marytown - the national shrine of st. maximilian kolbe

Nice Architecture. Mass was inspirational. Grounds were beautiful. Choir director and book shop were very helpful, giving history of this Shrine.

Beautiful church and surrounding grounds. Nice serene place to sit down and reflect on the blessings God has bestowed upon you. Enjoyed the noon day Mass with the monks.

Beautiful church with lovely grounds. They have a large gift shop but check the hours because it is not open all the time.

Marytown was worth the four hour drive it took to get there. We went to Holy mass at the church; amazing church. the organist did a fine job. A prayerful experience. One of the best Catholic gift shops I have seen and had no problem spending $100+ there. Walk the exterior grounds and bring your camera.

This is a beautiful place, inside and out. There is perpetual adoration of The Eucharist. The doors are always open. I think regardless of your beliefs, this is a place worth visiting. I find it a bit difficult to describe something so personal. I simply recommend visiting and exploring for yourself.

As a Secular Franciscan with a devotion to the amazing St. Maximilian Kolbe, I was eager to visit his national shrine when I found myself in Illinois on business recently. Marytown is exactly what a Franciscan shrine should be. It is low-key and modest, yet welcoming and holy.The staff is simply outstanding. They all made me feel so welcome upon my arrival, as did the Friars. I took a self-guided tour of the chapel, grounds and Kolbe exhibit and spent time in Eucharistic adoration. I spent the better part of a day, and felt welcome every minute.The gift shop is superb. I found a few items I'd been searching for, and a few more. The staff there has perfected customer service.

We've been visiting this magnificent chapel for decades and cherish it dearly. Beautiful holy place with great history and support. Opened 24/7!

From the moment you enter you feel so connected, almost like no one is there but you and our Lord. All your worries are gone and you feel so happy.

If you are Catholic your faith will be deepened here. If you aren't, you'll still appreciate the beauty and peace that resides here. Run by the Conventual Franciscans Friar this shrine is modeled after St. Paul Outside-the-Walls in Rome. The main chapel features Eucharistic Adoration 24/7/365 except during Mass (and Good Friday eve and Holy Sat). They also offer numerous opportunities for retreats (day or overnight), hearing well-known speakers and various community activities such as a rummage sale and used religious book sale.One the left of the main altar is an alcove dedicated to St. Maximilian Kolbe. It is disquieting to read about his suffering and love for his fellow man. The Sorrowful Mother chapel is opposite and the location for most early morning Masses. The ceiling of the main chapel features beautiful artwork and mosaic pictures adorn the walls. Sunday 9 am is the high Mass. There is also a well-stocked gift shop featuring various items from books, religious jewelry and rosaries to Mystic Monk coffee and Trappist jams at Christmas. The lovely grounds provide an opportunity for quiet prayer with several areas designated for meditation including the rosary walk and Stations of the Cross. Food is not available for purchase though there are fundraising dinners throughout the year. It's worth exploring their newly redesigned website before you visit. There you will find the schedule of religious events offered.