A large group of people devoted to Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos gathered at St. Mary’s Assumption Parish in New Orleans for the annual Seelos Healing Mass on Sunday, January 12. Fr. Peter Hill of the Baltimore Province, who presided at the Healing Mass, shared an inspiring homily about remaining faithful to the promises of God. Fr. Peter noted that Blessed Seelos found joy in doing the will of God, and he humbly spent his lifetime serving God. “Celebrating the Seelos Mass reminded me of the great and rich tradition that I am part of as a Redemptorist; the importance of continuing the mission and legacy of those who have gone before us,” he said. “It was great to see the faith of so many people who are devoted to Blessed Seelos.”

In addition to Provincial Superior Kevin Zubel and Provincial Vicar Aaron Meszaros, Mass concelebrants included Fr. Chuong Cao, a member of the EPC, and members of the local community—Fr. Chung Tran, pastor, Fr. Tim Watson and Fr. Steve Benden.

The Ordinary Provincial Council recently assumed leadership and direction of the Seelos Shrine as the first exploratory movement toward rebalancing the organization and administration of the Denver Province’s non-parochial missions toward less reliance on professed Redemptorists to provide operational and business management. Fr. Aaron Meszaros has been named Director of the Seelos Center, acting in consultation with and on behalf of the OPC. He recently served as local superior of the New Orleans community and personally knows the employees and many of the volunteers. He also has assisted with many of the administrative tasks involved in operating the Center. He will remain in residence at St. Michael in Old Town in Chicago, but will travel frequently to New Orleans to provide in-person direction as needed while leadership works toward developing the role of a lay administrator.

The National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos has been designated as a Pilgrimage Site during the 2025 Jubilee: Pilgrims of Hope.