Guest column by Fr. Michael Stec
Pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish in Ulysses
I was blessed to lead a parish pilgrimage to the National Shine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, Mo., Sept. 19-21. My name is Father Michael Stec. I am the pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Ulysses. Let me share with you how it happened.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the dedication of our current church. When the old church was destroyed by fire in 1949, a new church was built and dedicated by Bishop Louis Kucera Oct. 3, 1950. I wondered how we might commemorate this anniversary. My first thought was a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France. It was there the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Bernadette and said to her, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” When I proposed this to my parish last year however, there was little interest.
It was on the way to the pro-life gala in Omaha in late January that the seed for a different type of pilgrimage was planted. During the drive, Mary Chris Fiala told us of her trip to see the uncorrupt body of Sister Wilhelmina in the summer of 2023. She said she experienced an overwhelming feeling of joy and inspiration in that encounter, and wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all could experience that? I said, “Let’s see if we can make it happen.”
A few months later, we sat down with Ann Rech, another parishioner, to make plans for a pilgrimage. In addition to visiting Gower, we wanted to visit someplace connected with our patroness, the Immaculate Conception. The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville is an official pilgrimage site for the Jubilee Year and also within driving distance. Perfect.
We decided on the third weekend of September – after our parish bazaar and before harvest got into full swing. The Basilica of St. Louis and the Shrine of St. Joseph were also added to our pilgrimage stops. (The Basilica was later changed to St. John the Apostle and Evangelist when the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious decided to hold its annual meeting at the Basilica the same weekend we intended to visit.)
Mary Chris was phenomenal in putting together an itinerary, making arrangements with the bus company and hotels, and registering pilgrims. A total of 52 pilgrims registered – 28 from our parish and 24 friends and family members, mostly from Dwight, David City, Seward, and Bellwood.
Before we loaded the bus on Friday, we prayed a Votive Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I challenged myself and the other pilgrims, “Where will you encounter God on this pilgrimage?” And also, “How will you bring God to others, as Mary did at the Visitation?”
I believe we had many encounters with God on our pilgrimage. We encountered God in the beauty and glory of the shrines and churches (The Shrine of St. Joseph in St. Louis is particularly beautiful). We encountered God in the veneration of the relics of many saints at the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal, and the relics of St. Peter Claver and St. Padre Pio at the Shrine of St. Joseph.
We encountered God in the angelic voices of the Benedictine Sisters as they chanted midafternoon prayer. We encountered God in the holy joy of Sister Martina as she explained the life of the Benedictine Sisters, and the stories she told of the faith, humility, and obedience of Sister Wilhelmina. Al Moravec said of Sister Martina, “She was so full of joy and happiness. It was very contagious to me. She set me up for the rest of the pilgrimage.”
We encountered God in the hospitality of Anthony, the hotel desk clerk at Perryville, who is from Nigeria and now studying in the United States. We encountered God in each other – in our conversations, meal stops, and prayers on the bus. We encountered God in the pleasant surprises (and inconveniences) present in every pilgrimage. Mary Chris wanted to play a video on the bus but couldn’t get it to work. We said a prayer to St. Carlo Acutis, and Voilà!
We encountered God in an increase in devotion. CeCe Bechtel and Dolly Stara both said they felt a stronger connection with the Blessed Mother. CeCe wrote, “Visiting the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal rekindled my devotion to our Mother Mary, filling me with a more trusting spirit.” CeCe also expressed how God answered her prayer for spiritual healing for someone who was struggling in her relationship with God.
And while not a religious experience, we enjoyed a marvelous lunch of smoked meats and Memphis-style barbecue at Pappy’s Smokehouse in St. Louis. If you are ever there, you have to try it!
Use the graces of this Jubilee Year to increase your devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary Bohling said it well: “The Blessed Mother offers us many tools to lead us to her Son, Jesus. These tools include the messages from Fatima, Lourdes, and Knock.” Love of Mary will bring us to a greater love for her Son.
I encourage you to make a pilgrimage during this Jubilee Year. You don’t have to make a three-day journey to another state. Make a day trip to one of the many pilgrimage sites designated by our diocese. Make a retreat. Encounter His mercy in a good confession. Do not let this Jubilee Year pass by without doing something special to encounter God. Let him touch your soul so that God can touch others through you.
We encounter God especially in the Holy Sacrifice of Mass. Let us strive to renew our devotion to Mass and Holy Communion. May every Holy Communion fill us with the strength and heavenly grace we need for the pilgrimage to our heavenly home.
Courtesy photos
