Nine local pilgrimage sites set for Year of Mercy

Over the next several issues, the Clarion Herald will offer brief explanations of key concepts – related in various ways to the central theme of mercy – that will be woven into articles, homilies, catechetical presentations and liturgical celebrations in churches and dioceses throughout the world during the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
 The information below has been provided by the Office of Evangelization. For more information, go to nola catholic.org.

Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey of spiritual signi cance, often to a sacred place. Although a pilgrim is always on an individu- al quest, pilgrimages today are most commonly undertaken together with family, friends, the parish youth group, etc. Ultimately, all pilgrimages are about our search for God, our ongoing conversion, our going to God as we are with our own struggles and brokenness seeking the One who brings us wholeness and healing. This Jubilee Year provides an opportunity to make a pilgrimage to various holy places throughout our arch- diocese. May our pilgrimages during this Holy Year lead us to greater conversion to our God. (Further reflection: Psalm 121.)

Here is a complete list of the nine designated pilgrimage sites in the archdiocese, along with times for visita- tion, special liturgical events and contact information:

CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF ST. LOUIS KING OF FRANCE
315 Pere Antoine Alley
New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 525-9585 ext. 5341 email: [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m. until after the 5 p.m. Mass; Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Group Pilgrimages: Ann Williams, (504) 525-9585, ext. 5342; [email protected]
Website: www.stlouiscathedral.org
Special Liturgical Events: See online calendar, www.stlouiscathedral.org

NATIONAL VOTIVE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR
2701 State St.
New Orleans, LA 70118
Hours: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. until after the 5 p.m. Mass; Saturday, 10:30 a.m. until after the 11:30 a.m. Mass; Sunday, 8:30 a.m. until after the 9:30 a.m. Mass.
Group Pilgrimages: Mary Lee Harris, (504) 473-6750, shrine [email protected] or
Ursuline Sister Donna Hyndman, (504) 975-9627,[email protected]
Website: www.shrineofourladyofpromptsuccor.com

SHRINE OF THE VIETNAMESE HOLY MARTYRS
Mary Queen of Vietnam Church
5069 Willowbrook Drive
New Orleans, LA 70129 (504) 254-5660
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Mass; Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, not open to pilgrimages.
Group Pilgrimages: Anthony Tran, (504) 254-5660,[email protected],[email protected]
Special Liturgical Events: Nov. 19, Vietnamese Holy Martyrs Celebration, 5 to 9 p.m.

ST. JUDE SHRINE
411 N. RamPart St.
New Orleans, LA 70112 (504) 525-1551
Hours: Daily, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
GrouP Pilgrimages: Oblate Father Tony Rigoli, (504) 525-1551, [email protected]

NATIONAL SHRINE OF BLESSED FRANCIS XAVIER SEELOS
919 Josephine St. (in Irish Channel)
New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 525-2495
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Mass; Saturday, 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.; Sunday, closed
Group Pilgrimages: (504) 525- 2495,[email protected]
Special Liturgical Events: April 24, Healing Mass; Oct. 2, Blessed Seelos Feast Day Mass.

ST. JOSEPH CHURCH AND SHRINE ON THE WESTBANK
610 6th Street
Gretna, LA 70053
(504) 368-1313
Hours: Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Group Pilgrimages: Linda Laborde, (504) 368-1313, [email protected]
Special Liturgical Events: March 18, St. Joseph Altar with 6 p.m. rosary procession and 6:30 p.m. prayer service; March 19, Mass at 10:30 a.m. celebrated by Archbishop Gregory Aymond with viewing and serving of food from noon to 6 p.m.

ST. JOSEPH ABBEY
75376 River Road
St. BenediCt, LA 70157
(985) 892-1800
Hours: Daily, 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., including Vespers daily at 5:30 p.m.; Monday to Saturday, Mass at 11:15 a.m.; Sunday, Mass at 11 a.m.
Group Pilgrimages: Kathy Nastasi, (985) 867-2284

DIVINE MERCY PARISH
4337 Sal Lentini PKwy.
Kenner, LA 70065
(504) 466-5016
Hours: Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 8 to 8:30 a.m.; 3 to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to noon; 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Group Pilgrimages: Father Bryan Howard, (504) 466- 5016, [email protected] Website: divinemercyparish.org
Special Liturgical Events: Second Sunday of the month (February to November), “Catechesis on Mercy,” 7:15 to 7:45 p.m. in the church; Feb.
22-25, Lenten Mission directed by Redemptorist Father Kevin MacDonald; April 3, Divine Mercy Sunday, confessions, blessing of images and devotions starting at noon.

ST. ANN CHURCH AND SHRINE
3601 Transcontinental Drive
Metairie, LA 70006
(504) 455-7071
Hours: Daily, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Group Pilgrimages: Mary Quaid, (504) 455-7071,[email protected]