Local pastor visits Bosnia every year
The pull of Medugorje is strong for a Uniontown priest who has made eight trips the Croatian village in Bosnia-Herzegovina where apparitions of the Blessed Mother have been reported since 1981. “Every trip is unique and every trip has been rewarding spiritually because every time I go and people who have gone many times – spiritually and emotionally – we’re different people every time,’ said the Rev. William J. Kiel, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church. “If you’re not a different person, then something is wrong. We’ve stagnated.’
Rev. Kiel traces his interest in Medugorje to 1992 when he received a healing while in seminary.
“I received a healing from what was referred to as the Medugorje blessing. I received a healing from a back problem – a disk problem,’ explained Rev. Kiel, 60, a Mount Pleasant native who entered the seminary at age 46 after spending 23 years as a biology teacher. He recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of his ordination.
In 1994, Rev. Kiel made his first trip to Medugorje while he as assigned to St. Regis Parish in Trafford.
Although war was still going on, Rev. Kiel said, “We had no problems. The border guards stopped our bus and we had to show our passports. We never gave the war a thought.’
Except for 1995, Rev. Kiel has returned to Medugorje every year – one year he went twice – on pilgrimages.
“Groups will get together and I’ll be invited to go as spiritual director. Because the apparitions are still under study, the church has not formally approved them so we are not permitted as priests to get groups together,’ he explained.
As spiritual director for a pilgrimage, Rev. Kiel leads prayers, individual conferences with people and confessions.
His most recent trip to Medugorje was in April when 19 members of St. John Parish made the pilgrimage.
Rev. Kiel said, “It’s a retreat so each time you go back for the peace that’s there. You spend time in prayer and reflection, away from the familiar. You spend time in prayer and reflection in such a peaceful atmosphere there. There are simple, yet faith-filled people in that city. It’s a great experience. The villagers of Medjugorje are very friendly, open, hospitable, good people and so welcoming. You’d think they’d be tired of so many people coming. But if they are tired, you don’t know it.’
Since traveling to Medugorje, Rev. Kiel has conducted healing Masses.
He explained their start: “When I went to Medugorje the first time, I received a blessing from one of the priests and he asked me to share the blessing with everyone, starting at that church. When I blessed them, many of them rested in the spirit. A number of them received healings. Afterwards, several people said thank you for the blessing and the healing so I know it was a gift because I didn’t ask for it.’
Rev. Kiel began celebrating healing Masses when he returned to the United States. The first were at Trafford and then in Kittanning and in Uniontown as his assignments changed within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg. Rev. Kiel, who has been at St. John since June 1999, also celebrates Masses at other parishes.
“I go where I’m invited. I never ask to go anyplace. I do about 40 of those Masses a year,’ he said.
Anyone is welcome to the Masses with Rev. Kiel conducting the blessing afterwards.
“It’s a gift: the gift of healing spiritually, emotionally and physically. When I do the healing, I always mention the three kinds and at the beginning of the Mass is the part of the penitential rite. I do an examination of conscience,’ he explained. “Once we ask for spiritual healing, we open ourselves more easily to receiving emotional and physical healing. We have a lot of people coming back to the faith after healing whether it is Catholic or other churches.’
Attendance at the May healing Mass at St. John was very heavy and Rev. Kiel attributes that to a story that WQED did on the healing Masses during Lent. Rev. Kiel said the station also included a list of the healing Masses on its Web site.
In addition to Medugorje, Rev. Kiel has been to Fatima, Lourdes, Our Lady of Guadalupe as well as shrines throughout Italy. In July, he’s accompanying a group to visit shrines in Quebec, Canada, a trip he first made two years ago.
Why visit sacred places?
“I think it enriches me and nourishes me spiritually,’ he said. “Every now and then, I need to get away from the business of being a priest and just be renewed and strengthened,’ Rev. Kiel said. “I enjoy people. I really do, just to listen and help them in my capacity as a priest. I see it as a privilege to be of help to them in difficult times and share in times of happiness. To be a part of someone’s life is a privilege.’
The Rev. William J. Kiel’s schedule for Masses with blessings and prayers for healing includes: Thursday, June 19 at 7:30 p.m. with the Family of God Prayer Group at Doran Hall in Seton Hill College, Greensburg; Wednesday, June 25, at 7 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Uniontown, 724-437-7569; Thursday, July 3, 7 p.m., St. Oliver Plunkett Roman Catholic Church, Fredericktown, 724-377-0128; Wednesday, July 16, 7 p.m., St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church, Farmington, 724-329-4522; and Sunday, July 27, 3 p.m., St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Uniontown, 724-437-7569.
Rev. Kiel has been involved with Gospa Missions (Gospa means Our Lady in Croatia), which is headed by Tom Rutkoski. Rev. Kiel will make his next trip to Medugorje in June 2004. Anyone interested in this trip should contact Rick and Lisa Adams of the Ligonier area at 724-676-0234 for more information.