Our Lady now has a shrine in New Zealand

Fourvière is an ancient hill in Lyons, France, where in the earliest centuries of Christianity the proto-martyrs of the French Church were put to death, including Saint Pothin, whose successor was Saint Irenaeus—a disciple of Saint John the Evangelist. A Marian shrine was well established there when the first chapel was erected on the hill. Over the centuries it became known as the "Marian Soul of Lyons" because of the many orders and missionaries that it produced. Our Lady of Fourvière is of huge significance to the mission of the Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand. This is because, the first missionaries to New Zealand and the Pacific, including Susanne Aubert, Bishop Pompallier and Saint Peter Channel all went on pilgrimage to the Fourvière Shrine in Lyons to consecrate themselves and their missions to Our Lady before setting out on mission.

The Catholic community of Laithfield hopes that the Fourvière Shrine will become known as "the Marian Soul of the South." A place where people from all around New Zealand and the Pacific can come for spiritual renewal, rest and retreat before heading out on mission to their families and communities!

A special replica of the golden statue that sits on top of the Basilica in Lyons was made in France and unveiled at the Shrine on December 7, 2019. Bishop Patrick Le Gal, the auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Lyons was in attendance. Mass began at 6pm followed by the unveiling of the Shrine. Later that night, a candle-light procession took place with the Blessed Sacrament and an all-night adoration under the stars!

Adapted from: Catholic New Zealand