In 1930, around the 100th anniversary celebration of the Virgin’s apparitions to Saint Catherine Labouré, devotion to the Miraculous Medal was rather widespread in the city of Buenos Aires. At that time, there began to be talk of the city’s need for a church dedicated to Mary under this title.
The Daughters of Mary and the Daughters of Charity had much to do with the task of raising the funds for the construction of the church, which was completed with the donation of Mrs. Adelia Arilaos de Olmos, Pontifical Marchioness and an important patron of the time.
On 22 November 1941, the Neo-Romanesque church was inaugurated, with more than 150 stained-glass windows fashioned by the Catalan artist, Antonio Estruch. A great image of the Miraculous Virgin crowns the dome that rises to more than 50 meters in height, from where it seems to bless and protect the whole city of Buenos Aires. As it is located next to one of the city’s main access highways, the church enjoys a privileged visibility for the large number of passengers who pass on this road daily. There are many who greet her from there and entrust themselves to the protection of Our Lady.
From the beginning, many pilgrims constantly came to ask for or to offer thanks for the favors received through the intercession of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. For this reason, our church was configured, not only as a parish seat, but also with the very characteristics of a shrine. However, it was only in 1982 that it was officially declared a “shrine” by the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires. Among the ministries that we, Vincentian missionaries, carry out in the church, the celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation stands out. The shrine is a place of grace in which many pilgrims approach confession, ask for blessings, or simply converse with a priest. While the number of pilgrims coming to the shrine increases significantly on the 27th of each month, on 27 November, the patronal saint’s feast day, the turnout is massive. On that day, a multitudinous procession takes place around the park located in front of the shrine. Throughout the entire day, Masses and confessions are celebrated. In the family milieu, as well as in health and work, there are 
countless testimonies of miracles recounted by pilgrims who come to thank Our Lady.
With regard to parish life, the missionary priests accompany the various movements and institutions. They are also responsible for the animation of the liturgy, the proclamation of the Gospel, and the care of the neediest from the experience of the Vincentian charism.
From the community, we also accompany the “Miraculous Medal Institute’s” almost one thousand students on three levels: initial, primary, and secondary.
As we do every year, we are preparing, during this month of November, to celebrate the Novena and patronal feast in honor of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, to whom we entrust this work and the fruits of our missionary work.
Father Sergio Plana, CM
To learn more about the shrine,
please visit: www.medallamilagrosa.org.ar.
