Click Here To Read LA Times Article
Click Here to Read USA Today Article
Click Here To Read NY Times Article
Our Lady of Good Help Official Website


On the feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8th, 2010, Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay finally declared the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Sister Adele Brise in 1859 as being “worthy of belief” for all of the Catholic faithful. Below is a transcript of the conversation which took place between Adele and Our Blessed Mother on October 9th, 1859 in the woods of Robinsonville, Wisconsin. The small, unincorporated town was renamed “Champion” in honor of Sister Adele as 12 years to the date after her apparition thousands were miraculously spared from the Peshtigo Fire by taking refuge at the chapel built to commemorate the apparition site. The Peshtigo Fire is still to date the worst natural disaster in U.S. history having destroyed 1.2 million acres of land.

Adele: “In God’s name, who are you and what do you want of me?”

Blessed Virgin Mary: “I am the Queen of Heaven, who prays for the conversion of sinners, and I wish you to do the same. You received Holy Communion this morning, and that is well. But you must do more. Make a general confession, and offer Communion for the conversion of sinners. If they do not convert and do penance, my Son will be obliged to punish them.”

Adele’s Friend 1: “Adele, who is it?”

Adele’s Friend 2: “O why can’t we see her as you do?”

Adele (to her friends): Kneel. The Lady says she is the Queen of Heaven.

Blessed Virgin Mary: “Blessed are they that believe without seeing. What are you doing here in idleness…while your companions are working in the vineyard of my Son?”

Adele: “What more can I do, dear Lady?”
Adele began to weep.

Blessed Virgin Mary: “Gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation.”

Adele: “But how shall I teach them who know so little myself?”

Blessed Virgin Mary: “Teach them their catechism, how to sign themselves with the sign of the Cross, and how to approach the sacraments; that is what I wish you to do. Go and fear nothing. I will help you.”

Sister Adele went on to teach the children of the surrounding area catechism initially by going door to door and then through the support of the Archdiocese as well as generous donations, she was able to open the first Catholic boarding school in 1867.