Pastor’s Letter: August 10, 2025

Pastor’s Letter: August 10, 2025

8 Aug 2025 | Posted by: chadmin

Dear St. Philomena Parish Family,

Happy Feast of St. Philomena! This weekend, we celebrate the Feast Day of our Patroness—since her day falls on a Monday this year (Aug 11), we’ll be celebrating her memorial for our parish Masses that day. For the weekend, I thought it would be nice to celebrate with some treats!

For me, in really a short time, St. Philomena has become a faithful companion in the journey of our life in Christ. I enjoy sharing with people about her story, including always bringing visitors to our church devotional area, showing them the panels and explaining how St. Philomena’s tomb was discovered. I have shared about the early miracles people experienced…and especially those associated with St. John Vianney and his ministry. You may recall from last year, but I always think the funniest line from St. John Vianney was in reference to one of the miracles in his parish that he attributed to St. Philomena:  “On one occasion, a poor woman in the midst of a crowded church besought him to bless her sick child. The venerable Cure would not resist the supplications of the poor mother. He blessed the child, and it was instantly restored to health. “Oh! Oh!” Said the holy man, full of confusion, making off in a haste to the sacristy: “I wish St. Philomena would have cured the child at home” (Saint Philomena the Wonder-Worker, p.48, Fr. Paul O’Sullivan, O.P.). I love that his response to the miracle wasn’t surprise or wonder…but rather that he wanted it done more quietly!

St. John Vianney’s great love for St. Philomena led him to speak of her as his “dear little saint.” It truly is a great description for this faithful young woman, courageous in the midst of suffering and torture, always faithful to Christ her beloved, and a generous intercessor for those who have a devotion to her. Over this past year, I have often thought about how generous and helpful she has been!

As I have continued to get to know St. Philomena better, I learned about the National Shrine of St. Philomena, in Briggsville, WI (pictured). A couple weeks ago, I traveled there for my day off to spend time in prayer, see the area, and continue to grow with our faithful patroness. Perhaps it shouldn’t surprise us, but there are some great stories associated with this shrine, even from its construction.  As is shared on the Shrine website,

“In the late 1940’s a self-sacrificing priest, named Father I.C. Wiltzius, devoted his frail energy to calling the world to venerate a Virgin-Martyr known as Saint Philomena. It was through the efforts of Father Wiltzius that the Shrine to Saint Philomena was established. He came from the Milwaukee area, and brought with him a first-class relic of the Little Virgin Martyr, originally obtained by Father Maurice Dorney in Naples, in 1937.

Saint Philomena made her entry into Briggsville on the last Sunday of August 1947, and the outdoor shrine dedicated to her honor was started on August 8, 1949. It was planned as a replica of the dungeon where the young Martyr-Saint, Philomena, had suffered and died to preserve her virginity.

The upper structure is built of granite from many parts of the world. The red granite, which predominates, is the genuine Montello stone, from Montello, a twenty-five mile distance from Briggsville.

A man of seventy-six and his helper a boy of sixteen completed the structure on September 1, 1950. There are forty-five tons of granite in the superstructure alone, all hauled and laid by the two. Old Jake used a cane to support himself because he was badly crippled…until the fourth day of work…that’s when his “Little Girl Friend”, as he fondly called Saint Philomena, fixed him up, he swears. He discarded the cane and didn’t use it again.”

I found out from the caretaker of the Shrine that the mason who received this healing wasn’t Catholic at the time he as working on the structure—certainly another incredible story of St. Philomena’s generosity!

As we celebrate our Patroness this week, know of my thanks and prayers for you all!  It has been a great first year here as pastor—I’m looking forward to many more blessings ahead!  Sending you all my blessing this week!

In Christ,

Father Luke