Southern Nebraska Register/Catholic News Agency
Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House in Waverly will celebrate its patronal feast, with a day of faith, fellowship and gratitude Friday, April 25.
The celebration will begin with Mass at 8:30 a.m., followed by a light breakfast, coffee, and fellowship. Organizers said the event is a joyful opportunity to gather in community and express gratitude for the loving intercession of the Blessed Mother, especially in the lives of all who have experienced spiritual renewal through retreats.
The celebration is open to all, and attendees are also welcome to participate in the “Desert Day” retreat happening concurrently. Desert Days allow retreatants to arrive at Our Lady of Good Counsel between 7 and 9 a.m. on a scheduled weekday, and leave at their convenience in the afternoon. The day is mostly self-led, with time for confessions, Mass, lunch and Eucharistic adoration.
The patroness of the retreat house in Waverly, founded in 1963, is Our Lady of Good Counsel. On the feast of St. Mark, April 25, 1467, at the close of a festival in Genazzano, Italy, a cloud descended upon an ancient fifth-century deteriorated church, dedicated to Our Lady of Good Counsel. When the cloud disappeared, the festive crowd found a small, fragile image of the Blessed Virgin and Child on a thin sheet of plaster. The painting is said to have hung in mid-air, suspended without support, floating, on a small ledge. The fresco is said to date to the time of the Apostles. It had long been venerated in Albania’s capital city, Scutari.
Much of the church of Our Lady of Good Counsel was destroyed in World War II, but the image remained intact and in place. The miraculous image is still there, after more than 500 years. Countless miracles have been attributed to the prayerful intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Many pilgrims visit the church in Genazzano, and take part in the annual spring celebration, observed on April 25. Elsewhere in the world, the feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel is celebrated April 26.
The April 25 celebration will be held at the retreat house, 7303 N. 112th St., Waverly. For more information, contact 402-786-2705 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
