Šiluva is a small town of less than 700 inhabitants in Lithuania. It is located in the region of Samogitia. Throughout it's turbulent history. Šiluva has remained the spiritual center for the Catholic faithful from many parts of Lithuania. The Feast of Šiluva has experienced a tremendous revival following the reestablishment of independence in 1990. Pope John Paul II made a special pilgrimage to pray at the National Shrine of Our Lady in Šiluva. during his visit to Lithuania in 1993. On the tenth anniversary of the pope’s visit. a new facility for pilgrims and candidate seminarians was blessed by Archbishop of Kaunas Sigitas Tamkevičius and named The John Paul II Home (Lithuanian: Jono Pauliaus II namai). Lithuanians in the diaspora also hold a strong devotion to Our Lady of Šiluva so that there is a significant chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Šiluva in the United States.