VANDALIA — On Sunday, June 24, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki blessed the Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother in Vandalia.
"The bishop personally named our building. It will function as the main retreat center for Our Sorrowful Mother's Ministry, which is a ministry of healing and hope," says Shelly Pichler, a volunteer with OSMM.
"Attendance for the blessing was standing room only," Pichler says. "We were so happy that so many people came there that day for the blessing. It was a really cool thing."
Bishop Paprocki was the main celebrant of the Mass and Father Daren Zehnle was master of ceremonies. Concelebrating were Father Joseph Havrilka, pastor of Mother of Dolors in Vandalia and St. Joseph in Ramsey; Father John Titus, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo, Charleston and chaplain of Eastern Illinois University Newman Catholic Center; Father Bill Casey, superior general of the Fathers of Mercy in South Union, Ky., national speaker and a frequent EWTN guest; Father Ubald Rugirangoga from Rwanda, who is a survivor of the Rwandan genocides; Father Martin Mannion, originally from Nigeria and currently serving as a pastor in Flora, Mo.; and Father Tim Byerley a priest of the diocese of Camden, NJ and vice-postulator for the cause of Maria Esperanza, Servant of God.
Diocesan seminarians Wayne Stock and Braden Maher assisted, and musicians for the Mass and blessing were internationally-known Catholic artists Annie Karto and Matthew Baute.
Our Sorrowful Mother's Ministry is constantly offering new ways for faithful Catholics to worship, says Pichler. For example, coming next month, the ministry will host first class relics of Padre Pio, along with two retreats led by Capuchin Father Ermelindo Di Capua. "Also in August, we will also have the first-class relics of Blessed Jacinta and Francesco of Fatima, along with the original pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima direct from Fatima, Portugal," Pichler said.
The relics will be venerated on Tuesday, Aug. 14, Tuesday, Aug. 21 and Wednesday, Aug. 22. The times for veneration, which are open to both adults and children, are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 5 to 8 p.m.
Father Di Capua, a personal friend of St. Padre Pio, will lead the August retreats, from Wednesday, Aug. 15 to Thursday, Aug. 16 (beginning with Mass at 4 p.m. on Wednesday and concluding with a healing service at 8 p.m. on Thursday) and again from Friday, Aug. 17 through Sunday, Aug. 19 (beginning with Mass at 4 p.m. on Friday and ending by noon on Sunday).
Finally, Pichler says she hopes people also will consider attending the Sorrowful Mother's Ministry annual conference Oct. 26-28. At that retreat, attendees will have a chance to hear Immaculee Ilibagiza, author of the books Left to Tell, Led by Faith and Our Lady of Kiberho. Ilibagiza is a survivor of the Rwandan Holocaust and is an international speaker. "We are just overwhelmed that she is coming to Vandalia," says Pichler.
For more information on Our Sorrowful Mother's Ministry, go to the website www.osmm.org or call Mariann at (618) 292-8039 or Ann at (618) 846-3875.