(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Winter 2026  Issue #118)

By Anne Hope Mulqueen, OFS • National Formation Commission

Faith is a gift from God and a grace-filled relationship with the Almighty. As we grow in faith, we are challenged to discern what God expects of us. True faith leads to action, and that action may vary depending on God’s unfolding purpose for each person’s life. In the Letter of James, he reminds us that faith without deeds is dead. (James 2:14).

True faith deepens our relationship with God and attunes our actions with his will. It is a form of surrender to the divine. It is a theological virtue through which we accept as true all that God has revealed to us through Scripture and the Church. As the apostle John wrote, let us not love only with words, but with action and in truth. (1 John 3:18).

Our father Francis exemplifies faith in action. His radical decisions to renounce wealth and social status demonstrated complete faith and trust in God’s providence. Perhaps the most remarkable example of Francis’ faith-driven actions was his care for lepers. Through compassionate service to lepers, faith became visible and changed the lives of those he served. Love expressed through action is the beating heart of faith.

Not to be overlooked is the example of St. Clare. Led by the Lord, she resisted her family’s expectations and, believing it was God’s will for her life, sought the privilege of poverty. Through her strong leadership, she lived faith in action, inspiring her Poor Ladies to serve the poor with humility and love.

Our patron saints, St. Elizabeth of Hungary and St. Louis of France, also show us the way. Elizabeth and Louis, in their own unique ways, dedicated themselves to helping the poor and sick of their countries through acts of mercy. This is our heritage. This is our legacy. This is an example of how to live our faith every day.

Now is the time for us to do what we believe is right. Our faith should shape not only our attitudes but also our actions. Faith and action are intertwined.

In our Rule, Article 15 clearly states the connection between faith and action.

Let them individually and collectively be in the forefront in promoting justive by the testimony of their human lives and their courageous initiatives.  Especially in the field of public life, they should make definite choices in harmony with their faith.

As Secular Franciscans, our faith in action primarily focuses on our families, workplaces, and communities. This does not mean that efforts toward peace, justice, ecology, and other good works are not worthwhile. We are expected to advocate for all that is good and just. However, as secular persons immersed in the world, we have the greatest influence in these three areas.

In these areas and in all active engagement with the world, we are called to approach our ministry and apostolates through prayer. Prayer aligns our intentions with our faith. We are to bring the values of Christ – especially love, truth, mercy, and forgiveness – to those who desperately need to experience them.

Jesus summarizes faith in action by saying, “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35). Love is the hallmark of faith-filled action and discipleship. Love does what it can to make the world a place where all experience “… conditions of life worthy of people redeemed by Christ.” (OFS Rule, Article 13). Loving actions make faith visible.

When we finally meet our maker, may we hear these words: “Well done, good and faithful servant. …” (Matthew 25:21). What you did for the least, you did for me. (Paraphrase of Matthew 25:40).

Recently as I was researching Marian apparitions on the internet for our local Fraternity’s On-going Formation, I was astonished to discover that Our Mother Mary had appeared in the Green Bay area of Wisconsin in 1859 to a young girl who established a group of Third Order Franciscan Sisters.  What follows is a compilation of the information that I found.  Resources are listed at the end.

By Terri Leone, OFS, St. Francis of Assisi Fraternity, Philadelphia, PA

1859 – Our Lady of Good Help- Champion, WI, USA

Date of Apparition: 3 times in October, 1859

Feast Day: October 9 – Our Lady of Champion – “Our Lady of Good Help”

To whom did Mary appear?    ADELE BRICE

Fun Fact:  The Shrine at Champion, Wisconsin is the first and only Marian shrine in the United States that is on the site of an approved apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  It was also one of the stops on the Eucharistic Revival Pilgrimage.

What was her message? 

“I am the Queen of Heaven who prays for the conversion of sinners,” ...adding God’s mission for Adele, “gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation”… “Go and fear nothing. I will help you.”

Adele’s Story

Adele Brice (Brise) was born in Belgium to Lambert and Catherine Brice on January 30, 1831. Although she suffered an accident at a young age that left her blind in her right eye, those who knew her best describe her cheerfulness, fervent piety, and simple religious ways.

Upon receiving her first Holy Communion, Adele and a few close friends promised the Blessed Virgin Mary that they would devote their lives to becoming religious teaching sisters in Belgium. However, this promise grew difficult to keep when her parents decided to move to America alongside other Belgium settlers. After seeking advice from her confessor, she was told to be obedient to her parents. He assured her that if the Lord willed her to become a teacher and a sister, she would serve in that vocation in America.

After the six-week voyage to America, the Brice family joined the largest Belgian settlement – near present-day Champion, Wisconsin. Belgian pioneers’ and settlers’ lives were difficult, and many died during the harsh Wisconsin winters. Adele served her family’s needs by often taking grain to the grist mill.

6 THINGS OUR LADY OF GOOD HELP ASKED ADELE & US TO DO:

1. Make a general confession.
2. Offer Communion for the conversion of sinners.
3. “Gather the Children in this wild country and teach them what they need to know for salvation.”– Our Lady of Good Help
4. Teach children the catechism.
5. Teach children how to make the Sign of the Cross.
6. Teach children how to approach the Sacraments.

The Queen of Heaven promises her help to those who will commit to doing these things, “Go and fear nothing. I will help you.”

As her missionary work grew, some young women joined Adele.  As the number of volunteers grew, Adele established them as a group of Third Order Franciscan Sisters.

How did the witness [Adele] describe Mary’s appearance?

A bright glow appeared between a maple tree and a hemlock tree. The light slowly took the form of a beautiful woman. The lady had blond hair, a white dress, a yellow sash and a crown of twelve stars.

WHO APPROVED THE APPARITION?

In 2010, after an investigation, Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay announced Our Lady of Good Help as “worthy of belief” and made it America’s first Marian apparition.,

“I declare with moral certainty and in accord with the norms of the Church that the events, apparitions and locutions given to Adele Brise in October of 1859 do exhibit the substance of supernatural character, and I do hereby approve these apparitions as worthy of belief (although not obligatory) by the Christian faithful.

Jan. 30, 2026 Bishop Ricken announced that the Catholic Church officially opened Adele Brice’s cause for sainthood. Adele is now a “Servant of God”.

Fr. Anthony Stephens, a Father of Mercy, who serves at the Shrine as rector, said, “As the 250^th birthday of the United States approaches, it is really exciting for an American to become a ‘Servant of God’.”  “Our Catholic identity should form how we live as Americans, and they can very much go together.”  “…to have one of our fellow countrymen recognized as one who loved God radically and tried to live heroic virtue.  We should try to imitate her so we can live well as Americans.”

Miracles: THE FIRE (there were various healings, both physical & moral)

On October 8th, 1871, almost twelve years to the date of Mary’s last appearance to Adele, the Great Peshtigo Fire broke out – across the Bay from Champion. It is still considered to this day to be the most devastating fire in United States history, killing between 1,200-2,400 people and livestock and burning 1.2 million acres of land. Due to the high winds and dry grounds, the fire quickly became a storm of fire and roared like a tornado right toward the Shrine’s grounds.

Desperate for help, people from the surrounding countryside fled to the Chapel where Adele and her companions were praying for Mary’s protection. That night, lifting the statue of Mary, they processed around the sanctuary, prayed the rosary, and sang hymns to Jesus and the Blessed Mother. When the wind and fire threatened suffocation, they would turn in another direction to pray. Early the next morning, it is believed that a steady rain came and extinguished the flames of the fire.   The fire did not harm the Chapel.

 Prayer for Adele Brice’s Cause for Sainthood

God, our Father in Heaven, You lift up the lowly and the meek of heart to show Your great mercy and power.  With fervent devotion to the Mother of God, Your servant, Adele Brise, sought to instruct the ignorant in what they needed to know for salvation.  In imitation of her prompt obedience and simple faithfulness, may we do our part to work for the salvation of souls and pray for the conversion of sinners.  Asking the intercession of Your daughter Adele Brice, and if it be Your Will that she should be honored on earth for Your glory, we humbly beseech You to hear and answer our prayer (your intention).  May we also “go and fear nothing” with confidence in Your care for us and the maternal protection of the Queen of Heaven.  Amen.

(recite 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be)

With ecclesiastical approval of Bishop David L. Ricken

Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin

 October 9: Feast of Our Lady of Champion  –  “Our Lady of Good Help”

 

Sources:

 The Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, Champion, WI

Article: Our Sunday Visitor via Our Star Herald – February 3, 2026

Article: National Catholic Register – February 2, 2026