Pilgrimage, day of prayer in memory of local martyrs Aug. 17

Father Tony Kroll and Lora Knafla of the St. Cloud Mission Office have designed a pilgrimage to remember Sister Adelaide Koetter and Mill Hill Missionary Father John Kaiser, two local martyrs from the St. Cloud Diocese. The pilgrimage will include prayer, Mass and learning.

Sister Adelaide was a missioner to Kariku, New Guinea, from 1937 to 1942 and was one of 62 persons executed by Japanese soldiers in about 1943. Father Kaiser worked for more than 35 years in Kenya fighting for justice and human rights. He was murdered in 2000.

A coach bus will pick up pilgrims throughout the diocese, starting at Sacred Heart Church in Sauk Rapids at 8 a.m., and then at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud, Avon, Albany, Melrose, Sauk Centre and Alexandria. The pilgrimage includes prayer in memory of Sister Adelaide at the shrine at Sacred Heart in Freeport, her home parish, at 10 a.m., a presentation in Alexandria from Father Bob Kieffer on “The Joy of the Gospel” at noon, Mass at 2 p.m. at St. James Church in Maine Township, the baptismal church of Father Kaiser, and a learning session in Alexandria at 5:30 p.m. on “Care of our Common Home.” The bus will return pilgrims to their various parishes, ending with Sauk Rapids at 9 p.m.

The day is sponsored by the St. Cloud Mission Office, Knights of Columbus Council 11346 and Sacred Heart Parish in Sauk Rapids.

The cost of the day is $25 and includes the coach bus and lunch on the bus; pilgrims should bring their own snack. For more information, contact Father Kroll at 320-493-7873 or tonykroll@hotmail.com or Knafla at 320-251-1100 or lkmission@cloudnet.com. Checks may be mailed to Knafla at the Mission Office, 11 8th Ave. S., St. Cloud, MN, 56301.

Author: The Visitor

The Visitor is the official newpaper for the Diocese of Saint Cloud.

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