Marian Pilgrimage to Holy Hill

Over five hundred faithful and friends of the Institute participated in a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians at the Basilica of Holy Hill near Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Saturday, May 28. On this same day Monsignor Wach, Founder and Prior General of the Institute (who offered the Mass at Holy Hill for last year’s pilgrimage), Monsignor Schmitz, twenty Canons of the Institute, along with the seminarians and Sisters Adorers, led a very large group of faithful and friends of the Institute on a pilgrimage to the Marian sanctuary of Lourdes, France. Despite the great distance which separated them, these two simultaneous pilgrimages were closely united in praying with one another to Mary Immaculate for the intentions of the Institute.

Numerous chapters of faithful from St. Stanislaus Oratory in Milwaukee, from St. Joseph’s Oratory in Green Bay, from St. Mary’s Oratory in Wausau, St. Mary’s in Cashton, from St. Mary Oratory in Rockford, and from the Shrine of Christ the King in Chicago, as well as pilgrim friends from far and wide, all converged on Holy Hill in thanksgiving to the Blessed Virgin Mary for the many graces received by the Institute. In particular the pilgrims honored the Priesthood of Our Lord during this Year of the Priest in celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of priestly ordination of Canon Brian Bovee, Rector of St. Mary’s Oratory in Rockford, Illinois.

The large crowd of pilgrims walked in procession up the wooded hill, praying the Rosary and singing Marian hymns. Canon Bovee was the celebrant of a beautiful Solemn High Votive Mass of Our Lady Help of Christians. Volunteer choir members of the participating apostolates joined the choir of St. Stanislaus Oratory in Milwaukee to provide the beautiful choral music and Gregorian Chant.

The outdoor picnic lunch was a wonderful opportunity for friends and faithful of various Institute apostolates to meet each other and to deepen their friendships. Afterwards everyone gathered for Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament offered by Canon Bovee in the crypt church of the Basilica and the renewal of the Consecration of the Institute to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. A wonderful manifestation of the family spirit of the Institute, this pilgrimage expressed the power of charity to unite the faithful in the sacred Liturgy of Holy Mother Church.

Special thanks to Dr. William Machata and Mr. Justin Ong for the use of their photos.