Marlene Lunardi and Carole Dolehanty of St. Joan of Arc Parish-Bettendorf pray the rosary under candlelight during a pilgrimage to Holy Hill in Wisconsin earlier this month.
By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger
Accompanying 54 pilgrims on a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Champion and Holy Hill, both in Wisconsin, was “a wonderful experience,” said Bishop Dennis Walsh. KTJT Quad Cities Catholic Radio, based in Davenport, sponsored the Oct. 7-9 trip.
A highlight for many pilgrims was a rosary procession in the evening at Holy Hill.
The pilgrimage started at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, which is the site of the only Church-approved Marian apparition in the United States, Bishop Walsh noted. “I had never heard of it until I arrived here as bishop.” He said visiting the site was “a very prayerful experience.” It is not an overly commercialized area and remains a place of pilgrimage and prayer.
He first heard of Holy Hill while studying theology with some Carmelite seminarians. “They had always talked about their experiences on the hill. I always had a curiosity about the place.”
Holy Hill, the site of the Basilica and National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, is located in Hubertus, Wisconsin. This is a drive of about two hours south from the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion.
At Holy Hill, Bishop Walsh took the stairs rather than the elevator to the basilica. “It was quite the climb. Halfway up, I started to regret the decision. Some went all the way to the top of the tower. I stopped at the basilica.” The bishop celebrated Mass for the pilgrims at the basilica.
“Many of those on the pilgrimage with us were deeply inspired by rosary procession in the evening. A highlight for me was celebrating the Feast Day Mass with Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, along with 2,000 other pilgrims. Overall it was a wonderful experience.”
Other clergy attending were Father William Kneemiller, a retired priest of the diocese; Father Manu John, parochial vicar at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Davenport; and Deacon Chuck Metzger of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Bettendorf.
Pat Cannaday of Holy Family Parish in Davenport, another pilgrim, has had a devotion to the Blessed Mother since she was a child.
Recuperating from major spinal surgery less than two months before the pilgrimage, her therapy was walking. She contacted Ginger Arnold, the pilgrimage director and program manager for KTJT, about availability of tickets. There were only two tickets left. She took both and invited Sandi Hansen to go along.
Despite wearing a brace, walking with an upright rollator walker and walking stick, and requiring help from KTJT board member John Oliger, medical director Brian Dugan and Scott Seele — Cannaday was able to participate.
“There were so many grand events,” she said. “I appreciated the privilege of two private Masses presided by Bishop Walsh and concelebrated by Father Kneemiller and Father Manu, assisted by Deacon Metzger with Tom Simmons (pilgrim) on the altar as well.”
The Solemnity Mass of Our Lady of Champion on Oct. 9 “was absolutely beautiful.” It was presided by Bishop Ricken. Concelebrants were Bishop Walsh and Bishop Edouard Sinayobye of Rwanda, Africa. “There had to be thousands of priests, deacons, religious and lay people from around the world, celebrating the 167th Anniversary of Our Lady’s Apparitions to the now Servant of God Adele Brice,” Cannaday said.
Also on the pilgrimage, she “attended an outstanding presentation (on) the horrific Oct. 8, 1871, Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin. The facts of the fire claiming up to 2,500 lives and burning up to 1.5 million acres, making it the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history, is something I’m shocked I had never previously learned.”
“I was amazed at the miracle that took place during the fire,” Cannaday said. “The fenced in 5-acre grounds containing the chapel and where Adele, refugees, and livestock took refuge were completely unharmed as they prayed the rosary and processed with the statue of Our Lady.”
Her favorite activity was the half-mile candlelight rosary procession Oct. 8 that represented the Miracle of the Fire of 1871.
“For 35 years, I have had a devotion to Saint Joseph,” said pilgrim Tom Simmons of Our Lady of Victory Parish in Davenport. “For the last year and a half I have felt a calling to explore a devotion to our Blessed Mother. I went on this pilgrimage to develop that relationship.”
He was able to serve at both Masses. At Holy Hill he felt “the presence of the Holy Spirit was very strong there.”
While standing in the sanctuary before Mass at Our Lady of Champion, “I was overcome being at the site of an apparition of our Blessed Mother as well as a place where miracles have happened. The presence of the Holy Spirit was even stronger there. It was a most humbling experience to have served at those altars.”
“My life has changed,” Simmons said. “I now have a devotion to Our Blessed Mother. Our Lady of Champion, pray for us.”
Hansen, of St. Joan of Arc Parish, who traveled with Cannaday, said the trip was “very inspiring.” One of the many blessings was Bishop Walsh sharing his story of priesthood and experiences as bishop — along with him presiding at Mass each day.
“Learning the details of the story of Our Lady of Champion was so inspiring, hearing of both the apparition of Mary to Adele and how the Lord protected the entire area from the deadly fire. For me it was a reminder of how much our Lord and our Lady care for us, and their desire to protect us.”
“The gathering of so many for the rosary and Mass was a beautiful reminder of the unity of our Catholic faith,” Hansen said.
Arnold said the pilgrimage had “picture perfect weather” and there was a “great chemistry among our guests.”
A highlight for her was seeing the thousands of lit candles lining the rosary path alongside the fence. The candles simulated the Great Peshtigo Fire that surrounded what was then a chapel and a school.
“With such a Catholic treasure within driving distance and so few knowing about it, I think there’s great potential for helping to spread Mary’s message to our little corner of the world: ‘Go and fear nothing. For I will help you,’” Arnold said.
