Father in the name of Jesus I come to you with a broken heart because of the loss of my baby. I know that your ears are open to my prayers. I am hurting and restless and feel overwhelmed. Please rescue me out of this pit of hopelessness and fear. You know the tears that I cry and my sleepless nights. Father I give you all my hurts worries and cares. I thank you that you are not finished with me yet. I will chose not to be held down by a spirit of discouragement and grief. By your grace I will stand firm and trust you. Help me to remember that others are going through the same pain as me, help me to get strong, so that with the same comfort that you comfort me with, I will be able to comfort others. Amen.
 

The Shrine of the Holy Innocents concept began in 2009, the year after one of our board members suffered through the loss of a pregnancy.  That board member approached Redemptorist priest Fr. Tom Travers and asked him if it would be possible to plant a tree on the grounds of Mount St. Alphonsus, in Esopus, NY. 

Fr. Tom liked the idea, but suggested that everyone think bigger. So the idea of a Shrine was born.  Over the next year, a Board of Directors was formed, with Board members including a Roman Catholic Bishop, community leaders, pro-life advocates, Knights of Columbus, and men and women that have suffered pregnancy loss.

In January 2011, it was learned that Mount St. Alphonsus would close late in 2011, so the plans had to be redeveloped and a new location was sought.  A non-profit trust was formed in New York State, allowing the Shrine to continue at another location. A specific location in Kingston, NY has been pursued by members of the Board in recent months.  We expect details to be finalized at this location so that the project can break ground later this year. Our Shrine is starting to take off. 

Eventually, it will be a place where moms, dads and anyone who has suffered the loss of a pregnancy can come and mourn that loss.  But there’s another important mission that the Shrine will be working on.  By working with hospitals and funeral directors, we’re going to teach those same institutions and the public that babies unborn and babies born too soon can still be buried and remembered with dignity.