The first canonization to take place in the United States will happen just a couple of miles from the home of Servant of God Mary Virginia Merrick. On Sept. 23, 2015, Pope Francis will canonize Blessed Junipero Serra, OFM, a 17th century missionary to what is now California.
"It is exciting to have a canonization held here in the United States," said Anne Kelly, president of the National Christ Child Society, "and in the same city where Mary Virginia Merrick's faith was formed and where she worked so tirelessly for children in need."
While in Washington, Pope Francis will visit St. Patrick, Mary's childhood parish, and Catholic Charities, which followed the lead of the Christ Child Society when it began offering broad-based Catholic social services for children in the nation's capital