Friars are gathering at the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation to minister to the many hundreds of pilgrims who come for the annual Novena to Our Lady of Consolation, culminating in the celebration of the Vigil and Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven.

Fr. David Schalk is the pastor of Christ the King Church in Columbus, Ohio.

Father David Schalk, pastor of Christ the King Church in Columbus, Ohio, is this year’s Novena Preacher. The evening Novena services take place at 8 p.m. Confessions are heard weeknights during the novena at 7 p.m., and will be available all day on August 14th and until the procession on the 15th.

On August 14, the Vigil of the Assumption, the final prayers of the novena will be prayed from the front steps of the basilica when the statue of Our Lady of Consolation is brought out at 9 p.m. Immediately following is the the candlelight procession to Shrine Park where Most Reverend Daniel Thomas, Bishop of the Diocese of Toledo, will preside at the Vigil Mass.

Friars will be offering blessings and the sacrament of confession throughout the day on August 14 and 15.

Please join us. For a detailed schedule for the week please visit www.olcshrine.com

If you can’t make it person, please continue to check here for more photos and video.