Background

The Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio, is a Roman Catholic pilgrimage site dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Consolation. Originally established as a parish church in the late 1860s, it took on its Marian title after local faithful, inspired by immigrants from Luxembourg, obtained a statue of Our Lady of Consolation—patroness of their homeland—and enshrined it there in 1875. The devotion quickly grew, leading to the construction of a larger Romanesque-style red-brick church completed in 1924; it was later elevated to the status of a minor basilica in 1971. The shrine is administered by the Order of Friars Minor Conventual (Franciscans) and is recognized as a national shrine in the United States.

Today, the basilica is known as a place of prayer, healing, and pilgrimage, drawing visitors from across the U.S. and especially from Middle Eastern Catholic communities, particularly around the Feast of the Assumption on August 15. The complex includes the upper basilica church, an extensive lower church filled with relics, votive offerings, and testimonies of favors received, as well as an outdoor shrine park used for processions and devotions. The basilica is open for prayer around the clock, with regular Mass and confession schedules, and it serves as a focal point for special events and pilgrimages, including large processions that commemorate the original 1875 walk with the statue from nearby Frenchtown to Carey.

Official shrine website: https://olcshrine.com

315 Clay Street
Carey, OH 43316

Impression

Nestled within the unassuming town of Carey in the north-ish part of Central Ohio you will find the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation.

I stumbled across this during a Google Maps sweep, looking for new and yet unexplored locales by your Visual Ohio crew.

On this trip, we visited the main sanctuary(upper basilica) as well as the Shrine Park.

Basilica

Stopping here first, this is like a mini complex. You have the original church across the street from the main church, a gift shop, prayer garden, a cafeteria facility and 2 parking lots.

The outside of the church is not flashy with your usual main doors, bell tower, and a few angel statues adorning the outside as can be seen in the main picture at the top of this post.

Inside the main doors, you are deposited into a small lobby area, holy water bowls adorn the wall next each entrance into the main hall.

The main hall and alter, minimal lighting during non service hours. There were a few visitors there with me, some just to see the campus, others there to pray.

Flanking to the left and right are depictions as well as prayer votive areas. This one is to alter left.

This one is to alter right, just behind the pulpit.

An eagle is perched upon the front of the pulpit.

A side shot of one of many stained glass windows.

While the outside is unassuming, the interior is absolutely gorgeous. Stations of the cross, stained glass, massive pipe organ, statues. Highly recommend checking out this Basilica if you are ever in the area.

A return trip in the future will have us visit the lower Basilica.

This statue above can be found in the Prayer Garden behind the Basilica.

Shrine Park

Heading down Clay street, it dead ends to Shrine Park.

We parked in a small gravel lot directly across the main entrance to the park.

Massive fields and walking. paths for contemplation and exercise. Another area with stations of the cross along the outside walking path. They’re made of stone and have a 3D plaque embedded. Below is an example of one.

The largest monument, found at the far end of the park and can be seen from the Basilica.

Interspersed in various areas of the park are a few pavilions with picnic tables, There are also prayer stations with various statues.

If one were driving through the Main Street of Carey, OH you would never really know that a place like this existed there.

A fantastic facility to stop, contemplate, view some fantastic architecture and leisurely walk in a well maintained park. Highly recommend checking it out if you are in the area or even passing through.