About St. Odilia · Onamia, Minnesota
The National Shrine of St. Odilia, located in the Holy Cross Priory Church at 102 Crosier Drive North in Onamia, Minnesota, is a Catholic national shrine and the spiritual home of the Crosier Fathers and Brothers in the United States. Since 1952, when a major relic of St. Odilia was brought from Belgium, the Crosiers have served as guardians of the shrine, which honors the patroness of the Crosier Order, St. Odilia — a 4th-century British virgin martyr traditionally associated with St. Ursula and the Cologne martyrs. The shrine sits within Holy Cross Parish, the parish church for the Onamia area, and draws pilgrims especially during the annual national novena (July 10–18) and the summer Healing Mass.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- St. Odilia
- Rector
- Fr. Dave Gallus, OSC
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Cloud
Why belong here
Belonging to Holy Cross Parish and the National Shrine of St. Odilia means joining a small Catholic community whose life is woven into the daily prayer of the Crosier Fathers and Brothers — Mass, Liturgy of the Hours (Morning Prayer, Midday, Evening Prayer, and Compline are prayed publicly in the priory church), and a centuries-old devotional tradition centered on St. Odilia, patroness of the blind and afflicted. Pilgrims come from across the country especially for the national novena (July 10–18), the annual Healing Mass with the Anointing of the Sick and blessing with St. Odilia's relic, and to obtain water blessed with the saint's relic. The parish is also a center for Crosier Associates, retreat work, formation for new members, and outreach into one of the poorer counties in Minnesota, including chaplaincy at Mille Lacs Healthcare.
Mass times at St. Odilia
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:45 PM to 5:15 PM (per Catholic Church Directory listing for Holy Cross Parish)
Adoration times
- The Blessed Sacrament is placed so that Crosiers can pray in its presence with privacy throughout the day.
National Shrine of St. Odilia
The National Shrine of St. Odilia is the American pilgrimage center of St. Odilia, patroness of the Crosier Order, established in 1952 inside the Holy Cross Priory Church at 102 Crosier Drive North in Onamia, Minnesota. The shrine is maintained by the Crosier Fathers and Brothers, who serve as guardians and offer Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, novenas, and the annual Healing Mass in her honor. Pilgrims visit to venerate the major relic of St. Odilia housed in a green-marble replica of the original 1292 reliquary from Huy, Belgium, and to receive water blessed by the relic — a Crosier practice centuries old and associated with cures, especially of eye diseases.
- Shrine established 1952
- Major relic encased in green-marble reliquary
- 22 stained-glass windows by Robert Pinart (1955)
- Marian shrine with Our Lady of Vladimir icon
- Rose window with Crosier cross above the organ
History of St. Odilia and the Crosiers
According to Crosier tradition, around the year 300 St. Odilia and ten other young women — including St. Ursula — set out from England on a pilgrimage to the East. Their ship sailed up the Rhine to Cologne, where they were captured by Huns and martyred defending their faith and chastity. In 1287, St. Odilia appeared three times to Crosier Brother John Novelan, OSC, in Eppa, France, identifying herself as the daughter of Emperor Maromeus and a companion of Ursula, and directing him to unearth her relics in Cologne. Brother John and Father Louis found the grave under a pear tree on September 1, with the archbishop of Cologne present, and the relics were transported to the Crosier motherhouse at Huy, Belgium, where miracles were reported along the journey.
- Martyrdom tradition: c. 300 in Cologne
- Apparitions to Br. John Novelan: 1287
- Relics translated to Huy, Belgium
- Crosiers founded 1210 in Liège by Blessed Theodore De Celles
Holy Cross Priory and Onamia Commons
The Crosiers arrived in the Onamia area in 1910 with a group of Dutch immigrants and by 1922 had built both a church and a monastery on what is now called the Onamia Commons. The present Holy Cross Priory Church was built in 1950, replacing the original chapel, and served as a seminary chapel until 1989 when the Crosier seminary closed. Today it serves both as the Crosier priory church and as Holy Cross Parish, the parish church for the Onamia community. The Crosiers in Onamia serve as parish priests, retreat leaders, jail ministers, formation mentors, and chaplains in the Mille Lacs Healthcare System.
- Crosiers arrive in Onamia: 1910
- First church and monastery built: by 1922
- Current church built: 1950
- Seminary closed: 1989
- Today: priory church and Holy Cross Parish share the building
Mass and Worship Schedule
Public worship at Holy Cross Priory Church centers on the Sunday 9:00 a.m. parish Mass and weekday 8:00 a.m. Mass (no Mass on Wednesdays and Saturdays, per the Crosier filial priory schedule). Surrounding the Masses, the Crosiers pray the Liturgy of the Hours publicly: Morning Prayer at 7:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday (8:15 a.m. Sunday), Midday Prayer at 11:50 a.m. daily, Evening Prayer at 5:00 p.m. (7:30 p.m. on Saturday), and Compline at 9:00 p.m. Sunday and weekdays. The Blessed Sacrament is reserved so Crosiers can pray in its presence throughout the day.
- Sunday Mass: 9:00 a.m.
- Weekday Mass: 8:00 a.m. (no Mass Wed/Sat)
- Morning Prayer: 7:30 a.m. (8:15 a.m. Sun)
- Midday Prayer: 11:50 a.m.
- Evening Prayer: 5:00 p.m. (7:30 p.m. Sat)
- Compline: 9:00 p.m.
Pilgrimage, Healing Mass and Novena
The national novena to St. Odilia is prayed July 10–18 each year, ending on her feast day, July 18. In addition, novenas in her honor are prayed twice monthly, beginning on the 5th and the 17th. The annual Healing Mass is celebrated on the Sunday closest to July 18, with the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and a personal blessing with the ancient relics of St. Odilia; parishioners of Holy Cross serve a brunch afterward. The Crosier filial priory in Onamia also offers Healing Masses during Advent and Lent. Personal blessings with the relic of St. Odilia can be arranged by calling the Crosier Priory.
- National Novena: July 10–18
- Feast Day: July 18
- Annual Healing Mass: Sunday closest to July 18
- Anointing of the Sick and blessing with relic
- Advent and Lent Healing Masses
- Twice-monthly novenas (5th and 17th)
Architecture and Art of the Shrine
The Holy Cross Priory Church, built in 1950, is laid out in traditional form with a nave, sanctuary, and a rear shrine housing the reliquary of St. Odilia. Twenty-two stained-glass windows by Robert Pinart (1955) line the walls depicting St. Odilia's life, martyrdom, and the history of the Crosiers. The reliquary itself is a green-marble replica of the 1292 Huy reliquary, with painted panels showing soldiers with the faces of pigs martyring Odilia and her companions. A Marian shrine with the icon Our Lady of Vladimir stands to the left of the sanctuary, and the rose window above the organ bears the Crosier cross and motto "Ours to serve."
- Church built: 1950
- Stained glass by Robert Pinart: 22 windows (1955)
- Reliquary: green marble, replica of 1292 Huy original
- Marian icon: Our Lady of Vladimir
- Rose window: Crosier cross with motto "Ours to serve"
Crosier Community and Ministries
The Crosiers in Onamia describe their ministry as contemplative in nature with a focus on presence in the larger community, located in one of the poorer counties in Minnesota. They serve as parish priests at Holy Cross Parish, lead retreats, minister in local jails, mentor men in formation, and provide chaplaincy at the Mille Lacs Healthcare System. The community also welcomes laypeople as Crosier Associates, and welcomes prayer intentions mailed to P.O. Box 500, Onamia, MN 56359. In 2024 the U.S. Conventual Priory Chapter in Onamia elected Fr. Alex Juguilon, OSC, as Conventual Prior, succeeding Fr. Tom Enneking, OSC; Fr. Hubert Kavusa, OSC, was elected Subprior and Fr. Stephan Bauer, OSC, and Fr. Dave Donnay, OSC, as councilors.
- Parish and retreat ministry
- Jail ministry
- Crosier formation
- Mille Lacs Healthcare chaplaincy
- Crosier Associates (lay)
- Prayer intention ministry
- 2024 leadership: Fr. Alex Juguilon, OSC (Prior); Fr. Tom Enneking, OSC (predecessor)
St. Odilia's Water and Devotions
For centuries it has been the practice of the Crosiers to bless water in honor of St. Odilia by dipping her relic into it and asking God to give it "power against all diseases and bodily infirmities." Many cures — especially of diseases of the eyes — have been attributed to her intercession, and small containers of the blessed water are made available to the faithful. The Crosier Fathers and Brothers welcome prayer intentions and may be contacted by phone (320-532-3103) or email ([email protected]).
- Water blessed by dipping St. Odilia's relic
- Cures reported, especially of eye disease
- Prayer intentions: P.O. Box 500, Onamia, MN 56359
- Phone: 320-532-3103
- Email: [email protected]
Visiting the Shrine
Pilgrims and visitors are welcome at the National Shrine of St. Odilia. Public visiting hours are Monday–Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; weekend hours are available by contacting the Crosiers in advance at 320-532-3103. The Crosiers request that arrangements be made in advance for parish groups and organizations making pilgrimages. Holy Cross Parish worship times and the full Crosier Liturgy Schedule are listed on the Crosier website under Worship Services – Onamia.
- Visiting hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Weekend visits: by arrangement
- Group pilgrimages: advance notice requested
- Phone: 320-532-3103
- Website: crosier.org/our-communities/onamia-overview
Future of the Onamia Community
In recent years the Crosier Fathers and Brothers announced a multi-year plan to consolidate most members of their Onamia community to Crosier Village in South Phoenix, citing the advancing age of the Onamia members and the cost of maintaining the century-old monastery and grounds. Father Kermit Holl, OSC, then Onamia Crosier Prior, led public meetings exploring ways to "re-purpose" the Onamia Commons buildings and property while honoring the Order's commitment to keep a continuing presence in Onamia. The plan was approved by Fr. Laurentius Tarpin, the Master General of the Crosier Order in Rome, with gratitude expressed to Bishop Patrick Neary, Bishop Emeritus Donald Kettler, and the Diocese of St. Cloud for their support over 115 years of Crosier ministry in the area.
- Consolidation plan to Phoenix: announced 2024
- Approved by Master General Fr. Laurentius Tarpin
- Crosier presence to continue in Onamia
- Re-purposing of Commons buildings under discussion
- Acknowledgments from Diocese of St. Cloud leadership
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Tom Enneking, OSC2011–2024
Served as Conventual Prior of the U.S. Crosiers for 13 years; oversaw period leading to consolidation announcement.
- Fr. Alex Juguilon, OSC2024–present
Elected Conventual Prior at the 2024 Conventual Priory Chapter in Onamia; installed at Holy Cross Church in Onamia.
- Fr. Dave Gallus, OSC
Current Pastor at Crosier Community / Holy Cross Parish (LinkedIn listing).