The Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Ann is a Roman Catholic minor basilica located in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The Latin word basilica (derived from Greek, Basiliké Stoà, Royal Stoa) was originally used to describe a Roman The first temporary chapel on this site, founded by the Passionist order as a monastery church, was erected in 1902; the present building was dedicated on April 2nd, 1929, and on August 29th, 1996 was named a basilica by Pope John Paul II. Passionism is also an artistic movement Passionists are a Roman Catholic religious order that was founded by St Paul of Pope The basilica is the site of an annual solemn novena in honor of St. Ann, which draws thousands of pilgrims every year. For the town in Singapore, see Novena Singapore. Novena is the feminine form of the Medieval Latin word Saint Anne (also Ann or Anna of David's house and line was the mother of the Virgin Mary, according to Christian tradition In Religion and Spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or Search of great Moral significance