First Confirmed Catholic Shrine in USA?

March 29, 2006


Rome City, Indiana





Our Lady the Immaculate Virgin, Inc. (OLTIV) has announced it is closer to its goal of purchasing the site of the first Episcopally approved apparition of the Virgin Mary in The United States. OLTIV plans to develop the site as a Catholic shrine to honor Our Lady of America, the name the Virgin Mary called herself when she appeared many times to a young nun at the Rome City, IN facility in 1956.

The property, originally known as Kneipp Springs, was built by the Sisters of the Precious Blood as a sanatorium that practiced naturopathic healing according to the methods outlined by Msgr. Sebastian Kneipp and authorized by the Vatican in 1880. It was here that a young domestic, Sister Mildred Neuzil, reported being visited on multiple occasions by the Virgin Mary. In her book, granted an Imprimatur by Bishop Paul Leibold in 1963, Sr. Neuzil said the Virgin announced herself as Our Lady of America and gave her a message that, if heeded, would safeguard the United States from imminent harm.

The Our Lady of America apparition site is the only site in the United States to reach the second level of confirmation by the Catholic Church. The final confirmation can be made directly by the Vatican or by a vote of the American Bishops. Once confirmed, the Rome City, IN site would likely join Fatima, Portugal and Lourdes, France as one of the most-visited Catholic shrines in the world. Currently, the most visited Catholic shrine is Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Mexico City.

Physical and spiritual healings, attributed to Our Lady of America, have been reported by numerous Rome City pilgrims seeking cures through devotional prayer in either of the two chapels on the property and drinking of the spring waters that flow from the hillside. These events are being documented and will be presented to Church officials to help determine if any miracles have occurred which could hasten the final confirmation process.

Based on its central Northeast Indiana location and proximity to major highways, OLTIV estimates the shrine, once completed, could attract more than 2 million American visitors each year.

For more information on the Our Lady of America apparition and message, please email olashrine@sbcglobal.net or visit www.ourladyofamerica.com

Contact Information

Lynn Kennedy

Exec Dir.

Our Lady The Immaculate Virgin, Inc.

Contact via E-mail