Time and again we’ve mentioned that Bayard is sponsored by the Augustians of the Assumption, AKA the Assumptionists. Besides their tremendous work at Assumption University (where we will host our Living Faith Retreat on June 13), they also minister at parishes and mission outreaches around the world. Nearby to Assumption University, is St. Anne’s Shrine in Fiskdale, Massachusetts. It is both a local parish and a shrine with a first class relic of St. Anne. Recently, the Assumptionists’ blog offered two wonderful articles on the Shrine church and the icon museum on its property.
From the Assumptionists website:
A Place of Prayer and Pilgrimage
Located in Fiskdale, Massachusetts, St. Anne’s and St. Patrick’s Parish is a sacred place of prayer entrusted to the Assumptionists. The parish serves as a spiritual refuge for pilgrims, families, and visitors seeking peace, reflection, and a deeper encounter with faith. All are warmly welcomed to enter, pray, and spend time in quiet devotion.
The First-Class Relics of Saint Anne
St. Anne’s and St. Patrick’s Parish is blessed to house the first-class relics of Saint Anne, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The presence of these sacred relics makes the parish a true shrine and a place of special spiritual significance. Visitors are invited to venerate the relics and bring their prayers and intentions before Saint Anne.
…[ Read more HERE.]
The Icon Museum captures fascinating history and living faith…
A Rare Collection of Russian Religious Icons
The museum houses a remarkable collection of Russian religious icons dating back to the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s. These icons were created as expressions of prayer, theology, and devotion, serving as visual witnesses to the Christian faith across generations. Each icon reflects a moment in history where faith was lived, protected, and passed on.
Faith Preserved During the Soviet Era
During the Soviet era, countless sacred Christian objects were confiscated, destroyed, or discarded as religious practice was violently suppressed. Many of the icons displayed in this museum survived that dark period only because of extraordinary courage and quiet resistance.
The Courage of the Assumptionists
In the 1950s, Assumptionist priests risked their safety to preserve these sacred icons, secretly bringing them out of Russia so they would not be lost forever. Because of their faith and determination, this collection exists today as a living witness to Christian resilience and hope.
…[Read more HERE.]
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Images in the top banner and within this post are used courtesy of Assumptionists’ blog at https://assumption.us/
