Apparition of the Virgin Mary in Champion, Wisconsin, USA
On October 9, 1859, in the town of Champion, near Green Bay, Wisconsin (USA), the Virgin Mary appeared to Adèle Brise, a 28-year-old Belgian immigrant. Initially, the Church paid little attention. Undeterred, Adèle took matters into her own hands: she founded a school to provide both education and spiritual formation to local children, as well as a chapel and small shrine at the site of the apparitions.
In 2009, Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay opened a canonical investigation to authenticate the apparitions. After a positive report from the commission, the bishop officially recognized the apparitions on behalf of the Catholic Church. The shrine built by Adèle was later designated a National Sanctuary. This remains the first and only Marian apparition officially recognized in the United States.
Context of the Apparitions
The Champion apparitions (also called the "Green Bay Marian apparitions") occurred just one year after Our Lady of Lourdes appeared to Bernadette Soubirous.
The Champion region relied heavily on agriculture and logging. Few children attended school. Adèle Brise, born in Belgium in 1831, emigrated to the U.S. with her parents in 1855, joining an established Belgian community.
The Apparitions of the Virgin Mary
First Apparition (October 9, 1859)
While walking on a wooded path in Champion (then called Robinsville), Adèle saw a smiling woman dressed in white, with a yellow sash and crown of stars. The figure was surrounded by radiant light but vanished without speaking.
Second Apparition (The Following Sunday)
On her way to Mass, Adèle saw the woman again and fell to her knees in awe. Her sister and a friend saw nothing and were confused by her reaction. Adèle continued to church.
Third Apparition (After Mass)
Adèle confessed the events to her priest, who advised: "If this is a heavenly messenger, she will return. Ask her name and mission in God’s name."
On her way home, the Virgin appeared again. Adèle obeyed the priest’s instructions, and Mary replied:
"I am the Queen of Heaven who prays for the conversion of sinners. I ask you to do the same."
"You received Communion today—this is good, but you must do more. Make a general confession and offer Communion for sinners. If they do not convert and repent, my Son will be forced to punish them."
When Adèle’s friends (who couldn’t see Mary) asked whom she was speaking to, Adèle urged: "Kneel! The Lady says she is the Queen of Heaven." As they knelt, the Virgin said:
"Blessed are those who believe without seeing."
Turning back to Adèle, Mary added:
"Why are you idle while your friends labor in my Son’s vineyard?"
"Gather the children of this wild land and teach them what they must know for salvation."
Adèle hesitated: "How can I teach them when I know so little myself?"
Mary reassured her:
"Teach them the catechism, the Sign of the Cross, and the sacraments. This is my wish."
"Go and fear nothing. I will help you."
Aftermath of the Apparitions
Adèle obeyed:
She went door-to-door, teaching children the faith, prayers, and preparing them for First Communion.
She urged parents to return to Mass and revive their faith.
Other women joined her, forming a lay order called the Sisters of Good Health.
Despite skepticism and even threats of excommunication, Adèle persisted. In 1861, she built:
A school for catechesis (as Mary requested).
A chapel and shrine named Our Lady of Good Help at the apparition site.
A Franciscan lay community settled nearby to assist. Pilgrims—especially the sick—reported miraculous healings. Adèle dedicated her life to this mission until her death on July 5, 1896.
Church Recognition
In 2009, Bishop Ricken launched a canonical investigation. A commission of three Marian theologians reviewed historical records and Adèle’s life, applying Vatican guidelines for discerning apparitions.
On December 8, 2010 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception), before 250 witnesses at the shrine, Bishop Ricken declared:
"I declare with moral certainty that the events of October 1859 show supernatural character. I approve these apparitions as worthy of belief—though not obligatory—by the Christian faithful."
On August 15, 2016, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops designated the shrine a National Sanctuary.
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