Marian Pilgrimage to Holy Hill, Wisconsin

With the fatherly presence of the Founder and Prior General of the Institute, Monsignor Gilles Wach, 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 29.

Large 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 pilgrims from the Institute’s St. Gianna Oratory in Tucson, Arizona, and a contingent from Eastern seaboard States as well, 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 tenth anniversary of priestly ordination of Canon Olivier Meney, Rector of St. Stanislaus Oratory in Milwaukee, of Canon Richard von Menshengen, Rector of St. Gianna Oratory in Tucson, Arizona, and Canon Andreas Hellmann, Rector of St. Joseph Oratory in Green Bay, who all had been ordained at the International Seminary of the Institute by the late Alfons Cardinal Stickler in 2000.

The large crowd of pilgrims which walked in procession up the hill praying the Rosary and singing Marian hymns was grateful for the beautiful weather and deep blue sky, a sign of Our Lady’s maternal favor. Inside the crowded Basilica Monsignor Gilles Wach was the celebrant of a beautiful Solemn High Mass of Ember Saturday in the Octave of Pentecost with Canon Hellmann serving as deacon and Canon von Menshengen as subdeacon. Many members of the choirs of the participating apostolates joined together to provide the beautiful choral music and Gregorian Chant. Monsignor R. Michael Schmitz, Vicar General in the Institute and Provincial Superior for the United States, preached on the role of Mary, Spouse of the Holy Ghost and Mother of the priesthood.

After an outdoor picnic lunch, the faithful gathered once again for Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament offered by Monsignor Wach 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, Mr. Joseph Fink, and Mr. Mark Krueger for the use of their photos.