HOW IT ALL BEGAN......                       .

1953 - 70 ACRES IN EASTPORT, LONG ISLAND WERE DONATED TO THE MONTFORT MISSIONARIES BY CRESCENZO & ANGELINA VIGLIOTTA, SR. FOR A SHRINE TO HONOR MARY, MOTHER OF GOD.

1957 - MR. AND MRS. JOHN HARRISON OF EAST MORICHES FOLLOW WITH THEIR GIFT OF THE "ROCK" AND  SURROUNDING ACRES OVERLOOKING MORICHES BAY.

1975 -  18 FOOT STATUE OF MARY AND THE CHRIST CHILD DESIGNED BY RAFAEL DESOTO OF PATCHOGUE WAS A GIFT OF MARIO & ROSE VIGLIOTTA, THOMAS & ROSELLA VIGLIOTTA, AND  ERNEST & PHIL VIGLIOTTA AND PLACED ATOP ON THE "ROCK"               

1976 - BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL CONSTRUCTED. DEDICATION OF SHRINE TO  "OUR LADY OF THE ISLAND" ON OCTOBER 2ND.

1977 - PILGRIM HALL WAS OPENED TO THE PUBLIC TO RECEIVE LARGE GROUPS

1979 - DESIGN, PLANTING AND BLESSING OF ROSARY WALK-  GREEN SHRUBS AND BUSHES REPRESENT CRUCIFIX AND 150 BEADS OF THE ROSARY DONATED  AND MAINTAINED BY ELVIRA AND PHILLIP HAGENBERGER.

1981- STATIONS OF THE CROSS - OUTDOOR STATIONS CONSTRUCTED ALONG 1/4 MILE WOODED PATH

1981 - GIFT SHOP AND CAFETERIA OPENED IN PILGRIM HALL                                       

1982 - RESURRECTION OF JESUS, THE 15TH STATION WAS THE GIFT OF THE ALBERT & MINNIE DANZA FAMILY.

1984 - HOLY STAIRS, THE 12TH STATION, DESIGNED AND DONATED BY MR. NICK MONTANARO.

1985 - "PIETA" SET ON THE KNOLL TO GREET VISITORS. GIFT OF FR. AUGUST NEUMANN.   

    "MEMORIAL BOOK" -GIFT OF REGINA AND DAVID FITZGERALD. HONORING ALL THE SHRINE'S FRIENDS AND BENEFACTORS.


HOW IT ALL CONTINUES

THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS, OUR ARCHITECT, MR. LEE SAGISTANO, KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AND COLUMBIETTES, CATHOLIC AND FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO YOU BECAUSE YOU MAKE THE SHRINE A PLACE OF PRAYER.