Dear Parishioners and Friends, with the permission of our Parish Rector, Fr. Brian Alford, I am inviting you to an overnight Pilgrimage/bus trip to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, on Friday and Saturday, October 15-16, 2021.
Founded about two decades ago by his Eminence, Raymond Cardinal Burke – the then Bishop of the Diocese of LaCrosse, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in LaCrosse attracts thousands of pilgrims from around the world every year. While seeking a deeper relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ through devotions to our Blessed Mother, Catholics from around the world make this pilgrimage. Achieving this spiritual goal, many of these pilgrims end up attracting countless miracles and blessings for themselves and their loved ones.
As a privileged son of our Blessed Mother, when a group of parishioners asked me to help organize and lead this pilgrimage, I quickly agreed to it for three reasons. First, our Blessed Mother has been so kind to me and blessed me with many unmerited gifts, including my call to the priesthood and a promise to protect it until the end. Second, I have heard many people recount how blessed they feel after such spiritual pilgrimages to such powerful Shrines of our Blessed Mother. Lastly, as one of your priests, I pray every day and seek ways of helping you grow in your relationship with Christ through devotion and friendship with our Blessed Mother. For these reasons, I am inviting you all to join me on this pilgrimage. The first 50 people that register and pay will be accommodated for this pilgrimage.
To register, call Bill Vogt at the parish office (217-522-3342 ext. 131) and make your registration. The payment will be $270.00 for a private room with a standard king-size bed and $230.00 to share a room with someone else. The payment will cover the transportation, hotel, bus tip, and shrine donation expenses. Payments will be accepted by checks, cash, or ETF and must be addressed to the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Springfield, IL.
The last day for registration with a full or half payment ($150.00) will be Monday, August 30, 2021. For half-payments, complete payment will be due on Monday, September 27, 2021.
Whether you plan to join us for this pilgrimage or not, everyone is welcome to join us on a Novena Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe. This Novena will start on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary Thursday, October 7, 2021. It will take place daily right after the 7:00am Mass (8:00am on Saturday) and will be streamed online via the Cathedral Facebook page. Please, bring your intentions and those of your loved ones to this Novena Prayer. We will conclude the Novena upon arrival at the Shrine on Friday, October 15, 2021 – the Feast of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus.
For any questions, clarifications, or inquiries about the pilgrimage, contact me (Fr. Peter Chineke) at 217-522-3342 ext. 134 or send me an email at [email protected]