By Jillian Risberg 

St. Thérèse Shrine in Boonton draws vast numbers of people, especially in these trying times.

According to Carol Bsarany — it is a peaceful place of miracles. 

“Many believers have had their prayers answered,” says the Saint Mary’s Denville parishioner. “There are dozens and dozens of roses laid on her altar. St. Thérèse, ‘The Little Flower’ is known for her roses. This is their way of giving thanks.”

St. Thérèse Feast Day is October 1.

“My mission –- to make God loved — will begin after my death. I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses,” St. Thérèse once said. 

Countless lives have been touched by her intercession, and millions imitated her ‘Little Way.’ She has been acclaimed the “Greatest saint of modern times.” Everywhere in the world her roses continue to fall.

Bsarany’s devotion to her is unceasing. The parishioner has been dedicated for more than 30 years. It all started when she was stricken with cancer in 2007 and going through chemo. A visit from her friend, Pat Anderson, changed everything. 

“She took me to the Shrine. Since then, I never left. St. Thérèse helped me through my cancer journey.”

And she is not the only one. 

“A man who was terminally ill/medically could not be cured — his faith brought him to his knees asking for a favor, and he was miraculously cured,” says Bsarany. “Never worry about a medical report, as God has the last say.”

The Shrine is open daily from 8 to 6 p.m., with reduced hours in the winter.

Pastor, Reverend Michael Parisi, of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Mountain Lakes (a mile away from the Shrine) allowed the ministry to move inside the church for a weekly rosary during November and December. 

During this time of great division in America, Bsarany wishes that people take ‘faith, hope, love and kindness’ away from their visits. 

“We need to show each other mercy, no matter what our religious or political beliefs are,” she says, adding that there is great fellowship amongst the saintly visitors, especially on Tuesday. 

“Many come to pray for their family who are very ill or are concerned about the direction America is heading. They are concerned about their children and grandchildren,” she says. “2 Chronicles 7:14 — ‘If my people, called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.’” 

Bsarany says there are many stories from those who attend. There’s a woman whose son is afflicted with a brain tumor, another diagnosed with cancer; and a mother whose son has an enlarged heart.

Most visitors are from different parishes in Morris County, as an ad has been placed in five neighboring church bulletins. 

Bsarany says she and her husband Raymond are very active in their ministry “that has brought awareness to this little Shrine, and now our visitors are bringing others to pray. I could not have done this without him.”

The Shrine can only fit about 15 people inside. That’s why they pray outside by the cross for refuge from their everyday lives.

The history of St. Thérèse represents the gratitude of its founder, Achille Arci and a promise he made and kept back in the 1920s. 

When Arci fell ill and was told by physicians that he was incurable, he didn’t want to accept that prognosis, so he

prayed fervently to St. Thérèse for help. He promised that if he was cured, he would build a shrine in her honor and visit her home in France to pay his respects. 

Apparently, St. Thérèse liked that idea, because after a five-year battle with his illness Arci was suddenly and miraculously cured. 

Keeping his promise required the help of friends so he formed a small society of devout Catholics to build a modest shrine to St. Thérèse. The group solicited donations and volunteered labor to make it a reality and in 1933 was erected on what was then Arci’s property. 

In October 1952, Arci traveled to Lisieux, France to visit St. Thérèse’s home. When he returned, he continued tending to the shrine until his death in 1957. This was his second promise to St. Thérèse . 

“I am a fervent believer in this beautiful saint and continue to visit her Shrine daily,” says Bsarany. “While being there, I felt strongly in my spirit the question, ‘Why are you here praying alone,’ so I contacted Lori Testa, administrator of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church (OLMC), in Boonton, who is responsible for the beautiful renovations of the Shrine, if she would object to a weekly Rosary prayed outside by the cross.” 

Testa loved the idea. 

“In June 2021, we had seven people on the first day. Our last prayer service (December 2021) we had over 100 people praying together,” Bsarany says. 

According to the parishioner, after Mr. Arci’s two daughters died, OLMC assumed property ownership of The Shrine and thanks to a very generous donation, it received a lot of love and attention while closed for the winter of 2022.  

New improvements, which will protect the Shrine — include security cameras, heating and cooling system, exterior gutters with rain barrel collection. 

The ministry begins with the Novena to St. Thérèse , then a prayer for our nation (‘the Memorare’) and ends with the Rosary. They meet every Tuesday at 1 p.m. at 54 Rock Lane, Boonton.

On Tuesday, November 1, they will (again) move to St. Catherine of Siena Church in Mountain Lakes. The last prayer service is Tuesday, December 21 and resumes at the Shrine in May 2023. 

The everlasting impact of The Shrine has inspired Bsarany and others for years.

“Once again — FAITH,” she says. “People realize when all else fails, it’s time for divine intervention.”

For more information, call Carol Bsarany, 973-271-9252.