TOUR OF EUROPEAN SHRINES KICKS OFF IN FÜSSEN
A group of 50 Americans from Louisiana and Texas are on a 16 day tour of Shrines in Germany,Belgium and France. The "Come Holy Spirit Pilgrimage-Retreat" is the 15th Annual Pilgrimage with Father Manny Fernandez and it kicked off in St Mang Basilica,Füssen on Monday 9th June 2008.Father Emmanuel Fernandez,Parish Priest of St Stephan in Berwick,LA,USA, celebrated Mass in English for the Pilgrims.
During his sermon at the opening Mass of the European Pilgrimage,Father Fernandez told those present that the success of the Pilgrimage depends on everyone on it.Prayer is so important.It is wonderful to start the day with Holy Mass.He explained the importance of community prayers and also how praying alone in quiet prayer helps to build up the soul."It makes you stronger,more peaceful and happy"he told them.He also urged all to go at least once to confession during their time together."Be poor in spirit as the gospel tells us,Live simply and share with others"was his message to all.
During his sermon at the opening Mass of the European Pilgrimage,Father Fernandez told those present that the success of the Pilgrimage depends on everyone on it.Prayer is so important.It is wonderful to start the day with Holy Mass.He explained the importance of community prayers and also how praying alone in quiet prayer helps to build up the soul."It makes you stronger,more peaceful and happy"he told them.He also urged all to go at least once to confession during their time together."Be poor in spirit as the gospel tells us,Live simply and share with others"was his message to all.
During the Mass they also prayed for a newly ordained Priest,Father Clint Trahan who is to join them.He will be bringing a "quadraplegic pilgrim who is hoping for both spiritual and physical healing as they visit the different shrines.
During every Mass on the Pilgrimage all wear specially designed scapulars which show the different spiritual places they will visit.The pilgrimage takes place every year and they visit different places each time.
The group were then introduced to Frau Lily Neumaier-Aschenbrenner,the great grandniece of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos.
Frau Neumaier-Aschenbrenner has since 1964 been promoting the cause for canonization of her relative.
Also on the Pilgrimage and visiting the shrine of Blessed Seelos for the first time was Joyce Bourgeois.
Joyce is the Administrator of the International Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos in New Orleans.
She told us she was visiting "By the grace of God".
Father Emmanuel Fernandez with his Godchild.Father Fernandez is the Spiritual Director of the Pilgrimage
The group have with them a relic of blessed Francis Xavier Seelos.We thank Susan Sternberg,a parishioner of St Mar'ys Assumption Church,New Orleans for allowing us to photograph her 1st class relic of Blessed Seelos.
After the group picture outside of St Mang Basilica,the group were invited to visit Frau Neumaier-Aschenbrenner's house.Within the house she has a room on the 3rd floor which houses the family documents pertaining to her past relative.
Joyce Bourgeois,Director International Seelos Shrine,New Orleans(R) & her daughter,Christine who also works at the New Orleans Shrine,outside the house of Frau Lily Neumaier-Aschenbrenner,one of the last surviving relatives of Blessed Seelos.Joyce told us that Christine is her "Seelos Miracle".Her daughter survived meningococcal Meningitis against all the odds that the doctors gave her thanks to the intervention of Blessed Seelos.
Inside the house of Frau Neumaier-Aschenbrenner
Frau Neumaier-Aschenbrenner gets the pilgrims to sign her guest book whilst she shows them the documents.Anyone can visit the family documents between 1600hrs-1800hrs on a Tuesday or Friday.
It is a very small room so normally a maximum of 12 people can go in there at a time.It is best to ring her or her secretary in advance on 0049 (0)8362 7886.(Both can speak English)
The rest of the day the pilgrims were able to visit the Hohes Schloss(High Castle) which used to belong to the Prince-Bishops of Augsburg.They also visited many other places in the city.
Concentration Camp, and the Church Approved apparition sites of Beauraing and Banneux.
The organizer of the Pilgrimage,Bonnie Latidais told us that all on the Pilgrimage were looking for spiritual,physical or mental healing of some kind.A special healing service will be held as well.
We pray for them all as they travel around the Shrines.It good to know that they started here at the European Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos
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