11 01 19 Vol. 41 No. 13

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THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 41, NO. 13 | NOVEMBER 1, 2019

MEET THE CONFESSOR

Father Harry Schneider (left) served as an English-language confessor at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France (below) for the month of September. Father Schneider heard confessions from four to six hours a day, on average. Father Schneider, who has a special devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes, has been to Lourdes four times: in 1988, 2008, 2010 and 2019.

Father Harry Schneider spends a month in Lourdes, France, as a volunteer confessor BY JOE BOLLIG

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — This fall, Father Harry Schneider had the privilege of ministering at one of the greatest of Marian apparition sites: the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France. Considering his history, it seems inevitable that he would someday go to Lourdes. Often simply referred to as “Lourdes,” the once-obscure village near the Pyrenees Mountains has

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JOE BOLLIG

PHOTO COURTESY OF FATHER HARRY SCHNEIDER

been the focus of Catholic devotion — and site of miraculous cures — for more than 150 years. Many have a special devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes, although they have never made it there. Such was the case for Rosie Schneider, the mother of Father Schneider. “Lourdes has always been a special devotion in our family,” said Father Schneider. “My mother had a devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes . . . a devotion she developed early on in her teenage years.” Rosie had a difficult pregnancy with Father Schneider, so she petitioned Our Lady of Lourdes in prayer

to protect herself and the child. And she was heard. She safely delivered her healthy baby boy on Feb. 11, 1948 — the 90th anniversary of the first apparition at Lourdes on Feb. 11, 1858. So, it’s hardly surprising that Father Schneider would visit Lourdes. In fact, Father Schneider has been to Lourdes four times: in 1988, 2008, 2010 and 2019. He celebrated his 60th birthday at Lourdes on the 150th anniversary of the apparition in 2008. His first pilgrimage to Lourdes in 1988 was a profound experience. “I thanked Mary for my life,” he said. “[My mother] had a difficult

pregnancy, but she survived and I survived. It’s always been very special to me because of that unique experience in my life.” On his third pilgrimage to Lourdes, Father Schneider met an American priest from Philadelphia, who told him how retired priests can volunteer to be confessors for brief periods of time in Lourdes. Last year, knowing he was about to retire, Father Schneider contacted the shrine and applied to become a confessor. He was eagerly accepted and scheduled for September >> See “SPIRITUAL” on page 4


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11 01 19 Vol. 41 No. 13 by The Leaven - Issuu