Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion
Courtesy of parishioner Greg Schneider:
Fellow RIVER Pilots,
Just wanted to give you a short report on our visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Wisconsin. The Marian (Northern) Route of the Eucharistic Pilgrimage was in the Diocese of Green Bay this past weekend and Jesus brought them to the Shrine on Sunday, June 23rd. Volunteers said they estimated around 2000 people attended.
The Rector of the Shrine gave a great talk at 1:00 p.m. addressing the Apparition and its connection to the Eucharist. In the Apparition, the Blessed Mother asked Adele Brice, the visionary, to offer her Communion for the atonement of sin and that she should teach the children of the area the Sign of the Cross, their catechism, and how to approach the Sacraments, principally Confession and Eucharist. He emphasized that in this Apparition, as all Marian Apparitions, The Blessed Mother called for prayers for the conversion of sinners.
Then, Jesus in the Pilgrimage Monstrance arrived with the Pilgrims and a beautiful Mass was led by Bishop Ricken of Green Bay. He is the bishop who formally approved the Apparition in 2010. Further, he has very recently advanced the cause for sainthood of Adele Brice to the USCCB, who unanimously endorsed it for sending on to the Vatican. His homily stressed his optimistic view that the Revival will lead to an awakening of belief in the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist which, will in turn, cause a return to the faith of many.
The Bishop then led a Eucharistic Procession of about 1.7 miles on the roads around the Shrine. This was followed by Adoration and Benediction. It was wonderful to see the crowd following Jesus through the farmland—a little greener than Israel, but having a similar feel. Rosaries and Chaplets were heard all along the route.
We were blessed in that the storms blew through in the morning before everything started and the temperature stayed in the 70’s to low 80’s, not the 90 degrees that had been predicted. Mary takes care of her children.
The Shrine is beautiful and compact, tucked away out in the country. It is not hard to get there. It has the elegance and simplicity of Our Mother appearing to a farm girl in the woods. There is a very nice Rosary Walk which surrounds the outdoor Stations of the Cross. In the Oratory, beneath the chapel, is the site of the Apparition and there are many relics including all Twelve Apostles.
We enjoyed the whole event. It was very well planned and the Shrine and its volunteers made it very accommodating for the pilgrims who came. There was no undue pomp and circumstance, but more a sense of friends being together. We saw folks of all ages and stages, all with a focus on the Lord.
If you can get to Springfield or Chicago for an encounter, you will not regret it. We are now looking forward to chasing Jesus near Nashville when He comes to the parish of our children there
Learn more at: championshrine.org
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