Marytown—the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe is a pilgrimage site and sacred space in Libertyville, Illinois in the Archdiocese of Chicago. It is a ministry of the Conventual Franciscan Friars of St. Bonaventure Province. Here the Friars live together in community with the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience according to the ideals of Saint Francis, and daily celebrate the Eucharist in the Holy Mass, pray the Divine Office, adore the Blessed Sacrament and participate in the devotions of the Liturgical year.
Today, the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe at Marytown includes a Retreat House, Conference Center and the Marytown Gift Shop & Book Store, an educational Holocaust exhibit, relics of Saint Maximilian and several outdoor shrines, all set on 15 acres of beautiful land in Libertyville, Illinois. At the center of Marytown is the Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, considered one of the most beautiful pilgrimage sites in the nation. It is referred to as the “Third City of the Immaculate” modeled after the evangelization centers created by Kolbe at Niepokalanów, Poland and Nagasaki, Japan.
The grounds have been a sanctuary of Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament since
June 7, 1928, when a temporary chapel was blessed and opened for 24-hour Exposition. The permanent chapel was dedicated on October 2, 1932. At that time, the monstrance was transferred to its current location and the chapel has remained open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In the years since the Conventual Franciscan Friars began their ministry at Marytown, the spirit of Saint Francis was added to the chapel. Most prominent is the San Damiano Crucifix, patterned after the original in Assisi, Italy, where the Lord famously commissioned Saint Francis to “Rebuild My Church.”
The National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe, as declared by the U.S. Catholic Bishops in the Jubilee Year 2000, is a place of pilgrimage for the faithful. It is dedicated to promoting the witness and life of St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish Conventual Franciscan friar, priest, scholar and patriot martyred in the Holocaust at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. St. John Paul II referred to him as the “prophet of the civilization of love” and a “Martyr of Charity” for Kolbe’s exemplification of love without limits.
Today, Marytown serves the spiritual needs of a broad community of people—locally and nationally—through our Eucharistic Adoration apostolate, Prison Ministry, daily Masses, weekday Confessions, catechesis, retreats and conferences.
As part of the United States Catholic Council of Bishops (USCCB) group rule, Marytown - the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe is a 501(c) 3 organization and can receive
tax-deductible donations.
“And they shall make me a sanctuary and I will dwell in the midst of them.” – Exodus 25:8