Adele Brice was a 19th-century Belgian-born American laywoman and teacher who lived in Wisconsin. After emigrating to the United States, she experienced a series of visions of the Virgin Mary in 1859 near the settlement of Champion. Following these apparitions, she dedicated herself to educating the children of Belgian immigrants, often traveling between settlements to provide religious and secular instruction. She eventually formed a community of women following the Third Order of Saint Francis. Recognized as a Servant of God, she is remembered for her spiritual mission and her role in establishing a significant Marian pilgrimage site.
Life and mission
Born in Belgium in 1831, Brice moved to the United States in 1855 to join her family in Wisconsin. Following her reported encounters with the Virgin Mary, she established a small log chapel and a school to serve the local immigrant community. She lived as a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis, organizing a group of women to support her teaching work and religious devotion.
Veneration and legacy
The site of her visions in Champion became a national shrine after being declared worthy of belief by the Diocese of Green Bay. Her work in education and her reported visions led to her being named a Servant of God. The chapel she founded, dedicated to Our Lady of Good Help, remains a significant location for Catholic pilgrims in the United States.