Our Lady of the Highways
Why a Shrine to Mary beside the highway?
In 1968, on a foggy October night, seven automobiles collided on interstate 95, just a few yards from an Oblate house. Many Oblates assisted the injured and dying on this busy highway.
Later, the Oblates erected a statue of our Lady as a tribute to those who died, and as a reminder to all motorists to drive safely. This monument was dedicated as a Shrine to Our Lady of the Highways to invoke Mary, Christ's mother, as the protector of travelers.
Eric Stocklin Photography
Thus began a spiritual movement that asks the Mother of Jesus, to intercede and protect travelers across the country. This became known as Mary’s Travelers and is a way the Oblates and their supporters have helped people on the road of life.
The original statue, erected in 1971, was 5 feet tall and made of cement. Replaced in 1986 with a 12-foot-tall marble statue, carved out from Carrara marble.
Historic News Articles
![Original Mary's Travelers Prayer Card](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57082740746fb9895f9277d8/1652291514939-S1BLX7LGK0G55P7BDLQR/OLH%2BPrayer%2BCard%2BFront.jpg)
![Evening Journal, 1974](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57082740746fb9895f9277d8/1652291514992-0YO2W8MRPTW3LL3UXKSA/OLH%2BArticle_1974+%281%29.jpg)
![Washington Post Article, 1986](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57082740746fb9895f9277d8/1652291515525-UACO5YM728MQNGW24UOK/1986.png)
![Washington Post Article, 1986](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57082740746fb9895f9277d8/1652291515714-X8WCZE1AU7JWO15HQPI5/olh%2B1986.png)
![prayers+and+packing.png](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57082740746fb9895f9277d8/1652291516166-QLYKGQKUIVG7ECBU7H82/prayers%2Band%2Bpacking.png)
![Dermarva Dialog Article 1972](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57082740746fb9895f9277d8/1652291516516-F9LEZ7SYSKK5WXL26OT2/1972.png)
![1988 15th Anniversary article](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57082740746fb9895f9277d8/1652291516689-L3HQLHK6PAF6B7FV3JQA/founding.png)
Our Lady of the Highways (Catholic News Service)
Our Lady of the Highways Song (Zoe Mulford)