martyrs, Namugongo

    Asia

There are 46 national shrines in Asia.

China

  1. National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady Mary Help of Christians, Sheshan

    East Timor

  2. National Shrine of , Soibada

    India

  3. National Shrine Cathedral Basilica of Saint Thomas, Chennai
  4. National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom, Vallarpadam
  5. Saint Thomas Mount National Shrine, Chennai

    Japan

  6. National Shrine of the Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan, Nagasaki

    Lebanon

  7. Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon, Harissa

    Pakistan

  8. National Marian Shrine, Mariamabad

    Philippines

South Korea

  1. at Jeoldu-san, Seoul

    Sri Lanka

  2. National Shrine of the Holy Cross, Marawila
  3. Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka, Tewatta, Colombo
  4. Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, Madhu
  5. National Shrine of St. Anne, Kalpitiya
  6. National Shrine of St. Anne, Kattimahana, Udubaddawa
  7. St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade, Colombo

    Taiwan

  8. Wanchin Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Wanluan
  9. National Shrine of Our Lady of China, Meishan, Chiayi

    Vietnam

  10. Basilica of Our Lady of La Vang, La Vang

    Europe

There are eight international shrines and 37 national shrines in Europe.

Albania

  1. Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Shkodra

    Austria

  2. Basilica of the Birth of Mary, Mariazell

    Belarus

  3. Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Budslau

    Belgium

  4. Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Koekelberg

    Bulgaria

  5. , Plovdiv

    Croatia

  6. Basilica of , Marija Bistrica
  7. National Shrine of Saint Joseph, Karlovac
  8. of Saint Nicolas Tavelic, Šibenik

    Czechia

  9. Cathedral of Saints Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adalbert, Prague

    France

  10. Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Lourdes
  11. , Nice
  12. Our Lady of Reims Cathedral, Reims

    Germany

  13. National Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting, Altötting

    Hungary

  14. , Máriapócs

    Ireland

  15. National Shrine of Saint Oliver Plunkett, Drogheda

    Italy

  16. National Shrine of Mary Mother and Queen, Contovello

    Malta

  17. Ta' Pinu Shrine, Għarb

    Poland

  18. Archcathedral Basilica of Bishop Saint Stanislaus and Martyr and Saint Wenceslaus, Kraków
  19. Jasna Góra Shrine Basilica of the Black Madonna, Częstochowa
  20. Basilica of the Immaculate Omni-mediatress of All Glories of Niepokalanów, Teresin
  21. Sanctuary of Saint Jadwiga, Trzebnica
  22. Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, Zakopane - Krzeptówki

    Portugal

  23. National Shrine of Christ the King, Almada
  24. , Vila Viçosa

    Slovakia

  25. , Šaštín

    Slovenia

  26. , Brezje

    Spain

  27. Royal Basilica of Our Lady of Atocha, Madrid
  28. Basilica of Mary of God of Montserrat, Montserrat
  29. , Valladolid

    United Kingdom

England
  1. National Shrine & Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham, Little Walsingham
  2. National Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden, London
  3. National Shrine of Saint Jude, Faversham
  4. National Shrine to St Joseph, Farnborough
    Scotland
  5. Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, Edinburgh
  6. National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Carfin
    Wales
  7. Welsh National Shrine of Our Lady of the Taper, Cardigan
  8. St Winefride's Well, Holywell
    Gibraltar
  9. National Shrine of Our Lady of Europe

    North America

There are 101 national shrines in North America.

Canada

Source:
  1. Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
  2. National Shrine of Canadian Martyrs, Midland
  3. Basilica of Notre-Dame-du-Cap, Cap-de-la-Madeleine
  4. Saint Anthony's Hermitage, Lac-Bouchette
#
  1. Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal, Montreal

    Caribbean

Cuba
  1. National Shrine of Jesus of Nazareth of Ransom, Havana
  2. National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, El Cobre
  3. National Shrine of Saint Barbara, Havana
  4. Our Lady of Regla National Shrine, Havana
  5. Saint Lazarus National Shrine, Havana
    Dominican Republic
  6. Our Lady of La Altagracia Cathedral Basilica, Higüey
  7. Our Lady of Mercies National Shrine, La Vega
  8. Holy Christ of Miracles National Shrine, Santo Domingo
    Haiti
  9. National Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Port-au-Prince

    Central America

Costa Rica
  1. Holy Christ of Esquipulas National Shrine, San José
  2. Holy Christ of Esquipulas Shrine, Santa Cruz
    El Salvador
  3. Queen of Peace Basilica Cathedral, San Miguel
    Guatemala
  4. Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Guatemala City
  5. Church of Saint Francis the Great, Guatemala City
  6. Basilica of the Black Christ of Esquipulas, Esquipulas
    Honduras
  7. Basilica of Our Lady of Suyapa, Tegucigalpa
    Nicaragua
  8. National Shrine of Our Lady of Cuapa, Cuapa
  9. National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, El Viejo
    Panama
  10. National Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Panama City

    Mexico

  11. Distinguished and National Basilica of Saint Mary of Guadalupe, Mexico City
  12. Old Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City

    United States

There are 72 national shrines in the United States.
Alaska
  1. National Shrine of Saint Thérèse, Juneau
    California
  2. National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Sacramento
  3. National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi, San Francisco
  4. Mission Basilica and National Shrine of Saint John of Capestrano, San Juan Capistrano
    District of Columbia
  5. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.
  6. Saint John Paul II National Shrine, Washington, D.C.
  7. Ukrainian National Shrine of the Holy Family, Washington, D.C.
    Florida
  8. Hermitage of Charity of El Cobre, Miami
  9. Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Queen of the Universe, Orlando
  10. National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, St. Augustine
    Illinois
  11. National Shrine of Mary Immaculate Queen of the Universe, Lombard
  12. National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville
  13. National Shrine of Saint Ann, Chicago
  14. National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Chicago
  15. National Shrine of Saint Jude, Chicago
  16. National Shrine of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Libertyville
  17. National Shrine of Saint Peregrine, Chicago
  18. National Shrine of Saint Therese, Darien
  19. National Shrine of the Poor Souls, Berwyn
    Indiana
  20. National Shrine of Our Lady of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
    Louisiana
  21. National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, New Orleans
  22. National Shrine of Saint Ann, Metairie
  23. National Votive Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, New Orleans
    Maryland
  24. National Shrine Basilica of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg
  25. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Baltimore
  26. National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, Emmitsburg
  27. National Shrine of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Baltimore
    Massachusetts
  28. Madonna Queen of the Universe National Shrine, Boston
  29. National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, Stockbridge
  30. National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, Attleboro
    Michigan
  31. National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods, Indian River
  32. National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak
    Minnesota
  33. National Shrine of Saint Odilia, Onamia
  34. National Shrine Cathedral of the Apostle Paul, Saint Paul