Saint John Paul II National Shrine
Tom Burnford, D.Min. has extensive experience in Catholic education and leadership roles. Tom has served as President/CEO of the National Catholic Educational Association, Executive Vice President for Latin America at Catholic Virtual, and Director of Outreach and Visitor Services at Saint John Paul II National Shrine. Prior to these roles, Tom held positions in the Archdiocese of Washington and St. Maria Goretti High School. Tom holds a Doctor of Ministry from The Catholic University of America, among other degrees and certifications.
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Saint John Paul II National Shrine
The Saint John Paul II National Shrine is a place of worship, religious formation, and cultural renewal to feed the minds and souls of its visitors. It is a place of pilgrimage with a first-class relic of St. John Paul II’s blood available for veneration. Through liturgy and prayer, art, cultural events, and religious celebrations, pilgrims can enter into our patron’s deep love for God and for man. A major permanent exhibit highlights significant events in the life of Pope John Paul II and his momentous influence as the spiritual father of one billion Catholics and as a world leader. From its conception, the Shrine was intended as a response to St. John Paul II’s call for a “new evangelization,” which was repeated by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. It is meant to be a place of genuine encounter with God that leads to a renewal of individuals, families, societies, and cultures — a place where God, who “entered history” (John Paul II, Homily, Dec. 24, 1999), heals and renews every dimension of human life. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops designated the Shrine a national shrine on March 14, 2014.