Archbishop Leibold's Nephew Tells of His Experience With The Blue Butterfly and Miracle of The Sun on Holy Family Hill

Originally Submitted in 2001, The following is Reprinted from SpiritDaily

ARCHBISHOP'S NEPHEW RELATES STRIKING OCCURRENCE AT AMERICAN APPARITION SITE

A nephew of Archbishop Paul F. Leibold has informed us of an extraordinary visit to the site where Sister Mildred Mary Ephrem Neuzil, the American seer, had her first apparitions.

The nephew, whose name is also Paul Leibold, and who was especially close to the now-deceased archbishop, says that during a spur-of-the moment visit on July 14 to a spot called Sylvan Springs near Rome City, Indiana, he and a small group experienced the "miracle of the sun" and that he spotted a beautifully strange blue butterfly that brings to mind phenomena reported at another apparition site in Venezuela called Betania (which he had not heard about previous to the experience).

According to Paul (who we will call by his first name to differentiate him from the archbishop), he made the trip after reading articles about the situation on this internet site, and was surprised by what he found. He and 11 others piled into a recreational vehicle and headed five hours up the highway that recent Saturday.

There they found the current manager of the land, Larry Young.

"We took off to the mound where the third apparition was," says Paul, who now owns a pharmacy in the Cincinnati area. "We said we were going to pray a family rosary, and there was another couple that had arrived just after we did, Angel and his wife Maria and their son Angel Junior. We were getting ready to start the rosary and Larry looked at the sun and we began to see the miracle of the sun. When I was at Medjugorje we did not see the miracle of the sun. Someone with me had, and he said it was absolutely identical to what he saw on that mound.

"The next 15 to 20 minutes we sat or stood in prayer, some were kneeling and some were singing. Maria began praying over my son, who has epilepsy. I was as touched as I ever have been in prayer. As [another man, Tom] breaks into the song Ave, a little blue butterfly lands on an altar and it was just, oh: there was no doubt the Blessed Mother was with us, blessing us. It was solid pale blue, and absolutely beautiful. It was a wonderful experience. It just stopped my heart. I was the only one to see it. The others were watching the sun. It just hovered over the altar area. Apparently this altar once had a gold cross and two angels facing it. There had been these black and orange butterflies in the area with no logical reason for them to be there. It's not a flowered area. It's on a mound with mulch on the ground and trees up around it and benches. These little butterflies became more and more prominent as we began talking and sharing, and then Tom broke into Ave. When we got back to the parking lot Angel had some holy cards and it was the Blessed Sacrament and a gold cross with an angel on either side. There was confirmation after confirmation."

Paul had been to Medjugorje, where his experience in prayer on Apparition Hill had been so profound he never thought he would feel that way again -- knowing God was so present. "Well when I went to Rome City I had that same feeling," said Paul, "and I had had no expectations."

It was on September 25, 1956, that Sister Mildred was making a holy hour from 7 to 8 p.m. when she felt the distinct presence of Our Lady at the Indiana site. "I was under the impression that she came as Our Lady of Lourdes, and she herself confirmed this," the nun, who died last year, once wrote -- adding that the Virgin promised great miracles in the United States.

During a vision the next morning the Virgin came in a veil, robe, and mantle of pure white as "Our Lady of America," requesting Americans to honor her by the purity of their lives.

Now the owner of the land reports that people are making inquiries about the land and pilgrims are arriving on weekends at this spot that was once owned by the Order of the Precious Blood (at the time the order to which Sister Neuzil belonged).

Sylvan Springs and Our Lady of America in Rome City, IN

Thank you to producer/director Jeff Mahoney for putting this presentation together.







Jeff has promised to put more of the interviews from this special day on YouTube real soon. Please send these to your friends and anyone interested in Our Lady of America.

"Mary, Mary...Go See Mary Today"

The following letter and photos were sent to us by a woman named Jenny telling us of her family experience at the November 28 Day of Prayer and Healing:

My husband and I have 4 children with our youngest being diagnosed with Autism when he was 2 years old. Born a healthy, typical developing baby, Cooper began regressing between 18 & 24 months and lost all eye contact, functional play skills and the little language that he had. He began to journey into a world of his own as we began many therapies to try to help him. This communication disorder of my son’s has effected our entire family on so many different levels…..we decided to make the venture to Rome City for some much needed spiritual, mental, physical and emotional renewing. We were anticipating healing on all sorts of levels, and knew we would walk away with the strength we needed.

While at Rome City, we met an amazingly peaceful man named Irv who prayed over our son and reassured us that we were on the right spiritual path. He was kind enough to give us 3 Triple Novena Medals…one for me, one for my husband and one for my son. I have since then ordered the Triple Novena Prayer book and anticipate it arriving soon so I can begin praying along with our medals. We continue to have much hope that we will be given the wisdom by God to continue doing all that we can to foster growth in our child as well balancing life for our other 3 daughters. Once non-verbal and unable to respond to his name, our son is growing into a pleasant little personality and can express his wants and needs in 5-6 word sentences. We hope the progress continues to happen and that we receive renewed strength to give him the best quality of life possible. It was the best decision to start our Advent season with this positive experience.

We thank you for the opportunity to visit such a spiritual facility. My oldest daughter Madison was excited to take all of our photos into her religion class the very next day and spoke to her classmates about our experience there. In Thanksgiving for all blessings received that day, we will continue to spread the good word! We are forever grateful to have brought both of our parents along that day as well. Their support and guidance has been instrumental in raising a child with special needs. May they be blessed many times over for all they have done throughout the years to support our family and help us as we find our way through this journey called Autism. We look forward to future visits ~

Christmas Blessings ~

Scott, Jenny, Maddy, Kenzie, Josie & Cooper


After reading this great letter, Jenny writes again:

How I forgot the 2 best parts of the day I don’t know!!!

I hardly slept a wink the night before our trip because I knew that my son had never sat through a mass before and that the day would be opening with a mass being said….and that we had a 2 hour and 15 minute drive both ways ahead of us….he’s not one for long trips in a vehicle! Well, I was getting ready upstairs and my husband was getting Cooper dressed downstairs. When I finished, I came downstairs and my husband questioned, “Did you tell Cooper where we were going today?” and I said, “no, why?” and he said, well because he keeps saying, “Mary, Mary…go see Mary today……” It was at that moment that I knew the day would be a good one ….somehow my sweet boy knew where we were going without any of us even telling him!

And he sat through the entire mass…..with headphones on watching a video mind you – but that was a small miracle in itself! For him to sit for that long of a period – 1hour and 25 minutes before he had had enough – was amazing…..

Yes….our God works in mysterious ways!



Then today, we get this little follow-up to Cooper's visit:

Today while at a friends house playing Cooper looked up at me and said out of the blue, “Mary, Mary….” And I asked him what did you say, and he replied, “Mary,” and that was it. It is the first time he has mentioned anything of the day – but that is not unusual as his speech/language is VERY limited. We continue to pray with him every night and he repeats after me, “Jesus, Mary & Joseph pray for me,” and on his own says, “Jesus please heal me…” so Something is clicking!!!!


Here are some photos the girls took during the Prayer and Healing Service







Here are some photos heading to Holy Family Hill:



What a Great Day! Everybody in the family got something from their visit!!

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Ferdinand and Barabara Roccanti to Speak at day of Prayer and Healing on Saturday, Nov 28

Ferdinand Roccanti was born on February 13, 1939 in Worchester, MA. His parents were immigrants from Italy. He is the youngest of six children. He attended school until eighth grade and later joined the Marine Corps for three years. Since 1963 he has attended church daily and he and his wife are faithful parishioners of their local church in Indiana.

Ferdinand is a Catholic Evangelist and speaks in a beautiful way of story-telling and traditional piety. His testimony describes his true faith in God who carries him through trials and sufferings. In his love for our Blessed Mother, he describes her purity and beauty. He has an extraordinary grace to understand the wisdom that Jesus wishes us to understand.

Mr. Roccanti took a five minute nap on September 16th, 1994 and when he awoke, he had double vision and his eyelids would not open. He was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis a rare,disabling disease affecting the nerve endings of his body, coupled with double vision and no depth perception.

He heard Jesus prompting him to buy a canvas and in "blind" faith he began to paint. His hands are miraculously moved by the Holy Spirit to paint. As he paints, he prays and as he prays he draws closer to God. The result is a work of art.

Ferdinand and Barbara exemplify in modern times, the joy of having a personal and fulfilling relationship with our Lord - very real and very much alive! He walks with Jesus every minute and it shows. His stories of faith, trust and love of God make us realize how very accessible The Lord is to all of us.

We hope your visit will be rewarding and inspirational... May the Lord richly bless you today

Happy Anniversary Our Lady of America

If you have been paying attention, you will know that Saturday, September 26 was the 53rd Anniversary of the First Official Apparition of Our Lady of America which took place in The Our Lady Mother of Mercy Chapel on the grounds of Sylvan Springs in Rome City, IN.

To celebrate the event, pilgrims gathered from Texas, Missouri, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky for a day of healing prayer and special guest speakers. The day culminated in The Friday Night Rosary which was held in the main chaapel due to the large number in attendance.


During the healing service, orbs could be seen across the ceiling as the healing presence of The Holy Spirit filled the chapel.



It was a very special day for all who came.



The next day of prayer and healing is tentatively scheduled for October 13, the Anniversary of Our Lady of America's request that a statue of Her likeness be enthroned in The National Basilica in Washington, DC. Please plan to attend this special event in support of Our Lady of America's request.

Photos From Father Joseph Nguyen Taken August 30,2009

The following photos were all taken by Father Joseph Nguyen last Sunday, August 30 after the healing service in The Our Lady Mother of Mercy Chapel.





Wait until you see what happened inside the chapel in his next photos.

Photo From Sunday August 30 Healing Service

This photo was taken from in front of The Our Lady Mother of Mercy Chapel shortly after the Healing Service ended as the sun was spinning overhead.

Day of Healing Sunday, August 30

The Doors will open this Sunday, August 30 at 9:30 am for those coming for the Special Day of Healing. Events are scheduled to begin at 10:30, but you are welcome to come early and look around and meet with other guests beforehand. Some of our special guests and speakers will be traveling from neighboring states, so we may need to delay the start a few minutes in case some are briefly delayed.

Coffee and lemonade will be on hand. We suggest you bring a picnic lunch or snacks to curb that mid-day appetite.

We also suggest you bring your own empty containers (clean milk jugs) if you wish to take spring water home with you. Our supply is running low, so bring a couple extra if you have them on hand. Make certain they are cleaned and rinsed with light bleach water to sanitize them...caps too!
The weather forecast is for temperatures to be in the mid 60's with no rain. It should be a good day for picture taking. Bring the cameras.

As always, there is no admission fee to attend, so bring the family and friends. Donation boxes will be available for those who can help us defray our costs. Thank you and please drive carefully. Don't forget your rosaries!

More Visitor Photos...Thanks For Sharing

Photo From August 3rd Day of Prayer

Yesterday was a very moving day for those in attendance. Families came from all over and had picnic baskets in tow. The speakers were awesome!

Larry spoke to us up on Holy Family Hill and told us all about things that have happened there. I could have listened all night.

The sun was spinning all afternoon. It got really remarkable when we came out after Irv Kloska gave his talk in the big chapel and prayed over everybody. This is just a few of the pictures from a visitor.

Your Financial Support Is Needed and Appreciated

First of all, THANK YOU to all of you who have given to help support the activities of Our Lady the Immaculate Virgin in bringing ALL of Our Lady's children to this very special place for prayer and spiritual formation. It is showing very positive results as anyone who reads through these postings can plainly see.

We still need your support to continue with the upkeep and costs associated with hosting all of the families and individuals who take time out of their busy lives to spend and hour or two...or even an entire day...praying in the chapels and walking the grounds of this beautiful facility. Everything costs money to support our visitors and we never charge for visitors to tour or spend time praying or listening to our speakers. Our programs exist entirely on your donations.

Please take a moment to send us whatever you can to help us in our efforts.
All donations are fully tax deductible and not a penny goes to any salaries (we are all volunteers).

You can send a payment via credit card by clicking on the Donation Link on the right side of this page or you can send checks to:

Our Lady The Immaculate Virgin, Inc.
P.O. Box 996
Lake Zurich, IL 60047

Photos From Visitors on July 3, 2009

Hi,
Friday 7-3-09 we stopped in at Rome City for a small self guided walking tour around the grounds and I just had to snap a few pictures! These are the best two I had with very pink orbs in them. The time was around 6:00 PM and Mother Mary did not fail me when I was hoping to see something special in my pictures. You are in our prayers.
Mary & Jim Cosgrove





Notice the definite pink orb directly over the Our Lady Mother of Mercy Chapel's steeple?

A Quick History Lesson

On September 25, 1956, The Blessed Mother appeared to Sister Mary Ephrem (Mildred Neuzil) as Our Lady of Lourdes in the Convent of the Precious Blood Sisters at Rome City, Indiana (Sylvan Springs). Our Lady promised "that greater miracles than those granted at Lourdes and Fatima would be granted here in America, the United States in particular, if we would do as she desires.”

The very next day, September 26, 1956, Our Lady again appeared to Sister Mary Ephrem and said, “I am Our Lady of America. I desire that my children honor me, especially by the purity of their lives.” She appeared several more times to Sr. Neuzil over the coming months and gave specific instruction as to what it was She wanted us to do. You can read all of Our Lady of America's messages here: http://www.ourladyofamerica.org/messages.php

Our Lady indicated to Sister Mildred that She had come in response to the United States having recognized Her privilege of The Immaculate Conception, especially through The Shrine of The Immaculate Conception at Washington, D.C., and Our Lady of America came with a message for the United States to focus on the virtue of purity.

Our Lady spoke about the recognition of The Indwelling Most Holy Trinity in the Christian Family, with The Holy Family (Jesus, Mary & Joseph) as a model. On October 5, 1956, Our Lady inspired Sister to write the prayer to "Our Lady of America," which prayer (and the design of a medal of Our Lady of America) subsequently received in 1963 the formal approval of Imprimatur by Monsignor Paul F. Leibold, who was then serving as auxiliary bishop and Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

The approval of Archbishop Leibold was reviewed and found to be canonically perfect.

Archbishop Raymond Burke, in his May 2007 letter to all bishops of the United States, says: "What can be concluded canonically is that the devotion was both approved by Archbishop Leibold and, what is more, was actively promoted by him. In addition, over the years, other Bishops have approved the devotion and have participated in public devotion to the Mother of God, under the title of Our Lady of America." The Most Reverend Raymond L. Burke, Archbishop of Saint Louis May 31, 2007.

This opinion letter was further confirmed in an interview given by the now Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, Archbishop Burke, in an interview given to Inside the Vatican correspondent Andrew Rabel published June 13, 2009.
In this article, he states:

"One of the things which struck me as a newly ordained priest and has continued to strike me throughout my entire life as a priest and a bishop is simply the radical decline of the devotional life in general. We know that our faith in the Sacraments needs to have ways to express itself in our everyday living, and at times when we are not, for instance, participating in the Holy Mass or praying before the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Devotions provide precisely very concrete ways to express our love of Christ, of the Blessed Mother and of the saints in our homes and places of work, throughout the day....

I think it is a very beautiful devotion and especially fitting for our time. Our Lady’s message on the living of the Holy Trinity within us, and its manifestation in the purity of the young is so much needed in our culture, today."

On October 13, 1956, The Blessed Virgin Mary requested that a statue of "Our Lady of America" be enshrined in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., as a special place of pilgrimage and a special safeguard for our Country. Our Lady promised miracles greater than those of Lourdes and Fatima if her children heeded her warnings and fulfilled her requests. She indicated that this would be accomplished through her loyal sons, the Bishops of the United States.


The Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend is dedicated to the Blessed Mother under the title of the Immaculate Conception. The Cathedral in Fort Wayne is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

After the war, in 1953, American bishops under the leadership of John Noll, archbishop ad personam of Fort Wayne raised the funds necessary to complete the upper church of the national shrine. He donated profits from the Sunday Visitor, which he started, and some of his personal wealth as a part of his fund raising.

Archbishop Noll spent many prayerful hours at Kneipp Springs (now Sylvan Springs) from his early priesthood through his years as Archbishop. It was two months after his death that the apparitions started in his Diocese at Kneipp Springs. It is believed that Our Lady appeared at Rome City because of the effort put forth by the bishop for completion of the national shrine dedicated to Our Lady under so many titles and especially the Immaculate Conception.

This devotion to the Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of America started in Rome City at this facility. Her calling to purity, conversion and the Divine Indwelling is very important to the United States at a time now that it succumbs to rampant sexual immorality, abortion and to materialism.

These grounds in Rome City, IN are also the childhood home of Dr. John Willke who founded The National Right to Life and International Right to Life. His father was the on-site physician and, as a boy, John Willke was the altar boy who served Mass nearly every day in the main chapel where the apparitions of Our Lady of America took place years after he had grown up and moved away to begin his own work.

Follow-up To Friday June 26th Day of Prayer at Sylvan Springs

These photos were all taken last evening after the Friday Night Rosary from in front of The Our Lady Mother of Mercy Chapel. The sun was spinning quite wonderfully at the time and these are just some of the images captured by one of the pilgrims who had driven several hours to pray with us.






More photos coming. They are even more awesome!

Photo From June 13 Day of Prayer and Reflection at Sylvan Springs

A large orb appears in the very spot of the first Our Lady of America apparition while a man rests in the spirit after being prayed over by Irv Kloska on Saturday, June 13.

This photo was sent to us by Brenda who says: "It was another amazing spiritual time and I am ready to come back."

Another observer said he could feel "a cloak of holiness surround him" while this scene was unfolding. He said the feeling continued for the whole day as he experienced one defining moment after another with his family. He promised to return very soon to pray in the chapels and teach his children more about Our Lady of America and Her call to purity.



"Bring Me My Children. Bring Me ALL Of My Children."

Pope Pius XII Witnessed Miracle of The Sun Too!

Although I have never been to any of the so-called MAJOR apparition sites around the globe, I know exactly what visitors to those places have described when they tell their accounts of having seen "the Miracle of The Sun". It has been seen here in Rome City, IN from atop Holy Family Hill and from the front lawn of The Our Lady Mother of Mercy Chapel with great regularity.
I have found a striking parallel between the frequency of this phenomena and the number of people gathered in prayer to pray the rosary. It seems the presence of children makes the phenomena even more intense.

I have never been able to find a really good explanation for why this phenomena occurs (aside from Our Lady's loving presence). It seems astrologists and scientists prefer to shrug it off as nonsense. I can assure you all it is not. Just like at Fatima, large gatherings of pilgrims have witnessed it here and continue to do so when the sun is not covered by rain clouds. Sometimes, the clouds will part for just a few brief moments and the sun's array of colors and dancing movement will be seen by visitors who have come in deep faith to pray for Our Lady of America's intercession and for Her enthronement as requested on this very spot in 1956.

This phenomena has been witnessed by the absolute highest of Church authority.

In the 1950s Mary's recognition and thus Her ability to intercede were magnified when Pope Pius XII defined the dogma of her Assumption. On the day he announced this intention, the Pope witnessed a solar phenomenon. It happened immediately behind the Vatican gardens above the land that once belonged to Nero and Caligula.


"The sun, which was fairly high, looked like a pale yellow opaque globe completely surrounded by a luminous halo, which nevertheless did not prevent me at all from staring attentively at the sun without the slightest discomfort," Pius wrote in a note to a cardinal. "The opaque globe began moving outward, slowly turning over upon itself, and going from left to right and vice versa. But within the globe very strong movements could be seen in all clarity and without interruption."

On November 1, the actual day for definition of the new dogma, the sun again moved so oddly that afterward Pius made inquiries to the Vatican Observatory! I wonder what explanation they were able to give....

"Bring Me My Children. Bring Me ALL of My Children."

Letter From A Reader

Friday, June 12th, EWTN will air an hour long episode at 10 am Eastern/ 9 am Central about Our Lady of America on The Abundant Life program. As you know, Bob and I personally witnessed the "Miracle of the Sun" and received miracles through the intercession of Our Lady of America after visiting Sylvan Springs in Rome City, Indiana. This is the site where the Blessed Mother first appeared as Our Lady of America, a canonically approved devotion, to Sr. Mary Ephrem in 1956. Prior to my visit there I was using a walker or cane and no longer need either. Visitors to "the Springs" continue to receive physical and spiritual cures, witness the sun spinning or capture miraculous images on film. See oltiv.org. for more history, as well as recent testimonials, photos and information.


Please pray for the devotion to Our Lady of America, that the confirmation of this special devotion and the enthronement of Our Lady of America in the National Basilica in Washington DC occurs without delay and that we heed the urgent requests of Our Lady of America to save this country and our world.


Prayers are also needed for the preservation of Sylvan Springs where Our Lady first appeared as Our Lady of America. Though funded since 2000 by a private family they are not able to carry the full weight of this load by themselves any longer and need financial help to save it. They have been open for anyone who wishes to visit and frequently offer presentations and tours of the grounds and Chapel free of charge. They also have a recitation of the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet every Friday evening. For further information or donations visit oltiv.org.


This is not just for Catholics...if you ever have the chance to visit this blessed place do not miss the opportunity. This is a place for all Americans who love Our Lord and Savior. Our Lady has asked many times to "Bring me My children, bring me all My children." Her wish is to lead all of us closer to Her Son, Jesus Christ.


Thanks and God bless,
Pam

Happy Pentecost! A story of the Holy Spirit

This letter was submitted by a recent visitor to Sylvan Springs relating her own account of her experiences. It seems to be very fitting on this Pentecost Sunday.

The Holy Spirit is alive and working. Come Holy Spirit and dwell within us.


During a recent visit to Sylvan Springs in Rome City, I had an experience that completely overwhelmed me, and I feel like it’s meant to be shared. I had been to Sylvan Springs twice before, and have felt that there’s something there, but can’t quite describe it. This trip, I decided, was exactly what I needed to get some “alone” time for prayer. Whatever I was given on this trip, I was hoping to take back home for the good of my family. Larry gave a great talk on the history of Sylvan Springs and his part in making it what it is today. Some of the things that have happened to him are incredibly moving. Just hearing about the true power of God as He works through ordinary people, and the gifts He gives if we are willing to accept them was inspiring.

Later, as we prayed the Rosary in the chapel I told myself that this was my chance to really pray. As I had come with no kids or husband this time, I had no distractions. I wanted to take full advantage of my opportunity. As we started to pray the third decade, The Birth of Jesus, I suddenly got a chill through my entire body, followed by a feverish warmth. My first thought was “swine flu”, but that thought quickly passed. As my heart started beating harder, I had the sensation that it would pound out of my chest if it could. I envisioned it as you would see it in a cartoon, literally pushing itself out of my chest. Despite this pounding heartbeat, my breathing remained normal. I could still hear the Rosary being prayed, and could move my lips to the prayers, but no sound would come out of my mouth. I felt as if my eyes would not open, but maybe I just wasn’t trying. After the fleeting “swine flu” moment, I never had a feeling that something was medically wrong with me. I just settled into the comforting, peaceful feeling that the rhythm of the Rosary brought. At the end of the decade, it was gone; the extreme peace, the pounding heart, the inability to speak, all of it. I finished the Rosary in wonder of the experience I had just had. It was truly like nothing I had ever experienced before.

After the Rosary was finished, Irv Kloska and his wife offered to pray over anyone who wanted them to. I had seen Irv pray over people before, and knew that he had the gift of healing. I had nothing medically wrong, and had decided not to get in the way of those who really needed healing. However, something he said before praying over anyone made me change my mind. I honestly can’t remember what it even was, but it made me think that even though I had no urgent medical concerns, I definitely could use a few prayers. So I joined the large group who lined the front of the chapel. As they moved down the line, praying over everyone individually, I suddenly got the chills/fever and fierce heartbeat again. As soon as Irv’s thumbs touched my forehead, I started to sob. I told myself, “This is ridiculous. I’m not going to cry in front of all these people.” But there was nothing I could do about it. Trying to stop the crying, the heartbeat and the feverish feeling was in vain. I couldn’t (or maybe wouldn’t) open my eyes and I heard someone say either “let go” or “let it go”. In that same moment, I was totally at peace, just like during the Rosary, but apparently on the floor.

I’ve been told that I was probably “resting in the Spirit”, but I really can’t say whether that’s true or not. I had no visions or voices come to me. What I do know is that it was the most powerful, prayerful experience that I have ever had, and that I wonder what the purpose of it was. If it was to inspire others to come to Rome City and experience Sylvan Springs for themselves, then so be it. If it was for me to go home as a stronger, more faith-filled parent, then that’s okay too. Just as it’s not good to hide your light under a basket, I’ve decided on this Pentecost Day that it’s not good to hide an amazing experience with the Holy Spirit either.

Gospel
Jn 7:37-39

On the last and greatest day of the feast,
Jesus stood up and exclaimed,
"Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink.
As Scripture says:
Rivers of living water will flow from within him who believes in me."

He said this in reference to the Spirit
that those who came to believe in him were to receive.
There was, of course, no Spirit yet,
because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Ruth and The Girls' Road Trip to Rome City!!

Ruth Kafader developed cancer and was given a scary prognosis by the doctors. Her family asked her if there was anywhere in the world she wanted to travel to before she got too sick.

Ruth, who had recently come to know of Our Lady of America said "I want to go to Rome City."

Well, daughter Laura got busy and organized the girls into a formative road force. She rented a local lake house for a few days as well as one of those large passenger vans and they were off like a herd of turtles to Rome City.

Once there, they toured the property and learned all about how the nuns lived there and what the place was like when Sr. Mildred experienced the Our Lady of America apparitions in 1956.
The girls were able to collect lots of reference info from the tables in the back of the chapel and Nick was able to provide a very helpful historical timeline for school reports they were eager to work on.

Rosaries were prayed and intercessions from Our Blessed Mother were sought by the ladies on behalf of their mother. Ruth and the girls were prayed over and anointed in the same area where the first OLA apparitions occurred. It was a very moving moment for them.

When it was time to leave, they took whatever it was Our Lady had given them.

After two weeks, Laura writes to inform us:
"I would like to share with you that my mother's cancer has stopped "growing". The doctors have stopped her chemo and she will go for a cat scan in three weeks to determine exactly what is going on."

We're rooting for you Ruth!! Keep doing what you're doing. We hope to see you back here again real soon.


"Bring Me My Children. Bring Me ALL of My Children."

Miraculous Images after Friday Night Rosaries

These photos were submitted by one of our visitors. They were taken on consecutive Friday evenings just after the completion of the Friday Night Rosary in the chapel. It was reported that the sun was spinning at the time of the photos.

The location of these images is directly in front of the main building on the grounds of Sylvan Springs.

More Photos From The Friday Night Rosary at Sylvan Springs

"Bring Me My Children. Bring Me ALL of My Children."



These photos were taken this past Friday outside the Our Lady Mother of Mercy Chapel in Rome City, IN.

Visitors and staff reported that the sun had been spinning all afternoon until sunset.

This young girl was photographed praying the rosary on the chapel steps. Apparently, she was not praying by herself.

Day of Prayer, Tours, and Speakers Set For Wednesday, May 20 HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO FAMILY EMERGENCY FOR ORGANIZERS

Due to a death in the family of this events organizer and one of our featured speakers, we are cancelling the speakers and special presenters previously scheduled for Wednesday of this week. We ask for your prayers for the Kloska family.

This event will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

All pilgrims are still welcome to come for tours and to pray in the chapels and on the grounds on their own.

Please email us at info@oltiv.org if you will have someone in your group with special needs or call 260-854-3525 to schedule a tour for your group.

Donning Our Lady of America's Protective Armor

Dr. Alan Keyes learns more about the scientific evidence supporting the Shroud of Turin from Alex Fiato.




Dr. Keyes and Randall Terry contemplate the majesty of Our Lady of America appearing in the very spot where they are standing as they plead for Her to cover them with Her protective mantle for their mission.

More Photos From April 27, 2009

What are these young people seeing in their photos? Look around...The orbs are everywhere!

It wasn't just a couple of cameras capturing these images. All of their cameras were full of orbs!



"Bring Me My Children. Bring Me ALL of My Children!!"

Children, Pilgrimages, and Orbs...and orbs..and orbs!

On Monday, April 27th, we set out from St. Johns, MI with a group of a little over 50 people, including 23 children, to tour Sylvan Springs in Rome City, Indiana. We started with a historical tour from Nick and moved onto a "spiritual tour" from Larry, the owner. Having organized a few groups before, I am always curious as to how the first timers are going to react. After Larry's talk we headed outside to tour the grounds. As soon as I stepped outside of the door, I was asked, "How soon can we come back here?" I then headed up to Holy Family Hill and was greeted with a hug from a friend who also asked, "When is the next trip scheduled?" It is always the same thing and everyone who goes to Rome City first has a hard time leaving and secondly, has a hard time not returning!

After our exploration outside, we headed into the large chapel for a talk by my uncle, Irv Kloska. We also said a rosary and asked him to pray over us. One of the members of our group rested in the spirit and had a very spiritual experience while the last person that Irv prayed over also rested in the spirit. When he came out of it, he said that he saw many angels "up there" joyously singing because they were so happy to have all of the children there! They were pleased with the devotion of them. He told us to take pictures of the ceiling. When we started taking pictures we were amazed to see dozens of orbs of light all around us. The presence of God was immense and we have no doubt that we were surrounded by angels!





I would highly recommend that anyone, Catholic or not, visit Sylvan Springs in Rome City. God will touch you wherever you are in your walk with him.



Peace,

Patti