Wisconsin Site Deemed 'holy' By Catholic Leaders

CHAMPION, Wis. (AP) - The Vatican has named a tiny shrine in a small northeast Wisconsin town as a holy site.

The Catholic Church has recognized the chapel in Champion near Green Bay as the location of an official sighting of the Virgin Mary. WTMJ AM says it is the only site in the country with that distinction.

Green Bay Bishop David Ricken says the Virgin Mary appeared there three times to Belgium immigrant Adele Brise in 1859. Devotees have since visited the site to pray for miracles.

Ricken started investigating the events and three theological experts soon picked up the work. After two years of poring over letters and documents, experts decided her claims were true. The Vatican validated those results in December.

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The WTMJ report can be found at: http://bit.ly/hdjmpb

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Online:

http://bit.ly/hdjmpb