Christ the King Parish Pilgrimage 2025
On June 13 and 14, forty-eight pilgrims from Christ the King parish and other local parishes loaded a tour bus and headed to Wisconsin to spend the weekend in prayer, learn about two holy and sacred places and share their faith with each other. Organized by Larry and Angie Taylor and spiritually led by Fr. Cameron, Fr. Geoff Mooney and Deacon Andy, we travelled about 3 hours to Holy Hill in southeast Wisconsin. Located on the highest point in the area, the beauty and serenity of Holy Hill – Basilica and National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, helped set the tone for our weekend. We had Mass in the basilica and learned about the history of the site. We had an opportunity to tour the basilica, pray in the chapel dedicated to Our Lady, and spend time walking the grounds, where there were stations of the cross and other dedicated spaces for prayer. The site was dedicated to Mary by French Jesuits in the mid 1600’s. It wasn’t until the mid-1800’s that it became a place for local Irish Catholics to practice their faith. It was also at this time that it was designated as a shrine to Mary Help of Christians. In the early 1900’s Discalced Carmelites from Bavaria were assigned to be the custodians of this holy place.
After spending the afternoon at Holy Hill, we travelled to Green Bay to spend the night. A lovely Italian buffet was provided, as well as great conversation among the pilgrims. The priests offered confession after dinner.
On Saturday morning, we headed to Champion, Wisconsin located about 15 miles from Green Bay. Located in central Wisconsin farmland, the site is designated as the only approved Marian apparition in the U.S. A young Belgian woman named Adele Brice had three apparitions in October of 1859. The message from Our Lady was to help educate the settlers in the Catholic faith in “this wild country” and to teach them to love Jesus for the sake of their salvation. Our Lady of Champion is a special place, a place where heaven and earth have touched. On these remote sacred grounds, the pilgrims spent time in prayer, Adoration, and enjoying the spot where Our Lady appeared to a poor young Belgian lady over 100 years ago, where pioneer students and families were taught the Catholic faith, and where miracles have occurred.
This was the second pilgrimage in the last three summers sponsored by Christ the King parish. One of the Church’s most ancient and meaningful traditions, a pilgrimage is a sacred journey that reflects our deeper spiritual longing for God. We leave behind the routine of daily life to step into a space of grace, prayer, and an encounter with God. We are grateful as pilgrims for the opportunity to share this opportunity with others who have this common desire and longing for God.
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