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These photos were taken by Peter Scudner, KM, Federal Association, as a gift for the personal use of the Special Pilgrims, Companions, Knights and Dames, and other pilgrims. You may download or share the photos for free. There is also a Buy button you may ignore. The Buy button transacts with Smugmug as a convenient way to order prints. You do not have to buy any photo to download it or to share it. You can also click here to view a second photo gallery with photos taken by American Association Staff.
Saturday was the third and final day of this year’s Wisconsin Pilgrimage. After an early morning breakfast at the hotel, we once again boarded our buses and made our way over to the Shrine in prayer. Knowing that this would be the last time that we would step foot off our bus and onto the grounds of the Shrine this year made this bus journey extra special.
The sun shone brightly for the first event of the day. A true highlight of the pilgrimage, we lined up behind the statue of Our Lady of Champion and processed through the grounds for our Rosary Procession. It was a sight to see. After the procession, we gathered on the back lawn for a group photo before walking over to the Mother of Mercy Hall for Mass led by the American Association with the Very Rev. Brian Dellaert, ChM, immediately followed by a Eucharistic Healing Service by Fr. Augustine Puchner.
Pilgrims gathered in Mother Mercy Hall for one last lunch together before we had a few hours that allowed for personal reflection time, Adoration, a visit to the Oratory, the Stations of the Cross, and a helpful reflection by Fr. Joseph Aytona on offering Communion for personal intentions. The Shrine’s grounds provided a variety of peaceful settings for pilgrims to reflect on their time in Wisconsin thus far…in the pew of the Chapel, a bench under a shaded tree, or even taking in the sights and sounds while walking the grounds.
We would like to thank the choir for providing beautiful musical accompaniment for the liturgical services. It added greatly to the spiritual nature of the pilgrimage.
We concluded our time at the Shrine with a Vigil Mass in the Apparition Chapel led by the Western Association with celebrant Fr. Augustine Puchner. For one final time, we boarded our buses and headed back to the Hyatt to freshen up for our Closing Dinner.
The hotel’s ballroom was brimming with Pilgrims mingling with friends, old and new, as we enjoyed our final dinner together. Those who contributed to the success of the pilgrimage were recognized at the dinner with a hearty round of applause. Joe Sanders rightfully thanked Bob Kilmartin and the Western Association Staff for all of their work in leading this year's pilgrimage. It was unclear who was claiming responsibility for the weather; but, everyone was grateful for the sunny, yet cool days. The American Association led the final Night Prayer before we spilled out into the lobby to continue our conversations before the task of packing to go home.
Tomorrow morning, some of us will be up bright and early, while others catch a few more hours of sleep before we make our journeys back home.
Thank you for reading our daily updates for the 2023 Pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion. We hope you enjoyed them and feel inspired to join us on next year’s Wisconsin Pilgrimage on August 1st - 4th, 2024. Save the Dates!
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