Notable Facts

Did you know that an American Indian was instrumental in getting Pope John Paul II, to bless the conerstone of the President of the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family?

Mr. Martyn and the Cornerstone Mr. Earl Martyn, 1/8th American Indian and convert to the Ukrainian Catholic Church wrote a letter requesting the blessing during the Pontiff's 1979 visit to the United States. The Holy Father blessed the cornerstone on Sunday October 7, 1979, at the nearby National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Did you know that a President of the United States visited and delivered a speech at the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family?

President with Fr. Joseph Denischuk On July 24, 1987, President Ronald Reagan came to the Shrine Center in observance of the 29th annual "Captive Nations Week." The President was welcomed according to the traditional custom with bread and salt. Our ladies prepared a "presidential" luncheon after which the President delivered a rousing speech interrupted 15 times by applause.

Represented at the event were sixteen nationalities from captive nations, as well as, representatives from Ukrainian Catholic Churches and organizations, clergy from the United States Catholic Bishops' Conference, Catholic University, and the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

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Shrine Background (main)

Last modified 01/16/04