Fr. Ubald Memorial Mass-Eucharistic Healing Service w/Bp. Ricken

Considered part of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help extended family, Father Ubald Rugirangoga was one of the most beloved, dynamic and spirited guest priests to have ever ministered on Shrine grounds. His love for the Blessed Mother and his devotion to Jesus, through whom he manifested a healing charism by promoting the power of forgiveness,  resulted in some of the most profoundly moving healings and claimed graces at Champion Shrine and throughout the world.

In his Native Rwanda, which was once the epicenter of heinous and horrific acts of genocidal violence, Father Ubald modeled the unificiation of warring factions by sharing his personal account of  radical forgiveness of the killer of his own mother. Through this incredible act of mercy, Father believed he was granted the ability through Jesus to heal and would spend the rest of his life in this realm carrying out that mission, building the Center of the Secret of Peace in Rwanda.

While in the United States to speak on this remarkable charism developed by healing through forgiveness, Father Ubald felt the call of Mary at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help where he eventually established a very popular ministry as a guest priest that included  Masses with Eucharistic Healing Prayer Services.

In 2020, while visiting the United States for speaking engagements and conferences, Father Ubald was unable to return to Rwanda because of travel restrictions caused by the pandemic.   During his time awaiting return to Rwanda in the United States, Father Ubald contracted the Covid-19 virus, from which he rallied through prayer to recovery, but, sadly, ended up  passing (in early 2021) due the post-virus respiratory complications.

We are grateful to all who prayed for Father Ubald at the Shrine and throughout the world,  during this time in which he fought the virus. We are eternally grateful to Father Ubald for sharing his time on this earth with so many faithful pilgrims who sought and received healing through his ministry.  Father Ubald  inspired all whose lives he touched while on this earth and we believe, will be doing the same in heaven.

A longtime friend of Father Ubald and promoter of his ministry in the United States,

The Most Reverend David L. Ricken, Bishop of Green Bay, will celebrate at a Memorial Mass in Father Ubald’s honor at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, the only Church-approved Marian Apparition Site in Champion, Wisconsin.  T

he Mass will include the traditional Eucharistic Healing Prayer Service that Father Ubald iniitated at Champion and in whose honor we continue to offer the special Mass and Healing  Prayer Service on the last Saturday of each of month.

Heidi Hess Saxton

In addition to  Bishop Ricken’s Mass with Eucharistic Healing Prayer Service, there will be a discussion about Father Ubald’s life and ministry by the Heidi Hess Saxton who assisted Father Ubald in writing his book, Forgiveness Makes You Free.  Heidi will speak and have a meet and greet with books available for purchase both before the Mass and After.

Katsey Long

After Saxton’s discussion of her inspired work with Father during their co-creation of the book about his life, Father Ubald’s longtime friend, Katsey Long,  will be on hand to discuss Father Ubald’s life’s work and legacy.  A tireless supporter of Fr. Ubald’s  mission and ministry, Long was the catalyst  of the documentary about his life and is the progenitor of a non-profit organization that will carry on and support  Fr. Ubald’s various mission work and the Center for the Secret of Peace.

The itinerary for the day in which we honor Father Ubald Rugirangoga at Champion Shrine is as follows:

8:30 AM Mass

9:15 AM Confession

9:15-9:45 AM AM Discussion with Heidi Hess Saxton who assisted Father Ubald in creating a book about his life and mission: Forgiveness Makes You Free – Mother of Mercy Hall, immediately following, Saxton will be in the outdoor altar outside the Shrine gift shop for meet and greet

9:45 AM-10:30 AM Discussion with Katsey Long, longtime Fr. Ubald friend and supporter of his life’s mission work in the United States and globally – Mother of Mercy Hall  *Katsey Long will also be on hand throughout the day to provide more information to Shrine pilgrims about the efforts of the non-profit organization to ensure the legacy of the Father Ubald is carried on in myriad ways.

10 AM Confession -Chapel

10:30 AM Group Rosary – Mother of Mercy Hall

11 AM Father Ubald Memorial Mass celebrated by the Most Reverend David L. Ricken, Bishop of Green Bay

12:15 PM Eucharistic Healing Prayer Service with the Most Rev. David L. Ricken, Bishop of Green Bay

1:30-2  PM Luncheon offered courtesy of the United States of America Tri Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and hosted by the Green Bay Area Order of Malta

3 PM Divine Mercy Chaplet

Grounds and grottoes, including the Outdoor Rosary Walk behind the chapel, outdoor Statins of the Cross behind the Apparition Chapel, Apparition Oratory (lower level of Apparition Chapel – fully accessible)  where Father Ubald engaged in deep prayer and reflection when he was on site,  will be open all day 7 AM, until 7 PM