About National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham · Williamsburg, Virginia
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham is a Roman Catholic shrine located on the historic campus of the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. It is the first and only national shrine in the Diocese of Richmond, a status formally recognized by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on March 30, 2016. Operated as a mission of Saint Bede Catholic Church and serving as the primary worship space for Catholic Campus Ministry at William & Mary, the Shrine commemorates the medieval Marian apparition at Walsingham, England (established 1061), where Richeldis de Faverches was reportedly led in spirit to the Holy House of Nazareth and asked to build a replica. It is the only Catholic national shrine in the world dedicated to Our Lady of Walsingham outside England.
- Established
- 1932
- Patron
- Our Lady of Walsingham (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Father William Buckley
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond
Why belong here
The Shrine is unique in the United States: it is the only national Catholic shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Walsingham, the Marian title rooted in the 1061 apparition at Walsingham, England. Visitors and parishioners are drawn by daily and Sunday Mass in a prayerful, historic chapel on the grounds of the College of William & Mary, by extended Eucharistic Adoration (Monday through Thursday, and 7 a.m.–7 p.m. several days), by weekly Confession, and by a vibrant Catholic Campus Ministry that welcomes students, faculty, pilgrims, and the wider Williamsburg community. It is also a designated Jubilee Church for Holy Year 2025, making it a natural pilgrimage stop for those seeking the traditional Anglican-Catholic devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham on American soil.
Mass times at National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (during school year)
- Tuesday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (during school year)
- Wednesday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (during school year)
- Thursday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (during school year)
Adoration times
- Monday: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM (during school year)
- Wednesday: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM (during school year)
- Thursday: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM (during school year)
- Monday–Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM (per The Catholic Travel Guide; check bulletin for weekly schedule)
History of the Shrine
The Shrine traces its origin to 1932, when the Catholic College Chapel was built on the William & Mary campus as the first Catholic church in Williamsburg. Founded by Bishop Andrew Brennan and formally opened in October 1932, it was dedicated to the Benedictine monk St. Bede the Venerable. In 1939 the chapel became a parish, with Fr. Thomas Walsh as its first resident pastor. On September 8, 1941, Fr. Walsh — inspired by a 1934 European pilgrimage — consecrated the chapel to Our Lady of Walsingham and commissioned the statue that remains its devotional focus. The Shrine was solemnly blessed on February 2, 1942. After Saint Bede parish relocated to a new church at 3686 Ironbound Road in 2003, the college chapel continued as a CCM chapel. On March 30, 2016, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops formally redesignated it the National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, the first such shrine in the Diocese of Richmond.
Our Lady of Walsingham: The Marian Devotion
The original Shrine of Our Lady in Walsingham, England, was established in 1061 when, according to the Pynson Ballad (c. 1485), the noblewoman Richeldis de Faverches prayed for a special work in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In answer, Mary led her in spirit to Nazareth, showed her the Holy House of the Annunciation, and asked her to build a replica in Walsingham as a perpetual memorial, promising that 'Whoever seeks my help there will not go away empty-handed.' The Slipper Chapel at Houghton St Giles preserved the devotion through the Reformation and the original priory ruins remain an ecumenical pilgrimage site today. The Williamsburg Shrine is the only Catholic national shrine in the Western Hemisphere dedicated to this title.
- 1061 — Original apparition at Walsingham, England
- Walsingham Priory ruins and Slipper Chapel preserved as ecumenical shrines
- Fr. Walsh commissioned statue modeled on the Slipper Chapel image
- 2016 USCCB recognition as national shrine
Worship & Devotions
The Shrine offers seven Masses a week, three on Sunday and four on weekdays, with daily Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Thursday and Sunday evening student Masses during the academic year. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard four days a week during the school year.
- Sunday Masses: 11:00 AM, 5:00 PM, 9:00 PM
- Weekday Masses: Mon 12:15 PM; Tue 5:15 PM; Wed 12:15 PM; Thu 5:15 PM
- Confession Mon 11 AM–12 PM; Tue, Wed, Thu 4 PM–5 PM (school year)
- Eucharistic Adoration Mon 1–5 PM; Tue 9–10 PM; Wed 4–10 PM; Thu 6–10 PM
- Designated Jubilee Church for Holy Year 2025
Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM) at William & Mary
Following the 2003 move of Saint Bede parish to Ironbound Road, the Shrine became the primary worship space for Catholic Campus Ministry at William & Mary. CCM offers Sunday and weekday Mass, Bible studies, retreats, fellowship meals, and pastoral care for the William & Mary Catholic community. The ministry is supported by FOCUS Missionaries (Team Director Luke Farinholt) and a Student Leadership Board.
- Director: John Hopke ([email protected])
- Campus Minister: Victoria Garcia-Nicoud ([email protected])
- Chaplain: Fr. John Agyekum
- FOCUS Team Director: Luke Farinholt
- Student Board of student leaders
Pastoral Staff & Leadership
The Shrine is staffed as a mission of Saint Bede Catholic Church. Father William Buckley serves as Pastor of Saint Bede and oversees the Shrine. Father John Agyekum is the Parochial Vicar and William & Mary CCM Chaplain. Five deacons support the parish and Shrine: William (Bill) Westerman, Jim Findley, Cy Dolph, Greg Ballentine, and Deacon Grimm (Director of Adult Formation), with Deacon Francis Roettinger retired.
- Pastor: Fr. William Buckley
- Parochial Vicars: Fr. Eric Ayers, Fr. David Arellano, Fr. John Agyekum
- Deacons: Westerman, Findley, Dolph, Ballentine, Grimm
- Liturgy & Music: Aaron Renninger (Director); Laurel Eckenrode (Associate)
Parish Ministries & Faith Formation
Saint Bede parish — the Shrine's parent community — runs a full complement of ministries serving Williamsburg Catholics of every age. Coordinated from the Ironbound Road campus, these include Hispanic Ministry, Children's Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, Adult Formation, Liturgy & Music, Evangelization, Communications, and Stewardship/Development.
- Hispanic Ministry — Alfie Martínez, Pastoral Associate
- Children's Faith Formation — Rita Hipple
- Youth Ministry — Charles Palmer, Brittney Kinstetter
- Adult Faith Formation — Deacon Grimm
- Liturgy & Music — Aaron Renninger (Dir.), Laurel Eckenrode (Assoc.)
- Evangelization — Michelle Tomshack
- Communications — Anabelle Morales
- Development/Stewardship — Robbin Ciraulo, Sam Samorian
Sacraments
Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Anointing of the Sick are offered at the Shrine and Saint Bede campus as listed in the schedule. Baptisms, Marriages, First Communion, Confirmation, and RCIA are coordinated through the Saint Bede parish office.
- Eucharist (Mass) — daily schedule
- Reconciliation — Mon–Thu during school year
- Anointing of the Sick — on request
- Baptism, Marriage, RCIA — through Saint Bede parish
Visiting & Pilgrimage
Pilgrims and visitors are warmly welcomed to the Shrine year-round. Devotional highlights include the original statue of Our Lady of Walsingham, the reservation chapel for adoration, and the historic chapel interior. The Shrine is a designated Jubilee Church for Holy Year 2025, and pilgrims may obtain a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions (sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, prayer for the Pope's intentions, and detachment from sin).
- Original Our Lady of Walsingham statue
- Reservation chapel for Eucharistic Adoration
- Jubilee Church 2025
- Combine visit with Colonial Williamsburg and William & Mary campus
Diocese & Governance
The Shrine belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond, which was established in 1820 and covers the central, southern, and coastal portions of Virginia. Saint Bede Catholic Church (and its mission, the National Shrine) is part of Deanery 5 of the diocese. The diocesan bishop at the time of the 2016 USCCB designation was Bishop Barry C. Knestout.
- Diocese of Richmond (founded 1820)
- Deanery 5
- Mission of Saint Bede Catholic Church
- Bishop Barry C. Knestout (at time of 2016 designation)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Thomas Walsh1939–c. mid-1940s
First resident pastor of Saint Bede; commissioned the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham; dedicated the chapel on Feb. 2, 1942.
- Saint Bede successor pastors1940s–2003
Multiple pastors led Saint Bede at the College Chapel site before the 2003 relocation to Ironbound Road (succession names not publicly enumerated).
- Saint Bede pastors at Ironbound Road2003–present
Parish relocated; Shrine retained as a mission of Saint Bede. Father William Buckley is the current pastor (as of 2024–2025).
