New shrine, Mary Our Lady of Mercy, coming to Norman

Father Nabil Mouannes insists God is working big plans through him.

Big project plans.

The latest: a new shrine, Mary Our Lady of Mercy (“Em El Marahem” in Arabic), scheduled to open in 2024 or 2025 on the grounds of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church in Norman.

“It is truly a miracle,” said Father Mouannes, pastor of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church.

The project spanned 2 1/2 years of planning, preparation, council and parish community discussions, obtaining permissions from religious authorities, legal permits and, Father Mouannes said, a blessing from the Infant Jesus of Prague.

“This dream has been in my heart for a long time,” Father Mouannes said. “God has used me in the past as an instrument to build three (other) shrines.”

Our Lady of Mercy Shrine will be No. 4 for Father Mouannes, following Mary Mother of Life in San Diego; Mary Mother of God in Sacramento, California; and Mary Mother of Deliverance in Bordeaux, France.

“God showed me every step of this journey that building this shrine in honor of Mary Our Lady of Mercy is his will,” Father Mouannes said. “It started with two friends of mine, from California and Colorado, who reached out to me unexpectedly offering financial support for any projects I had in mind for my parish.

“This was the beginning of our fundraising efforts, and we are very thankful to God and all the sponsors, including my parishioners, for their generosity so far.”

Father Mouannes pointed to a pivotal point in September, when he made a private pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague.

“I celebrated Mass there, with a kind approval of Father (Christopher) Tran, the pastor, and prayed with the parishioners for the infant’s blessings for this project,” Father Mouannes said. “Next day, early morning, the president of our parish council, Mr. Rudy Khoury, received a call from the city hall announcing joyful news that the building permit for the shrine has now been granted after the many months and years of waiting.”

Why the name Mary Our Lady of Mercy?

“There are many reasons why we want to highlight the mercy of God and our Holy Mother Mary,” Father Mouannes said. “The beautiful shrine of the Blessed Stanley Rother with Our Lady of Guadalupe gives us valuable insights as well. In her first apparition to Juan Diego at Tepeyac, Mary said, ‘I am your merciful mother.’

“Also, the first words of Columbus upon his arrival on the American land in 1492 was the song ‘Salve Regina, Mater Misericordiae,’ which means, Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy.

“Our country is intrinsically tied to God’s plan of his mercy.”

He stressed that in all her apparitions, Mary called the humanity to repentance, urging people to beg for God’s mercy and pray the Rosary.

Father Mouannes also noted Pope Benedict XVI, who when speaking about Saint Faustina’s mission of mercy, said, “It is a really central message for our time: Mercy as the force of God, as the divine limit against the evil of the world.”

The shrine will welcome visitors and pilgrims, serve as a prayer and meditation space for the local faith community and students at the University of Oklahoma, and add to the city landmarks.

“Many OU students are away from their families, the shrine will be a place where they can find a mother full of affection, a beacon of life and a refuge during their times of study and exams,” Father Mouannes said. “We look forward to cooperating with Saint Thomas More Catholic Church to encourage young people to come more often to Mary, their loving mother.”

Father Mouannes expressed appreciation to all supporters, those who have already given and those to come as the project heads toward completion.

“We appreciate every prayer you say and every candle you light in your church for the intention of this new shrine,” he said. “We are still in need of financial support. The prices of steel, other construction materials and labor tripled and quadrupled from the prices of our original budget plan created a couple years back.

“We are seeking any men and women of good will, and we are very thankful to all volunteers.”

Benefactors making tax-deductible donations can have their names engraved on the shrine bricks. The three-story shrine will host a chapel, a meditation space with religious exhibits and a columbarium. 

“As Father Stanley Rother promised to keep his heart in Guatemala, I promise to bring my heart here to Our Lady of Mercy,” Father Mouannes said. “How nice it will be to sleep in peace on earth under the protection of Mary the Mother of Mercy.”

Jad Ziolkowska is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.


Photo: (Above) Pictured is a 3D prototype of the Mary Our Lady of Mercy Shrine. Photo provided.
 


Fr. Nabil Mouannes with parishioners at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church, and the 3D model of Mary Our Lady of Mercy Shrine. Photo provided.