Marytown: National Shrine of St. Maxmilian Kolbe

Marytown in the National Shrine of Saint Maximilian Kolbe located in Libertyville, IL. Saint Maximilian was a Polish Franciscan priest who gave his life for another prisoner at Auschwitz during the Holocaust. He was canonized as a Saint by Pope John Paul II in 1982. In 1918, Saint Maximilian founded the Militia of the Immaculata, a lay ecclesial movement that promotes total consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary.In addition to being the National Shrine of Saint Maximilian, Marytown is also the home of the historic Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, founded by Cardinal Mundelein in 1928. The Chapel exists for Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The Shrine is staffed by a community of 20 Conventual Franciscan Friars, which provides for a full liturgical schedule including daily Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, and Devotions with the Rosary.Marytown is also the National Center of the Militia of the Immaculata, a full service retreat house and conference center, and a gift shop/bookstore.