The incorrupt heart of St. Jean Vianney made its second stop in Kentucky at St. John the Evangelist Church, near Paducah, on Wednesday, March 13th. Almost 1200 people from near and far made the pilgrimage to Paducah to venerate this relic that is on loan to the Knights of Columbus for about eight months. The normal resting place for St. Jean Vianney’s incorrupt heart is the shrine in Ars, France, a remote community in eastern France.
About 400 people attended the mass at 10 AM, which was celebrated by Bishop Medley of Owensboro. Since the church proper only has about 300 seats, provisions were made to have video projection (with audio) of the mass at both the old school gym and the nearby Knights of Columbus #10962 KC Hall. This mass was also live-streamed and is still available for replay until March 22nd at www.TOTALAVSERVICES.com. Bishop Medley also presented an excellent homily during the mass. The office of communication for the Owensboro Diocese also produced an informative interview which is available at https://vimeo.com/324340267.
There were numerous volunteers that pitched in to allow this pilgrimage to be successful. The Homemakers of St. John provided light snacks including sandwich points and fruits and vegetables for the visiting priests and deacons, the visiting Fourth Degree Knights from nearby Fancy Farm and Murray, and the group from Henderson, KY, and the volunteers from St. John, who included ushers and pedestrian flow in church, and outside volunteers who managed two local parking lots and two remote parking lots with shuttle bus provided for transportation. The local volunteer fire dept. provided support for traffic and the highway dept. provided automated highway speed monitor, while the McCracken County Sheriff provided security.
Bus transportation was also provided for age-appropriate children from St. Mary School System, to allow them to make their pilgrimage as a school group.
Peter Sonski, from the KofC Museum in New Haven, CT, who escorted the incorrupt heart of St. Jean Vianney, stated that he was pleased with the response from those making the pilgrimage and the level of support and planning that was demonstrated.
ALL IN ALL, A VERY GOOD DAY!
Submitted by District Deputy #2 Dennis Herricks
