Sainthood Cause Officially Opens for Adele Brise Visionary of the 1st Approved U.S. Marian Apparitions

Wisconsin Visionary Adele Brise Officially Begins Path to Sainthood

On January 30, 2026—what would have been her 195th birthday—Adele Brise is now formally be named a Servant of God. Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay officially opened the cause for her canonization during a public ceremony at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral.

Brise, a Belgian immigrant, is famous for reporting three apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Champion, Wisconsin, in 1859. This move marks an unprecedented milestone for the Diocese of Green Bay and a rare occurrence in the United States:

The Journey So Far:

• May 2024: A formal petition was filed to start the process.

• June 2024: U.S. Bishops gave unanimous consent to move forward.

• October 2025: The Vatican issued a Nihil Obstat, confirming there are no obstacles to her cause.

Following the birthday declaration, the Diocese will continue investigating her life and virtues before potentially sending the case to the Vatican for the next stage of sainthood.

---

Big News for the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion! 🕊️

Adele Brise is officially taking the first step toward becoming a Saint. Here is what you need to know:

• The Event: On Jan 30, 2026, Bishop David Ricken signed the decree opening her "Cause for Canonization."

• The Title: Adele will now be known as a Servant of God.

• The History: In 1859, Adele saw the Virgin Mary three times in the woods of Wisconsin, leading to the only Church-approved Marian apparition site in the U.S.

• The Process: After years of local investigation and Vatican approval (Nihil Obstat), the Church is now formally studying her life of "heroic virtue."