Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine

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Skye, Queen of the Universe

Mary, Queen of the Universe National Shrine is located in Orlando, Florida at 8300 Vineland Avenue. It was built to service the large number of Catholic tourists who visit the attractions in the Greater Orlando area. While it is a 2,000 seat church and parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlando and provides Mass for the faithful, it has also become a regional tourist attraction.

The Shrine consists of the main church, the Rosary Garden, the Mother & Child Outdoor Chapel, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, the Shrine Museum, and a gift shop.

1 History
2 Facts
3 Gallery
4 External links

[edit] History

This is a picture of the inside of the Mary, Queen of the Universe National Shrine Church with Christmas decorations.

After the grand opening of Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, the Diocese of Orlando determined that the thousands of Catholics visiting from around the world needed a place for Mass. The Diocese arranged for Masses at several area hotels to handle the unique "tourist ministry", originally named Orlando's Holy Family Parish. Bishop Thomas Grady named Father F. Joseph Harte to be the first pastor.

With projections predicting over 30 million annual visitors to Greater Orlando in the 1970s, Fr. Harte and Bishop Grady worked to establish a permanent location. In 1979, work was completed on the new facility, named under the patronage of the Virgin Mary. The use of the title "Mary, Queen of the Universe" could be the result of a combination of the Marian titles of "Mary, Queen of the World," and "Mary, Queen of Heaven".

[edit] Facts

The fourteen aisle windows are entitled "The Magnificat Windows"
The Outdoor Chapel features a bronze sculpture of the Mother and Child by Jerzy Kenar
The Museum displays Church art from around the world
The Shrine contains a 8-foot tall sculpture featuring Mary and Baby Jesus bearing the same name "Mary, Queen of the Universe". It was sculpted by Jill Burkee and made of white marble from Carrara, Italy.

[edit] Gallery

The Mary, Queen of the Universe National Shrine Church with Christmas decorations.	The Mary, Queen of the Universe National Shrine Church from a different angle.	The Christmas Nativity at the Mary, Queen of the Universe National Shrine.	A mosaic of Our Lady of Guadalupe found at the Mary, Queen of the Universe National Shrine.
A statue of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus at the Mary, Queen of the Universe National Shrine Church.	A Crucifix with Jesus at the Mary, Queen of the Universe National Shrine Church.