July 8, 2024
Dear Friends,
A once-in-a-lifetime event is taking place this week, July 12-13 (Friday & Saturday), at St. Joseph Chapel & the Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (400 South Blvd. W., Pontiac, MI 48341): the visit of the official 1947 National Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of the Cape, Queen of Canada, is coming to her shrine—OUR SHRINE!—en route to the National Eucharistic Congress. (The flier for this event is HERE.)
HERE’S THE BACKGROUND:
North America’s greatest shrine to the Most Holy Rosary is in Three Rivers (Trois-Rivieres), Canada—in the region of Quebec. The Madonna and Queen of Canada is Our Lady of the Cape (Notre Dame du Cap). In 1947, the huge Marian Congress held in Ottawa, Canada (over 1.5 million participants) needed a Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of the Cape to celebrate the event. A statue was cast, and it traveled from Three Rivers to Ottawa (250 miles over 50 days) to be present. On June 18-19, the pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Pontiac, Fr. Bernard Jarzembowki, was present at this signal event, praying fervently in front of this Pilgrim Statue. The Blessed Mother asked him (perhaps through an inner locution) to establish a shrine in Pontiac “where people can come to learn about Mary and develop a relationship with her that will be a treasure for their whole lives.” Now, for the first time, 77 years later, THE SAME STATUE IS COMING TO VISIT THE SHRINE THAT OUR LADY ASKED FOR! Our Lady of the Cape, enthroned on the Ark of the Covenant and flanked by 2 Angels, will arrive from Canada and visit the United States for the first time in 70 years (since 1954). The Queen is coming to visit her domain and to draw souls into her service for the glory of her Son, Jesus Christ.
Coming as Queen, she is most of all our Mother, and she wants to visit—and help—her spiritual children. The schedule is below. (We’ve added 6:30 pm Confession—not listed on previous fliers/emails.)
Please carpool if you can. This will allow parking for extra visitors. Prayer Intention slips of paper will be provided which you can put into the box on the Ark of the Covenant on which Our Lady is traveling. Blessed rose petals will be provided that you can take home for the healing of the sick.
FRIDAY, JULY 12
- 3:00 pm Doors Open & Exposition
- 6:30 pm Confession
- 7:00 pm Rosary & Introduction
- 7:30 pm Holy Mass
- 8:30 pm Blessing of Roses & Consecration
- 9:00 pm Reception
- 9:30 pm All-Night Adoration (Exposition)
- 10:00 pm Night Prayer
SATURDAY, JULY 13
- 9:15 am Benediction
- 9:30 am Holy Mass
- 10:30 am Rosary & Prayer with Statue
- 11:00 am: Close (There is NO NOON MASS.)
The July 3 radio interview of Vanessa Denha of Epiphany Communications (Ave Maria Radio 990 AM) with me about devotion to St. Joseph can be found at this link: https://avemariaradio.net/epiphany-july-3-2024/
To communicate with me, please DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL but email me directly at [email protected] or call/text me at (313) 727-9784. Our Lady of the Cape, pray for us!
In Jesus, Mary & Joseph,
Fr. Alex Kratz, OFM
Spiritual Director of Terra Sancta Ministries