The Investiture of Fr. John Kettelberger, CM, as New Rector of the Basilica Shrine
The Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal announced some wonderful news during the annual May Procession to honor and celebrate Mary.
The Most Reverend Efren V. Esmilla, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, presided over this ceremony during the Perpetual Novena and Mass. During his homily, Bishop Esmilla announced, “And we will also witness an installation of the new rector here, Fr. John Kettelberger… so are we blessed? Amen! We are all blessed!”
The Very Reverend Stephen M. Grozio, CM, provincial superior of the Eastern Province, began the Investiture. Fr. Grozio said, “I know that Fr. Kettelberger, a priest with many years of pastoral experience, will serve the faithful who come to this Basilica [Shrine] with zeal and compassion. I know also that he can count on the prayerful support of his Vincentian confrères who will support him in the mission and ministry of the Basilica Shrine, as well as the prayers of all the Promoters and Members of the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal (CAMM).”
Bishop Esmilla invested Fr. Kettelberger as rector. Then Fr. Kettelberger took the Oath of Fidelity upon assuming the office of the Rector of The Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
He concluded his oath by saying, “May God help me in this way and may the holy Gospels of God always be in my mind and heart. Amen.”
Bishop Esmilla repeated, “Amen!” and delightedly proclaimed, “My brothers and sisters, with great joy, I now commend Fr. John to you as rector of this Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal” to resounding applause of the congregation.
Following Communion, Fr. Kettelberger gave a short speech of appreciation and gratitude to Bishop Esmilla, Vincentian confrères, family and friends who traveled to celebrate his Investiture. He also thanked the Members, Promoters, and Donors of the Central Association of the Miraculous who enable sharing devotion to Our Lady and sending her message to all in the world and asked all to continue to pray for him.
“And so we’re grateful to have the opportunity right here in Germantown in Northwest Philadelphia to be a beacon of hope, a beacon of hope that speaks a word of peace, that speaks a word of justice, that speaks a word of unity, a word that Pope Leo uses a lot,” said Fr. Kettelberger.
He thanked everyone in attendance for their presence, prayers, and
Fr. John Kettelberger and Bishop Efren V. Esmilla
support, and he encouraged their return to the Basilica Shrine to pray together and to listen together to God’s Word, and the opportunity to go forth and share that Word with others.
The Investiture of Fr. Kettelberger as rector of the Basilica Shrine is a momentous occasion, which solidifies his role in leading this important center of Marian devotion. Please join us in extending warm congratulations and prayers to Fr. Kettelberger as he embraces the responsibilities of guiding the Basilica Shrine community and continuing to spread the message of Our Lady’s love and intercession.
Thank you for supporting CAMM and the Basilica Shrine. This generosity enables the mission and allows for service to those in need.
Remembering Pope Francis, 1936-2025
With hearts full of sorrow, we at the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal joined the faithful around the world in mourning the death of Pope Francis on April 21.
In that moment, we did what Pope Francis encouraged us to do: We turned to Mary. We sought her comfort and her motherly embrace as we grieved. We were able to hold onto hope knowing that Mary always leads us to her Son.
During the Perpetual Novena and Mass at The Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal that day, homilist Fr. Patrick Flanagan, CM, recalled Pope Francis’ devotion to Our Lady.
Fr. Flanagan said, “Every time he [Pope Francis] would leave to go someplace special, perhaps on one of his 40 trips out of Italy, he would go to the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
Mary was a central figure in his life. Every time he wrote, Mary figured prominently in his writings. It was Mary who led him to Jesus. It is Mary who leads us to Jesus. Whom we have confidence in. Who we find hope in.”
We will remember Pope Francis at the Basilica Shrine and entrust him to the loving arms of Mary Immaculate. As we prayed for the repose of his soul, we also prayed for the Church he so lovingly led
with humility, compassion, justice, peace, and hope.
May Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal intercede for all of us whose hearts are filled with sadness. May we continue our journey of faith and Pilgrimage of Hope in the compassionate, merciful example set by Pope Francis. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
A New Dawn for the Church: Welcoming Pope Leo XIV
The bells of our beloved carillon rang out across Germantown, Philadelphia, carrying joyous news that fills our hearts with hope and reverence. The Church has received a new shepherd in Pope Leo XIV, and we, as devoted members of the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal, join our voices in celebration and prayer.
In his first moments as Holy Father, Pope Leo demonstrated the profound devotion that will guide his papacy. Speaking to the gathered faithful in St. Peter’s Square, he turned immediately to Mary, invoking her intercession on this sacred day dedicated to the Madonna
of Pompeii. “Our blessed mother Mary,” he proclaimed, “always wants to be close to us, she always wants to intercede for us. Let us pray together for the church and for peace in the world that she will help give us a special grace, our mother.”
His words resonate deeply with our mission and devotion to the Miraculous Medal. As he led the crowd in prayer with the timeless words, “Hail Mary, full of grace,” we witnessed a pontiff whose heart beats in harmony with our own dedication to Mary’s intercession.
May God abundantly bless Pope Leo as he embarks upon this sacred journey of shepherding
Receiving Blessings from the Blessed Mother
The Miraculous Medal is different from any other medal ever created in all of history. It is the only medal designed by Our Lady herself, and it bestows extraordinary graces on those who wear it and pray for Mary’s intercession and help. Some of the stories of hope shared by members of our spiritual community include:
Two Signs of Gratitude “Am about to give birth and my contract at work was terminated… I prayed for God’s Grace and my bosses to reconsider their decision. On the same day, they call and we are negotiating about 50% on my maternity. Am so grateful to God.”
Blessed by Miraculous Medal “I don’t know why I, a Protestant, am so blessed by the Catholic faith and my Catholic friends. I am very grateful for my Miraculous Medal, and I don’t feel so alone because it is with me. You see, I’m 67 years old, I’m an only child, and all my relatives are dead. I only have friends who support and care for me. Because of the medal,
I am reminded of God’s grace that He’s bestowed on me in each difficult situation where I’ve needed help.”
Help for Parent Seeking Parental Custody “Thank you, Blessed Mother, for hearing and answering our prayers. After praying the Novenas and putting my petition on the prayer line, our son has been granted sole physical custody of our grandson who was being abused by his stepfather. Our heavenly Mother answered my fervent prayers and I am just so exceedingly grateful. Thank you also, Mother Mary, for the continued remission of my husband’s cancer.”
Getting a Second Chance “I was 39 and very active. I could not get over a cough, and my health deteriorated each day. I was getting weaker and weaker and felt short of breath often. I had to sleep on my knees with my head on the side of my bed. The doctors gave me several prescriptions and asthma meds, but nothing helped. I woke up one morning and my thin legs were so swollen that I couldn’t put on pants.
I went to the hospital and they did tests.
My heart was so weak they couldn’t understand how I was walking around. I was diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy. Yes, a virus traveled to my heart and was damaging it. I wore my Miraculous Medal every day of my seven months in the hospital. Lots of people were praying for my healing. My heart was so weak the doctors gave me less than a week to live. I was put on an artificial heart machine called the CardioWest. They took out my heart, which the hospital staff said tore apart in the surgeon’s hands, and was put on this machine until they could perform a heart transplant. On December 8, 1998, God blessed me with a healthy 16-year-old heart through Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception’s intercession. Yes, on December 8th, Our Lady’s day. I am very blessed! I got to be there for my son’s high school graduation, his college graduation, and this past weekend his marriage. Thank You, Jesus, and thank you, Mother Mary! I love you very much!”
Honoring the Blessed Mother on Her Birthday
On September 8th, we will celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to honor Our Lady on her birthday. Many often wonder what is the best way to honor and celebrate her?
Mary herself gave us the answer. When Mary appeared to St. Catherine Labouré and revealed her Miraculous Medal, she told St. Catherine, “Come to the foot of the Altar. There graces will be shed upon all who ask for them.” Mary wants us to ask for God’s graces for our families and our world through her intercession.
So please take a few moments to write your personal prayer intentions on the reply form enclosed with this newsletter. Then mail them back in the envelope provided. Your intentions will be placed at the foot of Mary’s main shrine at The Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
Celebrating 400 Years of the Vincentian Mission
At the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal, we remember the profound spiritual transformation that inspired St. Vincent de Paul to dedicate his life to serving the poor and abandoned. This milestone invites us to reflect on how the Vincentian charism continues to call us forward in our modern world.
The foundation of the Vincentian mission began with St. Vincent’s transformative experience in Foleville on January 25, 1617, followed by his work in Chatillon eight months later. These encounters with the suffering of the poor provoked what can only be described as a true conversion—one that would inspire centuries of service to those most in need.
Today, the Vincentian Family faces new challenges and opportunities. The world cries out with millions suffering from poverty and strife, which demands our compassionate response.
Celebrating this 400th anniversary calls us to embrace the same missionary spirit that drove St. Vincent to encourage his confrères to go wherever the most abandoned could be found. Like Jesus, who went about teaching and healing with compassion, we are invited to leave our comfort zones and journey to the peripheries of our world.
The message is clear: we must not only see the reality of the poor but feel it deeply enough to be moved to action. As St. Vincent discovered, both spiritual and physical needs require our attention and care. This beautiful charism we have inherited challenges us to be Good News for the poor, working not just for them, but with them.
On this 400th anniversary, may everyone in the CAMM family renew our commitment to the Vincentian mission of evangelization and charity. And carry our commitment out with the same apostolic zeal that has marked this ministry for four centuries.
The Easiest—and Most Effective—Way to Spread Devotion and Love of Our Blessed Mother
As a member of our Rays of Hope monthly giving program, you will help us heal many more of the hungry and heartbroken souls, who come to us for comfort, support, and solace. As a member, you will:
✝ Be remembered in our prayers throughout the year.
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