Pilgrimage coordinator Ginger Lee Arnold joins the Catholic Morning Show to preview an October journey to Holy Hill Basilica and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion — the only Vatican-approved Marian apparition site in the United States. Bishop Dennis Walsh of Davenport will lead the pilgrims to Champion for the anniversary of Adele Brice's 1859 apparition and the historic Peshtigo Fire. Ginger shares trip logistics, the spiritual pull of pilgrimage, and how listeners can register before seats fill.
Ginger Lee Arnold, coordinator of a volunteer-led pilgrimage group now organizing its third trip, joins Bo Bonner to preview a three-day fall pilgrimage to Wisconsin, October 7–9. Pilgrims depart the Our Lady of Lourdes/Saint Joan of Arc campus in Bettendorf at 7 a.m. on October 7, traveling first to Holy Hill Basilica and National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians (holyhill.com) in Hubertus for lunch and a tour of the grounds, then on to Green Bay for the night.
The following morning, pilgrims arrive at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion (championshrine.org) for Mass, confessions, and the rosary. October 8–9 mark the anniversary both of the Blessed Mother's 1859 apparition to Adele Brice and of the Peshtigo Fire — one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history, which broke out the same night as the Great Chicago Fire. Because the shrine and the school Adele Brice founded survived the flames, the anniversary is also marked with a candlelight rosary walk around the shrine grounds. Bishop Dennis Walsh of the Diocese of Davenport will celebrate the anniversary Mass on October 9 alongside Father William Kneemiller, a retired priest of the diocese.
Ginger reflects on what draws so many people to pilgrimage — walking the ground where the saints and the Blessed Mother have walked, and the shared, sensory experience of prayer and community with fellow travelers. Registration is open but limited; details are still being finalized on the group's ticketing site. Check IowaCatholicRadio.com for updates on how to register.
Heard on the Catholic Morning Show, weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio. More at IowaCatholicRadio.com.
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