In a decree made public on October 5, 2012 our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, announced that he would grant to the faithful a plenary indulgence throughout this Year of Faith. The Year of Faith began on October 11, 2012 and will conclude on the Feast of Christ the King, November 24, 2013. Here in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Archbishop Robert Carlson recently published a list of local sites where one may visit and obtain a plenary indulgence.
With that in mind, Sister Marie Catherine and our Activities Department arranged a trip to Perryville, Missouri to visit one of these sites – the National Shrine of the Miraculous Medal on the grounds of the Vincentian Order.
The day before the trip, all the attendees viewed an excellent documentary on the life of St. Catherine Laboure and the history of the devotion to the Miraculous Medal.
On the big day, the attendees boarded our bus and made the nearly 2-hour trip to Perryville. Our chaplain, Father Jim Beegan, said Mass at the Shrine chapel with Resident Mary Lucas providing the organ accompaniment for the songs. Father Jim enlightened all with a homily on the life of St. Catherine Laboure. After Mass, all enjoyed a box lunch and then received a guided tour of the chapel, the Shrine and the Vincentian martyrs on the grounds. There was also time for Father Oscar, one of the local Vincentians, to visit with our Residents as well.
All in all, it was a meaningful spiritual event as well as an outing that was fun and community-building. After a long day, everyone was finally happy to arrive at home, having taken advantage of the graces of this special Year of Faith.
