Volume LI Number 6 National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos In the Redemptorist Church of Saint Mary’s Assumption www.seelos.org 919 Josephine Street New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 525-2495 June 2012 After Flannery O’Connor was diagnosed with Lupus, she put aside her disdain for travel and crowds to make a pilgrimage to the Shrine at Lourdes. While there, she observed: “The sight of Faith and affliction joined in prayer —very impressive.” She also said, “The thing about Lourdes is that you are not inclined to pray there for yourself at all as you see so many people worse off.” Months later, when the doctor reported that her hip bone was now strong enough for her to walk without crutches, she wrote that even if the improvement was not due to a Lourdes miracle, it was “something to be grateful to the same Source for.” Moreover, she told a priest that at Lourdes, she had “prayed for my creative bones rather than the other kind,” acknowledging that those prayers were indeed answered. Those who travel to be part of the crowd at one of the Seelos Healing Masses observe how impressive faith and affliction are, when joined in prayer. The April 29th Seelos Healing Mass was no exception! PHOTO CREDIT: MARY JANE DRNDAK & SIS PERTUIT
Transcript
Volume LINumber 6
National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos
In the Redemptorist Church of Saint Mary’s Assumption
www.seelos.org919 Josephine Street New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 525-2495 June 2012
After Flannery O’Connor was diagnosed with Lupus, she put aside her disdain for travel and crowds to make a pilgrimage to the Shrine at Lourdes. While there, she observed: “The sight of Faith and affliction joined in prayer—very impressive.” She also said, “The thing about Lourdes is that you are not inclined to pray there for yourself at all as you see so many people worse off.” Months later, when the doctor reported that her hip bone was now strong enough for her to walk without crutches, she wrote that even if the improvement was not due to a Lourdes miracle, it was “something to be grateful to the same Source for.” Moreover, she told a priest that at Lourdes, she had “prayed for my creative bones rather than the other kind,” acknowledging that those prayers were indeed answered.
Those who travel to be part of the crowd at one of the Seelos Healing Masses observe how impressive faith and affliction are, when joined in prayer. The April 29th Seelos Healing Mass was no exception!
PHOTO CREDIT: MARY JANE DRNDAK & SIS PERTUIT
Seelos Center Services Pilgrimages to Seelos Shrine & Museum. Call Center: 504-525-2495, Open Mon-Fri, 9 to 3; Sat, 10 to 3:30. Daily Prayer Message 504-586-1803
Blessings of the Sick with a Seelos Crucifix in designated area hospitals:
East Jefferson Gerry Heigle: 504-482-4404 Teresa LaCour: 504-887-0214Ochsner (Kenner) Linda DiMaggio: 504-287-8732Ochsner (Jefferson) Mark/Monica Surprenant 504-895-5371 Marie Giorlando 504-884-9977 Earl Moraga 504-305-6987 Uptown/Innercity Dennis Waldron: 504-442-6336Westbank Elmo Miller: 504-362-2674 Mary Grace Orsag: 504-367-7515Abbeville/Erath/Lafayette Boniface ‘Boni’ Suire: 337-937-5675Baton Rouge Gloria Bacque: 225-753-3800Bogalusa Mary Haaga: 985-735-1056Covington Dr. Ann Logarbo: 985-886-0218 April Mayo: 985-892-1828Houma/Thibodaux Dan Montz, L.P.C.: 985-446-1805Lacombe/Abita Springs Billy Bachemin: 985-288-7006Lafayette/New Iberia/Morgan City Fred Roy: 337-380-0646LaPlace Courtney Guidry: 985-653-1343 Mandeville David Brumfield: 985-886-9235 Lisa & Eric Johnsen 985-845-8116New Iberia/Abbeville/Jeanerette Rachel Gonsoulin: 337-224-7855Pearl River Gail Garay: 985-863-7562 Picayune/Carriere, MS Charlotte Carolla: 601-916-4233 Ponchatoula/Hammond Gasper Corpora: 225-294-5938Prairieville/Gonzales M/M Claude Bourgeois 225-673-6688 Shreveport/Bossier City Tom & Marjorie Rivers: 318-797-3116Slidell Carmelie Mancuso: 985-502-7325 Mary Jo Stewart: 985-502-9033St. Bernard/Arabi Patricia Noote: 504-756-4163
Byron Miller, C.Ss.R.
“My wound is geography.” Pat Conroy’s novel, The Prince of Tides, begins with these four incisive words to open up the conflicts of being a southern male. While New Orleanians muse on our distinctive street names, such as those from Greek mythology, the real tragedy exists in our fragmented
asphalt and sporadic street signage. With cavernous potholes that can tragically lead to one’s downfall, our wounds are geographically inflicted!
The Seelos Welcome Center at 919 Josephine Street sits on the site of the original St. Mary’s Assumption Church. It is situated near the Mississippi River, between Tchoupitoulas and Magazine streets. According to a local anecdote from the time of Father Seelos, a policeman found a dead horse lying in the street at the corner of Common and Tchoupitoulas streets. He took out his notebook to report the incident, but after repeated attempts to spell Tchoupitoulas, he grabbed the horse by the tail and dragged it a block down the street to write, “Dead horse in the street at the corner of Common and Magazine.”
To further confuse locals, confound tourists, and discombobulate GPSs, many historic Creole streets in New Orleans neither connect nor share their same names with the American streets that continue their length. And even though it has often been suggested that Redemptorists appeal to the bureaucracy of New Orleans to rename a stretch of Josephine Street in front of the shrine for Seelos, perhaps a block-long “Seelos Street” would only create more frustrating navigation. Besides, Father Seelos himself would have preferred being a sign that simply points to “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
It is worth noting that in the French Quarter, streets named for loyal saints exist alongside those named for royal sinners. How appropriate when they intersect! After all, is not the name “saint” merely a sign of those who know they are wounded sinners?
ocation!ocation!ocation!
Theodore Lilienthal (1829-1894) took this photo in 1867, the year that Father Seelos was prefect of Saint Mary’s Assumption Church before dying of yellow fever on October 4th. The fenced area is where the original church was situated and where the current Seelos Welcome Center is located.
HOW SEELOS SAW IT!
2012 Annual Appeal - Statement of Intent
Yes, I am able to support the Seelos Shrine and Canonization Cause through my prayers.
Yes, Father Byron, I want to support the cause of Blessed Francis Seelos in gratitude for Graces Received & Prayers Answered. $_______ to be used for this specific need:
the ministry at the National Shrine of Bl. Francis Seelos. Phase I “Extreme Makeover” of the Seelos Shrine & Museum. other item(s) designated below:
City ______________________ ST ____ ZIP _____________
Visa Mastercard Discover
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Exp. Date: __ __ /__ __ Last 3 digits on signature line: __ __ __
Signature:______________________________
THANK YOU!Please cut & return to:
National Shrine of Bl. Francis X. Seelos
919 Josephine Street New Orleans, LA 70130
A gift of $500 will go directly to the first renovation phase
of the Seelos Shrine & Seelos Museum, constructed in the
years 2000 & 1986, respectively. Our gift to you in return is the
recently published Seelos biography.
Seel
os C
ente
r N
ews A monthly newsletter for friends of
BL. FRANCIS X. SEELOS
Denver Provincial Superior:Very Rev. Harry Grile, C.Ss.R.
Seelos Center Executive Director / Editor: Rev. Byron Miller, C.Ss.R.
Seelos Center Administrator: Joyce Bourgeois,Rev. Terry McCloskey C.Ss.R., Jackie Milan, Nick Punch
Vice-Postulators: Frs. John Vargas & Byron Miller
Seelos Center News (USPS 4472) published monthlyby the Redemptorists / National Shrine of Bl. F.X. Seelos
Subscription is $12 per year.
Special $20 offering to enroll fathers, living or deceased, in Perpetual
Mass League only during the month of June in honor
of Father’s Day!Special $10 offering to enroll fathers, living or deceased, in
One-Year Mass League
The Seelos Center fully & solely assumes that which is necessary for the canonization of Bl. Seelos & it
maintains a national shrine to house his sacred remains
and embody his spirit in ministry and outreach.
Please consider the National Shrine of Blessed Francis Seelos
for your employer matching gift program. Fed. Tax ID #72-0576253
A gift of $100 will continue to allow our hospital blessers to distribute complimentary rosaries, Seelos pamphlets, & other spiritual items to the sick & bedridden.
A gift of $50 will help defray the monthly operational costs for the Seelos Daily Dial-A-Message, which averages 5,000 calls a year.
Due to U.S. Postal Service price increases, a gift of $12 will help defray the cost of printing & mailing this news-letter for one year.
Cheerful Ascetic, 480-pg.hard- bound biography by Fr. M.Curley that captures Seelos’ piety & personality; index/photos (Donation: $30, incl.p/h)
.999 Fine Silver Seelos Medal Round, 3/4” dia., with loop; brushed image with polished reverse & edge. Marked with .999 FS on reverse top. (Donation: $58 - includes p/h).
Willy Finds Victory: A Blessed Francis Seelos Story, Introduce youth, ages 7-12, to Fr. Seelos in this 110-page illustrated book by Joan Stromberg (Donation: $13, incl. p/h)
Statue of Bl. Seelos, Roman Inc. exclusive 8-1/4” hand-painted finish, fine detail, resin-stone mix. (Dona-tion: $38 - includes p/h)
Seelos Scapular: B&W images of Bl. Seelos & Mother of Perpetual Help, each measuring approx. 3/4” on cord necklace. Made in Brazil. (Donation: $11 - includes p/h)
Seelos Healing Card: a deluxe remembrance card for someone in need of healing. (Donation: $12, contact Seelos Ctr. for enrollment)Seelos, Tireless Intercessor, a 68-min. documentary on Seelos’ miraculous life; seen on EWTN. (Donation: $25 for DVD - incl. p/h)
Seelos Hematite Rosary, round rosary beads & silver-colored cross with Bl. Seelos image as the divider medal. (Donation: $26 - incl.p/h)
Seelos Bust, plaster with deep gold finish, weighs over 5.5 lbs. Hand-crafted in New Orleans, approx. 11.5”H x 8”W x 5.5”D (Donation: $97 - incl. certified p/h)
A Seelos Vigil Candle will burn near his sacred resting place in Seelos Shrine, New Orleans, for an offering of $4.
Seelos 2nd & 3rd-Class Relics/ Seelos Pamphlets & Prayer Cards in English, Spanish, Vietnamese. Call Seelos Center, 504-525-2495 or 2499.
Please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery.
Seelos Center Devotionals
st. louis, moI gave my Seelos medal to a good friend who was in the hospital for three weeks with blood clots in both legs up to her spine. She could not stand at all without severe pain. Doctors did every test possible; they still do not know the cause. After my friend rubbed the medal on her leg. She stood for 45 seconds the next day; after a week, she was able to walk down the hall with assistance. Now she is in rehab at home! Some people tell me, “maybe the medicine helped.” I tell them, “or maybe the relic and prayers?” We will never know, but I believe it was the power of prayer.
pearl river, laOur 29-year-old nephew may have leukemia. Immediate CT scans were done, but the prognosis did not look good. I prayed to Fr. Seelos that the tumors in his neck would be benign and that he could be cancer-free. His surgery was performed today and no cancer was found. I know Fr. Seelos and our saints watch over him, and that is the reason for this wonderful outcome.
cranford, NJI’m 94 years old and I always pray to Bl. Seelos. I use his relic every day. I had surgery for three abscesses in my gums that gave me a lot of trouble. At the last surgery I had asked Bl. Seelos to cure me and save my tooth. So far I have had no more problems. I feel that I have been blessed. I held his relic in my hand while going through surgery and I know that my prayers were answered.
fort myers, flMy wife and I had been childless for ten years and a friend advised us to visit Fr. Seelos’ shrine in New Orleans for a miracle to happen in our life. In the seven years that we lived in Baton Rouge, we attended the Seelos Healing Masses and Memorial Masses, and Joyce Bourgeois at the Seelos Center prayed for us personally on our very first visit. Indeed, the Good Lord heard our cries through the intercession of Bl. Seelos: now we have a 3-month old baby and we named him Francis!
jeffersonville, inI visited the Seelos Shrine in 2004 when I was experiencing excruciating neck and head pain, a condition I’d had for 4 years that was due to a spinal problem. I thought I’d probably have to visit the neurosurgeon that I had already consulted and possibly go through physical therapy or traction, as I had also done before. My wife suggested that I pray to Fr. Seelos and she handed me a relic that she had obtained from the Seelos Center. I held the relic to my head for a few minutes thinking it was worth a try. I prayed that Fr. Seelos would intercede for me and help me with the pain in remembrance of all those he helped in New Orleans during the epidemics of years gone by. The next day I was quite surprised to be free of the pain that had immobilized me the day before! I could hardly believe it. Even felt good enough to mow my large yard with a push mower. I thank God for Bl. Seelos and recommend anyone needing help with pain to keep him in mind and give him a try.
river ridge, laOur daughter delivered two healthy boys in 2011. A few weeks after their birth, she was left with a serious heart condition. We were all shocked, since she exercised regularly and never had any medical problems. She has been under a heart doctor’s care since the twins’ birth. A few weeks ago my husband & I attended a Holy Name Society meeting at our parish church that included a talk about Bl. Seelos by Anthony Catalano. He told us several favors granted by Bl. Seelos and he prayed with anyone who had special needs. I decided to offer up my daughter and her condition. The next day, I called to check on her during my lunch break, which I rarely do. She told me that she had gone to her heart doctor and he said she was doing a lot better and could be released in six months! I didn’t even know she had a doctor’s appointment. I will continue telling others about my favor granted from Bl. Seelos.
mount angel, orAfter years of sorrow over several of our loved ones leaving the Church, we began a novena to Father Seelos about a year ago. We carried his relic and made sure it passed through their hands. Within six months we were blessed with joyful news that two had returned to the Church and sacraments. Recently the third returned and has been Confirmed. Thank you, Father Seelos!
los angeles, caI want to thank you for turning out the Seelos Newsletter and offer a donation for the high cost of mailings. I love the newsletter and look forward to receiving it. May God bless your work and the Seelos Cause.
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“New Orleans appeals to visitors in a variety of ways! This alluring city of old-world charm & architecture, legendary hospitality & music, distinctive culture & cuisine, also has a long history permeated by the Catholic faith. Catholicism continues to be a source of enrichment for those who visit or call New Orleans home. Blessed with an unparalleled number of renowned Catholic shrines, no trip to New Orleans is complete without experiencing the many sacred sites that welcome guests of all faiths each year. In a city that inspires so many—from artists to authors, from musicians to magicians —let these shrines inspire your faith in a profound way!”—Fr. Byron Miller, C.Ss.R.
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