About Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament (Our Lady of the Angels Monastery) · Hanceville, Alabama
The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament (informally known as OLAM Shrine) is a Catholic Eucharistic shrine and pilgrimage destination located on a 400-acre property in Hanceville, Alabama, in the Diocese of Birmingham. It is affiliated with the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and was founded by Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, foundress of both the cloistered Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration and EWTN. The shrine complex includes the Romanesque-Gothic Main Church, the adjoining Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, the Castle of San Miguel with the Gift Shop of El Niño, the John Paul II Eucharistic Center, a Lourdes Grotto replica, and a dedicated Priest Retreat House (Turris Davidica). Sacred art and architecture—Carrara marble, Paraguayan cedar, and Munich stained glass—were sourced from across the world, and the 7.5-foot monstrance in the Main Church is the focus of perpetual and solemn exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
- Established
- 1999
- Patron
- Most Blessed Sacrament
- Rector
- Fr. Paschal Mary, MFVA (Shrine Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Birmingham
Why belong here
The Shrine offers something you will not find at an ordinary parish: a place where Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is observed around the clock in a soaring Romanesque-Gothic temple, set on 400 acres of Alabama countryside. Pilgrims can join the Poor Clare Nuns throughout the day for the Liturgy of the Hours, attend daily Mass, walk the Stations of the Cross, meditate through the twelve Eucharistic Stations in the garden, take a guided tour of the John Paul II Eucharistic Center, or simply sit in silence in the Main Church. The Shrine welcomes groups of every denomination and offers confessors twice daily, spiritual talks, healing services, and—a unique feature—a dedicated Priest Retreat House for clergy seeking rest and renewal.
Mass times at Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament (Our Lady of the Angels Monastery)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 8:00 am — Daily (inside the Main Church)
- 3:00 pm — Tuesday through Saturday (none on Monday or Sunday)
- 8:00 am and 3:00 pm — every third Thursday (Sodality Day of Recollection, with additional priests available)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration continues in the Main Church throughout all Shrine hours
- Each Poor Clare Sister has a daily hour of adoration, with the Magnificat and 'I Adore Thee' prayer chanted at the change-over
- Solemnd Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament in the Main Church during Shrine hours
About the Shrine — Origin and Vision
The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament is a Catholic Eucharistic shrine in Hanceville, Alabama, established by Mother Mary Angelica as a place of perpetual adoration and as the new home of the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration. The 400-acre property was purchased on October 15, 1995, and the monastery and temple were dedicated on December 19, 1999. The vision grew out of Mother's search for space to preserve the contemplative life of her community, away from the bustle of the EWTN studios in Irondale, and was enlarged after her reported vision of the Divino Niño in Bogotá. The Shrine is financially supported by donations alone.
- Foundress: Mother Mary Angelica, P.C.P.A.
- Dedicated: December 19, 1999
- Property purchased: October 15, 1995
- Funding: Private donations; no ticket fees for visiting
History
The Shrine's history spans from Mother Angelica's founding of EWTN (1981) and the original Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Irondale, to the August 15, 1995 global satellite launch of EWTN, the October 1995 purchase of the Hanceville farm, the 1996 groundbreaking for what was originally a simple farm chapel, the Bogotá 'Divino Niño' vision of June 1996 that redirected the project toward a monumental temple, and the December 19, 1999 consecration by Bishop David Foley. In the years since, the campus has grown to include the John Paul II Eucharistic Center, the Castle of San Miguel, the Gift Shop of El Niño, the Lourdes Grotto, the Priest Retreat House, and the St. Joseph Courtyard. The shrine marked its 25th anniversary in 2024.
- 1981 — EWTN founded at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, Irondale
- Aug 15, 1995 — EWTN launches globally; Mother Angelica begins land search
- Oct 12, 1995 — Mother tours the Hanceville farm
- Oct 15, 1995 — Property purchased
- June 1996 — Divine Child vision in Bogotá, Colombia
- 1996–1999 — Construction by Talleres de Arte Granda (Madrid), Gustav van Treeck (Munich), and others
- Dec 19, 1999 — Consecration by Bishop David Foley
- 2016 — Mother Angelica dies on Easter Sunday and is entombed in the Lower Church
- 2024 — 25th Anniversary celebrated
Architecture and Sacred Art
Both the Shrine and Monastery were designed in a Romanesque-Gothic style modeled on the great Franciscan churches of 13th-century Assisi and Umbria. The Monastery was planned for durable, simple monastic living; the Shrine was planned to be as beautiful as possible. Marble for the temple floor was sourced from seven regions of Italy plus Macedonia, Spain, Brazil, South Africa, and Finland; the inlaid crosses are red jasper from Turkey. The 55-foot-tall reredos is hand-carved Paraguayan cedar overlaid with 24-carat gold leaf, and serves as the throne for the nearly eight-foot monstrance. Stained glass was hand-made by the Munich studio of Gustav van Treeck; the bronze work, reredos, monstrance, tabernacle, statues and Great Doors were created by Talleres de Arte Granda (TAG) in Madrid. The Piazza can accommodate up to 30,000 people and is centered on a Carrara-marble Divino Niño holding a red jasper Sacred Heart.
- Style: Romanesque-Gothic (13th-century Franciscan Italian inspiration)
- Altar and sanctuary floor: Bianco Sivec marble (Macedonia)
- Reredos: 55 ft, Paraguayan cedar, 24k gold leaf
- Monstrance: nearly 8 ft; central focus of Solemn Exposition
- Stained glass: Gustav van Treeck, Munich (traditional Bavarian methods)
- Bronze/crystal/sculpture: Talleres de Arte Granda, Madrid
- Divine Child statue: statuary white Carrara marble with red jasper heart
Castle of San Miguel, Gift Shop & Eucharistic Center
The Castle of San Miguel complements the 13th-century architecture of the Shrine and houses the popular Gift Shop of El Niño, two conference rooms, and a dining area. It is open Monday–Saturday from 8:00 am to 4:45 pm. Adjacent is the John Paul II Eucharistic Center, with a tour at 2:00 pm Wednesday–Saturday. Together they house the St. Carlo Acutis exhibit and exhibits on Eucharistic miracles and the history of EWTN. The gift shop carries religious articles including statues, crucifixes, rosaries, books, and videos.
- Castle of San Miguel hours: Mon–Sat 8:00 am–4:45 pm
- Gift Shop of El Niño inside the Castle
- John Paul II Eucharistic Center tours: 2:00 pm Wed–Sat
- St. Carlo Acutis exhibit on display
- Two conference rooms available for groups
Devotional Areas: Piazza, Grotto, Stations
Beyond the Main Church, the 400-acre campus is laid out as a devotional landscape reminiscent of a European monastic piazza. The vast Piazza can hold up to 30,000 people and centers on a Carrara-marble Divino Niño with a red jasper Sacred Heart. The Lourdes Grotto is a replica; the Eucharistic Garden offers twelve Stations of the Holy Eucharist designed by the Poor Clares, walking the pilgrim from the Old Testament types through to the New Testament fulfillment. The Fourteen Stations of the Cross line the right side of the Piazza and lead to a larger-than-life crucifix depicting the Lord's passion.
- Piazza (up to 30,000 capacity)
- Lourdes Grotto (replica)
- Eucharistic Garden: 12 Stations of the Holy Eucharist
- Stations of the Cross leading to a life-size crucifix
- St. Joseph Courtyard (with relic of top of the Temple cross — now shaped as the Tau cross of St. Francis)
- Life-sized Nativity Scene
Priest Retreat House (Turris Davidica)
The Priest Retreat House is a separate, dedicated retreat facility on the Shrine grounds, exclusively for priests, deacons, seminarians, and religious brothers. It is sponsored and prayerfully supported by the Poor Clares. Each guest has a private room with full bath, soundproofing, and individual air-conditioning. The Turris Davidica Chapel is open day and night; two additional small chapels are available for private Mass; and dinner is provided each evening in a community or silent refectory. Other amenities include an extensive library, gym, conference room, communal and private sitting rooms, and free transportation to and from the Birmingham or Huntsville International Airports.
- Eligibility: Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, Religious Brothers
- Chapel: Turris Davidica (24/7)
- Meals: dinner provided nightly
- Travel: complimentary airport pickup at Birmingham (BHM) or Huntsville (HSV)
- Reservation: priestretreat.com
Pilgrimage — Individual, Family, and Group Visits
The Shrine welcomes visitors of every denomination. There is no visiting or scheduling fee. Individuals and families are encouraged to come for a single day or longer and to participate in the daily Masses, Liturgy of the Hours, and tours. Groups of 15 or more (churches, schools, families, organizations) may request a customized group pilgrimage including tours, a spiritual talk (1 hour) by a priest or deacon, a Eucharistic Healing Service (1 hour), a private or concelebrated Mass, and meals. The Shrine Pilgrimage Office can also pair a visit with a pilgrimage to the EWTN studios in Irondale, about one hour to the south.
- No visiting fee
- Group reservations via olamshrine.com (groups of 15+)
- EWTN Pilgrimage pairing available
- Local lodging: hotels in Hanceville and Cullman; nearby privately owned guest houses
- Food: indoor and outdoor seating areas, vending machines; nearest restaurants in Hanceville (~10 min) or Cullman (~20 min)
The Poor Clares and the Friars
The Shrine and Monastery are home to the Capuchin Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration — a strictly cloistered, contemplative community whose daily prayer life is centered on Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Sacramental and spiritual needs at the Shrine are served by the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word (MFVA), a religious order of men founded by Mother Angelica to support the nuns and the EWTN media apostolate. The MFVA priests offer daily Mass, twice-daily confessions, healing services, spiritual conferences, and—along with the Shrine administrator—lead the liturgical life of the Shrine.
- Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration — cloistered contemplatives
- Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word (MFVA) — serving priests/friars
- Shrine Administrator: Fr. Paschal Mary, MFVA
- Fr. Miguel Marie, MFVA — Director of Liturgy & Sacristy
Visiting Hours
Daily hours vary slightly with the season and surrounding holiday schedule. During Daylight Saving Time (summer hours), the Main (Upper) Church and Lower (Crypt) Church — including Mother Angelica's tomb — are open 6:00 am to 7:30 pm, with reduced hours on holidays and Holy Days of Obligation. Winter hours run 6:00 am to 5:30 pm daily. The Castle of San Miguel, Gift Shop of El Niño, St. Carlo Acutis Exhibit and John Paul II Eucharistic Center are open Monday–Saturday from 8:00 am to 4:45 pm, closed on holidays and Holy Days of Obligation.
- Castle, Gift Shop, JPII Center: Mon–Sat 8:00 am–4:45 pm
- Summer hours (Upper/Lower Church): 6:00 am–7:30 pm
- Winter hours (Upper/Lower Church): 6:00 am–5:30 pm
- Closed on holidays and Holy Days of Obligation
Contact and Pilgrimage Office
The Pilgrimage Office is the main point of contact for visitor questions, group reservations, and Spanish-language requests. Office staff include Fr. Matthew Mary Bartow (Pilgrimage Manager) and assistants in both English and Spanish ([email protected]). The main telephone at the reception desk is answered in person during operating hours, and voicemail is checked promptly.
- Main: 256-352-6267
- Pilgrimage Office: 256-787-4121
- Email (English): [email protected]
- Email (Spanish): [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, P.C.P.A.1995–2016
Foundress of the Shrine and Monastery; presided as foundress until her death on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016; buried in the Lower Church.
- Fr. Paschal Mary, MFVAAdministrator
Current Shrine Administrator (per the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word site).
