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Memorial Hall and Online Memorial Registry

Memorial Hall

Memorial Hall is located on the lower level of the Basilica. Featured on the walls and columns are 14,400 tablets of marble and granite inscribed with the names of benefactors, including individuals, families, and religious communities, who are also enrolled in the perpetual remembrances of the Shrine. These benefactors will forever be remembered for helping the Basilica become a reality and fulfill its mission as America’s Catholic Church.

At the center of the Shrine’s lower level is Memorial Hall where you will find, in addition to the inscriptions of the names of thousands of benefactors who made the construction of the Shrine possible, the names of many “firsts” in the American Catholic Church: Archbishop John J. Keane, founder and first rector of The Catholic University of America; John Cardinal McCloskey, first Cardinal; Bishop John England, first bishop of Charleston, S.C., and publisher of the first Catholic newspaper; St. John Neumann, fourth bishop of Philadelphia, first professed Redemptorist in the United States, and founder of the 40-hour eucharistic devotion; Archbishop John Carroll, S.J., first American bishop and founder of Georgetown University; Archbishop John J . Hughes, first archbishop of New York, and founder of St. Patrick’s Cathedral; Fr. Demetrius Gallitzin, missionary, first priest ordained in the original thirteen colonies; and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, founder and first superior of the Sisters of Charity.

We encourage you to visit Memorial Hall in person and embrace the history on display. Or if you live far way, you can search the listings of benefactors and see the inscriptions up close.

Online Memorial Registry

The Online Memorial Registry is a virtual extension of the walls of Memorial Hall and offers you the opportunity to honor a loved one by becoming part of the legacy of those who helped build the Shrine.

The Online Memorial Registry is a virtual extension of the walls of Memorial Hall which is located in the lower level of the National Shrine. Thousands of names were carved in its marble walls honoring pioneer donors, institutions, and religious who made the construction of the Shrine a reality. The Online Memorial Registry offers you the same opportunity to honor a loved one by becoming part of the legacy of those who helped build this magnificent Basilica. The Online Memorial Registry is a Perpetual Enrollment that is not limited to the walls of Memorial Hall; it can be searched and viewed anywhere in the world on the Shrine website. Those enrolled will be remembered in Novenas of Masses here at Mary’s Shrine. It is a wonderful gift for special occasions such as Mother’s and Father’s Day, Weddings and Anniversaries, Holy Sacraments, the passing of a loved one, Graduations, Thanksgiving to God for blessings received, and Ordinations.

Would you like to register an Online Memorial?

The Online Memorial Registry offers you the opportunity to honor a loved one by becoming part of the legacy of those who helped build this magnificent Basilica.

Commemorative Memorial Registry Certificate

When you enroll a loved one in the Online Memorial Registry you honor them by including them in the history of Shrine supporters who are remembered in our daily Masses and Rosary, and monthly they are remembered during our special Novena of Masses held the last 9 days of each month. Important dates, a prayerful message, and a photo can be included in the Online Memorial Registry. If you would like to see our published memorials please click here. For a suggested donation of $50 your loved ones will be honored in this special enrollment at the Shrine. For an additional $20 we will provide a color print of the enrollment certificate enclosed within a keepsake folder showing a beautiful image of the Shrine and a listing of the spiritual benefits.

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