Letter from Monsignor William H. Easton
January 2008
Father Coughlin was the founding pastor of the National Shrine in the Little Flower. As a young priest in 1925 he was sent to Royal Oak to start a new church dedicated to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the first shrine dedicated to her in the United States. Over the years the Shrine community has grown to more than 4,000 families, and is a significant part of the community through social programs and assistance to those in need. The parish members who do remember him, remember Father Coughlin as their pastor; while his public role outside the parish was centered here, it was the pastor that was known in the parish.
This site's documents and images of the National Shrine of the Little Flower show the daily life and growth of the parish during and after Father Coughlin's tenure here. The history of the parish is rich in community involvement and outreach. The many activities of the parish community are revealed in the Shrine Herald, the weekly parish bulletin. Images of the church show its beauty and reveal the commitment of generations of parishioners to their faith and community.
Monsignor William H. Easton, Pastor
National Shrine of the Little Flower
Royal Oak, MI