About Mary Mother of the Church · Laurie, Missouri
The National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church (affectionately called the 'Mothers' Shrine') is a 63-acre Catholic pilgrimage site located on Missouri Route 5 between Versailles and Camdenton in the Lake of the Ozarks region, within the parish of St. Patrick in Laurie, Missouri. Designated a National Shrine by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2003 — and one of only about sixteen such shrines in the United States — it is dedicated to Mary under her title as Mother of the Church and to mothers throughout the world. The site features a 14-foot stainless steel rotating sculpture of Mary with outstretched arms, terraced hillside seating for 2,000, the Mothers' Wall of Life (engraved with the names of more than 5,000 mothers), a chapel inside St. Patrick Catholic Church displaying approximately 200 holy relics, Stations of the Cross, an Avenue of the Flags, sacred gardens and fountains. Each summer the Shrine draws nearly 10,000 people to its outdoor Memorial Day–Labor Day Masses and another 3,000 to retreats, pilgrimages, and programs.
- Established
- 1988
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church (BVM Mater Ecclesiae)
- Rector
- Father John Schmitz
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jefferson City
Why belong here
The Mothers' Shrine offers a one-of-a-kind Catholic pilgrimage experience in the Lake of the Ozarks, where outdoor summer Masses, the towering Mary sculpture and the engraved Mothers' Wall of Life draw families seeking to honor mothers and the gift of life. As a mission of St. Patrick Parish in the Diocese of Jefferson City, it welcomes all — Catholic and non-Catholic alike — to retreats, holy hours, overnight Adoration, group pilgrimages and seasonal devotions such as the Sacred Heart Holy Hour and the Solemnity of Corpus Christi celebration. Visitors come for the serene gardens and fountains, the Stations of the Cross, the Avenue of the Flags, the chapel with 200 holy relics, and the sense of being personally embraced by Mary under her title Mother of the Church.
Mass times at Mary Mother of the Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Overnight Adoration following the Sacred Heart Holy Hour (typically 6:30 PM–9:00 AM) inside St. Patrick Catholic Church, as scheduled (e.g., June 11–12 in conjunction with the USCCB consecration of the nation to the Sacred Heart).
History of the Mothers' Shrine
Catholic ministry in the Lake of the Ozarks region began in 1822, when seven Osage Chieftains asked Bishop Louis W.V. DuBourg for a missionary. The Jesuit Father Charles de La Croix was sent, and in 1868 Irish Catholic families built the first stone St. Patrick's Church on State Road 'O.' After two later church buildings, the third St. Patrick's Church in Laurie was dedicated May 24, 1980. By the mid-1980s the parish again overflowed in summer. Pastor Father Fred J. Barnett announced a small outdoor grotto in March 1984, broke ground in June 1985 on land donated by Rick and Carrie Young, and celebrated the first outdoor Mass on August 15, 1986. Bishop Michael McAuliffe dedicated the altar to Mary, Mother of the Church on August 15, 1988, the 14-foot stainless steel Mary sculpture was installed in 1992, and the Mothers' Wall of Life was added in 1999. In 2003 Archbishop James P. Keleher and Bishop John R. Gaydos announced the Shrine's designation as a National Shrine — the 16th in the United States.
- 1822 — Father Charles de La Croix, SJ, begins Catholic ministry to the Osage
- 1868 — First stone St. Patrick's Church built on State Road 'O'
- 1980 (May 24) — Third St. Patrick's Church dedicated in Laurie
- 1984 (March) — Father Fred J. Barnett announces outdoor grotto plan
- 1986 (August 15) — First outdoor Mass, Feast of the Assumption
- 1988 (August 15) — Bishop Michael McAuliffe dedicates the open-air altar
- 1992 — 14-ft stainless steel Mary sculpture installed
- 1999 — Mothers' Wall of Life unveiled
- 2003 — Designated National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church
- 2016 — Named Jubilee Church for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy
- 2025 — Named Jubilee Church for the Holy Year 2025
The Mary Sculpture and Grounds
At the heart of the Shrine stands a 14-foot stainless steel sculpture of Mary as Mother of the Church, her arms outstretched in welcome. The platform rotates 360° every four minutes, symbolizing Mary's prayer for the whole world. Terraced hillside seating surrounds the sculpture and holds 2,000 pilgrims for outdoor Mass, with a permanent altar and ambo and a three-tiered lighted steel-tower superstructure behind them. Each spring thousands of flowers crown the grounds in honor of Mary.
- 14-foot stainless steel Mary, Mother of the Church sculpture
- Rotating platform — 360° every four minutes
- Terraced seating for 2,000
- Permanent outdoor altar and ambo
- Three-tiered steel-tower backdrop
- Seasonal flowers, fountains and ponds
- Carillon bells and music
Mothers' Wall of Life
A unique ministry of the Shrine, the Mothers' Wall of Life features the names of mothers from around the world engraved in polished black granite. The Wall surrounds the Mary sculpture and welcomes names of mothers — and mother figures — living or deceased, of any religious affiliation, regardless of race, color or creed. More than 5,000 women have been engraved, including the mothers of St. Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, and movie star Jane Wyman. New panels are unveiled twice a year, and an on-site guidebook helps visitors locate specific names.
- Polished black granite panels
- Engraved names of mothers living or deceased
- Open to all faiths
- Includes mothers of three popes, an archbishop, and actress Jane Wyman
- Guidebook for locating names on site
Devotions and Special Programs
The Shrine hosts retreats, group pilgrimages, holy hours and seasonal celebrations throughout the year. Recent programs have included a Sacred Heart Holy Hour and overnight Adoration joined to the USCCB consecration of the nation to the Sacred Heart, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi outdoor Mass, the Mary Mother of the Church Feast Day Mass with unveiling of new Mothers' Wall panels, and 'One Nation Under God' — a summer patriotic concert featuring local choirs under director Cassandre Haygood, food trucks and tributes to veterans.
- Sacred Heart Holy Hour (e.g., June 11, 5:30 PM) inside St. Patrick Church
- Overnight Adoration 6:30 PM–9:00 AM
- Solemnity of Corpus Christi outdoor Mass
- Feast Day Mass and Mothers' Wall unveiling
- 'One Nation Under God' summer program (e.g., June 26, 6:00–9:30 PM)
- Group pilgrimages and retreats by appointment
- Online programming and livestreams
St. Patrick Catholic Church and Relic Chapel
Located on the same 63-acre property, St. Patrick Catholic Church in Laurie is the parish that operates the Shrine. Inside the church, a chapel displays approximately 200 holy relics, and the building is open Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM for visitors seeking a peaceful place to pray. The church shares the Shrine's mission of welcoming all to encounter Christ and His Mother.
- Chapel with ~200 holy relics
- Open Tuesday–Friday, 8:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Daily and weekend Masses year-round
- Pastored by Father John Schmitz
Visiting the Shrine
The Shrine's 63 acres are open year-round from dawn to dusk. Visitors can walk the Avenue of the Flags, pray the outdoor Stations of the Cross, picnic in the pavilion, sit among the gardens and fountains, locate a mother's name on the Wall of Life, and browse the gift shop. Group tours, retreats and pilgrimages can be arranged by contacting the Shrine office.
- Grounds open year-round, dawn to dusk
- Avenue of the Flags
- Outdoor Stations of the Cross
- Pavilion for picnics
- Gardens, fountains and ponds
- Gift shop
- Group tours and retreats by appointment
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Charles de La Croix, SJ1822–
Belgian Jesuit missionary sent at the request of seven Osage Chieftains; began Catholic ministry in the Lake of the Ozarks region.
- Father Fred J. Barnett1984–late 1980s
Pastor of St. Patrick's who in March 1984 announced the outdoor grotto to Mary; led groundbreaking in June 1985; celebrated the first outdoor Mass on August 15, 1986; oversaw the August 15, 1988 dedication of the open-air altar to Mary, Mother of the Church — spiritual founder of the Mothers' Shrine.
- Father John Schmitzpresent
Current pastor of St. Patrick Parish, which operates the National Shrine.