In June 1996, a sixty-three-year-old cloistered nun knelt before a statue of the Divino Nino in a Bogota chapel and heard a command that would change the Alabama countryside forever: "Build me a temple, and I will help those who help you." The nun was Mother Angelica — born Rita Rizzo in a Canton, Ohio tenement, foundress of the world's largest Catholic television network, and abbess of a community of Poor Clares crammed into a makeshift monastery beside the EWTN satellite dishes in Irondale, Alabama. Within three years, on a 400-acre former soybean farm along the Black Warrior River in Hanceville, she would raise a Romanesque church so lavish that visitors sometimes stand in the doorway, unable to move, overwhelmed by what they see.
What they see is a 55-foot reredos of hand-carved Paraguayan cedar overlaid in 24-karat gold leaf, framing one of the world's largest monstrances — a nearly eight-foot vessel of gold holding the Blessed Sacrament. Bavarian stained glass from the Gustav van Treeck studios in Munich bathes the Macedonian marble sanctuary in color. Bronze doors depict the Seven Joys and Sorrows of Mary. And behind the great cedar screen, invisible to visitors but audible in the stillness, the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration maintain an unbroken chain of Eucharistic adoration — day and night, without interruption, since the shrine's consecration on December 19, 1999.
Mother Angelica suffered a devastating cerebral hemorrhage on Christmas Eve 2001 and never spoke publicly again. She spent her final fourteen years in silence within the monastery walls, dying on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016. Her tomb in the Lower Church crypt has become a pilgrimage destination in its own right, drawing those who knew her voice from television screens around the world to pray beside the woman who built all of this on nerve, prayer, and an unshakeable trust in providence.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
The story of the Hanceville shrine begins not in Alabama but in Canton, Ohio, where Rita Antoinette Rizzo was born on April 20, 1923, into poverty and a broken home. After a healing attributed to a novena, she entered the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration in Cleveland, taking the name Sister Mary Angelica of the Annunciation. In 1962, five nuns from the Canton monastery — led by Mother Angelica — traveled south to found Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Birmingham, Alabama, becoming the first community of contemplative Poor Clares in the Deep South.
The Birmingham monastery, located in the suburb of Irondale, became the unlikely birthplace of the Eternal Word Television Network. On August 15, 1981, Mother Angelica launched EWTN from a converted garage on the monastery grounds with just $200 and no broadcast experience. By the mid-1990s, the network had grown into the world's largest Catholic media operation, its satellite dishes and production studios surrounding the small monastery on all sides.
Seeking space for both her growing community and a fitting house for Eucharistic adoration, Mother Angelica turned to Hanceville after the Bogota encounter of 1996. The property — 400 acres of farmland in Cullman County, purchased on October 12, 1995, funded by five anonymous donor families — was transformed into a campus modeled on 13th-century Franciscan churches in Assisi. The architect designed the Upper Church in a Romanesque-Gothic style with composite limestone and brick walls, red tile roofing, and a 110-foot campanile housing a 14-bell antique carillon.
Every material was chosen with intention: the altar and sanctuary floors in Bianco Sivec marble from Macedonia, red jasper crosses inlaid from Turkey, sacred vessels crafted by artisan workshops in Madrid, and a tabernacle designed to evoke the devotional intensity of the great European pilgrimage churches. A relic of Saint Alexander of Trier was placed within the main altar at the consecration. Bishop David Foley of the Diocese of Birmingham presided over the dedication on December 19, 1999, and the Poor Clares processed into their new choir, beginning the perpetual adoration that has continued without interruption ever since.
In 2024, the shrine was designated as an official stop on the St. Juan Diego Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, filling to capacity as the Blessed Sacrament was carried from Brownsville, Texas, through the American South toward the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. For 2026, the shrine has been designated an official Franciscan Jubilee Year pilgrimage site, commemorating the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, with plenary indulgences available to visiting pilgrims.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Hanceville
Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament
The principal pilgrimage church rises from the Alabama farmland like something transplanted from medieval Umbria. The Upper Church seats approximately 400 and is the center of the shrine's liturgical life, with daily conventual Mass and perpetual exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the towering gold monstrance. The 55-foot hand-carved cedar reredos, overlaid in 24-karat gold leaf, dominates the sanctuary. Stained glass from Munich's Gustav van Treeck studios fills the nave with light, while the Bianco Sivec marble floors and Turkish red jasper inlays create a floor of extraordinary richness.
The Lower Church houses the crypt where Mother Angelica is entombed, accessible to pilgrims during shrine hours. Adjacent to the church, the herringbone-brick Piazza features a white Carrara marble statue of the Divino Nino — the Divine Child Jesus — with a red jasper heart, echoing the Bogota encounter that inspired the entire complex. Colonnaded outdoor Stations of the Cross wind through the grounds, and a life-size Nativity grotto chapel is carved into a hillside.
Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament
Our Lady of the Angels Monastery
The cloistered monastery of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration adjoins the shrine church. Founded in 1962 in Irondale by Mother Angelica and four companion nuns from Canton, Ohio, the community relocated to the Hanceville campus in 1999. The nuns maintain unbroken perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and chant the Divine Office throughout the day and night. While the cloister itself is not open to visitors, the Lower Church connecting to the monastery enclosure is accessible, and the nuns' Gregorian chant can be heard during liturgical hours. The community also operates the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, a men's religious community founded by Mother Angelica in 1987, who serve as chaplains on the campus.
John Paul II Eucharistic Center
Opened on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 2013, this interactive museum takes pilgrims through the biblical and historical roots of the Eucharist. Full-size room recreations include a first-century Passover setting, a Jewish synagogue, and the Upper Room of the Last Supper. A Fountain of Life sculpture depicts the Lamb standing as though slain, with water flowing from the Temple. Reproductions of Old Master paintings, short educational films, and interactive computer stations explore Eucharistic theology and the lives of Eucharistic saints including St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Imelda, and St. Tarcisius. Cardinal Raymond Burke celebrated the dedication Mass, broadcast live on EWTN. Guided tours run Wednesday through Saturday at 2:00 PM.
Castle of San Miguel
Blessed on September 29, 2001 — the Feast of the Archangels — this romanticized recreation of a 13th-century Spanish castle serves as the shrine's welcome and hospitality center. The interior displays medieval armor, tapestries, illuminated manuscripts, and statues of Saint Michael the Archangel and Saint Joan of Arc. The Gift Shop of El Nino, named for the Divino Nino statue that inspired the shrine, offers religious books, sacramentals, and devotional items. A dining hall and conference rooms accommodate pilgrim groups.
Lourdes Grotto
A full-scale replica of the Grotto of Massabielle at Lourdes, France, situated along the Black Warrior River on the shrine property. Dedicated in 2008, the 150th anniversary of the Marian apparitions to Bernadette Soubirous, the rocky structure features marble statues of Our Lady of Lourdes and the kneeling Saint Bernadette, with votive candles burning on multiple levels. A rock from the original grotto in Lourdes is incorporated into the structure. Healing services and candlelight processions are held periodically at the grotto.
St. Carlo Acutis Exhibition
A permanent display of 166 panels documenting Eucharistic miracles worldwide, created by St. Carlo Acutis (1991–2006), the Italian teenager who catalogued Eucharistic miracles before his death from leukemia at age fifteen. Added to the shrine in 2025 following Carlo's canonization on April 27, 2025, the exhibition presents photographs and documentation spanning multiple countries and centuries. Open Monday through Saturday, 8:00 AM to 4:45 PM.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Solemnity of Corpus Christi — May/June (moveable)
The defining feast of the shrine's identity. A solemn High Mass is followed by an outdoor Eucharistic procession with the shrine's nearly eight-foot gold monstrance — one of the largest in the world. EWTN broadcasts the Mass and procession live, extending the celebration to a global audience. This is the single most attended day of the liturgical year at the shrine.
Divino Nino Festival — First Saturday of September
Annual bilingual English and Spanish festival celebrating the Divine Child Jesus, directly inspired by Mother Angelica's 1996 encounter with the Divino Nino in Bogota. The day includes morning talks, the Rosary prayed with the Poor Clare Nuns at 10:30 AM, a festival Mass with procession to the Divino Nino statue and blessing of children at 11:00 AM, communal lunch, and a Eucharistic Healing Service at 2:00 PM. Confession available throughout the day.
Adoration Sodality Day of Recollection — Third Thursday of Each Month
A free monthly day of prayer open to all pilgrims. The Adoration Sodality, founded in March 2023, counts over 3,000 members across all 50 states and 27 countries. Each gathering includes the 7:00 AM conventual Mass, confession, guest Eucharistic preacher, adoration, Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet with the nuns, tours of the John Paul II Eucharistic Center, and complimentary breakfast and lunch.
Feast of Our Lady of the Angels — August 2
The patronal feast of the monastery. The property was purchased on August 2, a coincidence Mother Angelica regarded as providential. August 2 is also the feast on which the Portiuncula Indulgence is available — a Franciscan tradition particularly fitting for this community of Poor Clares.
Christmas Midnight Mass — December 24–25
A major annual draw featuring Latin liturgy, incense, and Gregorian chant sung by the Poor Clare Nuns. The life-size outdoor Nativity scene carved into a hillside becomes a focal point during Advent and the Christmas season. Plan lodging well in advance.
Dedication Anniversary — December 19
The shrine was consecrated on December 19, 1999. The 25th anniversary Silver Jubilee in 2024 was marked with special celebrations noting a quarter-century of continuous Eucharistic adoration.
🛏️ Where to Stay
St. Mary's Guesthouses (pilgrim accommodation) — Four private retreat cottages at the shrine entrance, sleeping 1–8 guests each, with fully equipped kitchens, private patios, and EWTN programming. The closest lodging to the shrine. Book directly by phone: (877) 778-2374. Website
Our Lady of Fatima Guest House (pilgrim accommodation) — Privately owned pilgrim guesthouse one mile from the shrine with two en-suite bedrooms, fully stocked kitchen, and private entrance. Hosts assist with pilgrimage planning. Book directly by phone: (256) 755-4815. Website
Saint Bernard Abbey Retreat Center (retreat house) — Benedictine monastery retreat center in Cullman, 24 km from the shrine, welcoming pilgrim groups and individual guests. Also home to the Ave Maria Grotto. Book directly by phone: (256) 734-3946. Website
Cobblestone Hotel & Suites Cullman ⭐⭐⭐ — Full-service hotel in downtown Cullman with hot breakfast, outdoor pool, and fitness center. A comfortable mid-range base 14 km from the shrine. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Hampton Inn Cullman ⭐⭐⭐ — Hilton-brand hotel at I-65 Exit 310 with complimentary breakfast, outdoor pool, and consistent quality favored by pilgrim groups. 18 km from the shrine. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Fairfield Inn & Suites Cullman ⭐⭐⭐ — Marriott-brand property with daily breakfast, outdoor pool, and sun terrace. 17 km from the shrine. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Sleep Inn & Suites Cullman ⭐⭐ — Budget-friendly Choice Hotels property with free breakfast and seasonal pool. 18 km from the shrine. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Days Inn by Wyndham Cullman ⭐⭐ — Economy motel at I-65 Exit 308 with grab-and-go breakfast. The most budget-conscious option, 15 km from the shrine. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
🚗 Getting There
By Air: The nearest international airport is Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International (BHM), approximately 76 km south, about 55 minutes by car via I-65 North. Huntsville International Airport (HSV) is 100 km north, about 65 minutes via I-65 South. Car rental is the standard transfer option. St. Mary's Guesthouses offers airport pickup from either airport by prior arrangement.
By Car: From Birmingham, take I-65 North to Exit 291 (AL Highway 91 North), turn right on County Road 747, then right on County Road 548 — the shrine is approximately 6 miles from the highway junction. From Nashville (249 km, 2.5 hours), drive south on I-65 to the same exit. From Atlanta (304 km, 2 hours 50 minutes), take I-20 West to Birmingham, then I-65 North. Free on-site parking is available.
By Bus: Greyhound operates a stop in Cullman, approximately 20 km from the shrine, with connections from Birmingham. There is no onward public transport from Cullman to the shrine; a taxi or rideshare is needed for the final leg.
Local Transport: No public transit serves the shrine or the surrounding rural area. Uber and Lyft operate in Cullman but coverage in Hanceville itself is unreliable. Visitors without a car should pre-arrange transfers through their lodging or arrive with an organized pilgrimage group. The shrine grounds are fully wheelchair-accessible.
📚 Further Reading
Books:
Raymond Arroyo, Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles — The definitive New York Times bestselling biography, based on five years of exclusive interviews, covering the founding of EWTN and the Hanceville shrine. (Doubleday, 2005)
Raymond Arroyo, Mother Angelica: Her Grand Silence — The Last Years and Living Legacy — The sequel covering Mother Angelica's final years after her 2001 stroke and the continuing legacy of the shrine. (Image Books, 2016)
Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, Come and See: A Pilgrim's Picture Book, Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament — The official photographic guide published by the monastery, including areas not open to photography during visits. (2002)
Dan O'Neill, Mother Angelica: Her Life Story — An earlier biography covering her origins in Canton, Ohio, and the founding of the Birmingham monastery. (Crossroad, 1986)
🔗 Useful Links
Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament — Official shrine website with Mass schedules, visitor information, and guided tour bookings.
Plan a Visit — Hours & Location — Practical visitor page with hours (summer 6:00 AM–8:00 PM; winter 6:00 AM–6:00 PM), dress code, and daily prayer schedule.
Our Lady of the Angels Monastery — Official site of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration with prayer requests, vocation information, and retreat details.
EWTN Global Catholic Network — Mother Angelica's television network, headquartered in nearby Irondale, Alabama. Many pilgrims combine both sites.
EWTN — Plan a Pilgrimage — Combined Irondale and Hanceville pilgrimage planning, including EWTN studio tour details and group booking.
Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama — Diocesan website for the northern 39 counties of Alabama, including parish finder and pastoral resources.
The Catholic Travel Guide — Hanceville and EWTN — Catholic travel resource combining the shrine and EWTN into a single trip guide.
North Alabama Tourism — Shrine Listing — Regional tourism listing with visitor details, hours, and free admission confirmation.
Cullman County Tourism — Local tourism bureau covering dining, hotels, and attractions in the county surrounding the shrine.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
EWTN Studios, Irondale (70 km south) — The global headquarters of the Eternal Word Television Network, founded by Mother Angelica in 1981. Studio tours, televised daily Mass, and the original monastery chapel where EWTN began.
Ave Maria Grotto, Cullman (25 km west) — A four-acre hillside park at St. Bernard Abbey containing 125 miniature reproductions of famous churches and shrines worldwide, built by Benedictine monk Brother Joseph Zoettl between 1912 and 1958.
Cathedral of St. Paul, Birmingham (80 km south) — The mother church of the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama, a Gothic Revival cathedral consecrated in 1893.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"Lord God, if I truly appreciated the majestic humility of the Eucharist, if I fully grasped the opportunity to participate in Your very nature, it would change my life forever." — Mother Angelica, A Holy Hour with Mother Angelica, 2022
