Public Apparition of Our Lady of Emmitsburg

Sunday February 24, 2008

Because of scheduling conflicts with the Lynfield Event Complex we were unable to get the facility on the 1st Sunday of March. Because of this it was decided that there would be two public apparitions in February, the first and the last Sunday. The prayer group resumes its normal 1st Sunday schedule in April. There is still the possibility of future 1st Sunday scheduling conflicts.

S.C.C. and C.R.C. went to the 8 AM mass this morning. I decided that I was going to the 10:30 mass. A little later my phone rang, it was Jim T saying that he had slipped a disk in his back. Jim said he would be unable to attend the prayer group today and that I needed to stop by his house to pick up the audio-video equipment used at the prayer group. Jim then asked me if I could bring the Eucharist to him when I came because he would be unable to attend mass as well. I said yes.

S.C.C. and C.R.C. arrived home a little later and I went to the 10:30 mass. During mass I was struck with the feeling of peace just as Fr. Mike elevated the Precious Blood. I glanced at my watch and the time was 11:13.

Mass ended and I told Fr. Mike about Jim’s back problem and that he had asked me to bring the Eucharist when I came. Fr. Mike said that would be fine. I then drove home to pick up a few things and then drove over to Jim’s house. I loaded up all of the audio-video equipment. Jim and I then prayed and I gave him the Eucharist. I finished and glanced at my watch as I was leaving and the time was 12:33.

I drove to St. Peter’s Books and had a coke. A little later Peter B suggested that he and I leave early to set up all of the equipment at the Lynfield because it would take more time without Jim. I glanced at my watch as I got up to leave and the time was 1:13:00. We drove to the Lynfield and arrived at 1:33.

Peter and I set everything up with no problems. After we finished Peter mentioned that he thought the crowd would be smaller today since it is the 2nd prayer group within the same month. The thought ran through my mind that Our Lady will be happy with who ever shows up. As this thought ran through my mind I glanced at my watch and the time was 2:13:33.

The prayer group began just a few minutes past 3 PM. Mike Sullivan made announcements. There was a priest who made his first visit to the public apparition from the Washington DC diocese. He came because he new many people who attended over the years and credited the Thursday Night Prayer Group with conversions in his own parish. His name is Fr. Donald Worch.

Our Lady appeared to Gianna during the 4th decade of the rosary. After the apparition and rosary we prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Fr. Kieran Kavanaugh led the Divine Praises and Fr. Joseph McCloskey gave the final blessing. The prayer group ended and Mike Sullivan reminded everyone that there would be no public apparition in March and we would resume on April 6th.

Peter and I took down all of the equipment. Ivan Pare also helped and asked if I could pick him up at the Basilica on the way home so he could leave his car there for his wife to drive home when she got off work. I said yes.

I then left and drove back to Emmitsburg. Somehow I completely forgot to stop at the Basilica to pick up Ivan. I drove straight to St. Josephs and never gave Ivan a thought until he pulled up beside me and asked if I forgot to pick him up at the Basilica. I said yes and apologized. Before going back to the Basilica to drop the car off, Ivan and I sat in my car and prayed the Luminous mysteries of the rosary in thanksgiving of today’s public apparition of Our Lady. I glanced at my watch as we completed the rosary and the time was 6:33.

R_____ C___

March 4, 2008

9:33 Pm