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monthly devotions to patron saint for cancer patients continue to draw crowds

Story and photo by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

In a way, it’s a hard anniversary to celebrate. This November, the monthly devotions to St. Peregrine, patron saint for cancer patients, will mark its 10th year in the diocese at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Belleville.

This month, Bishop Edward K. Braxton was principal celebrant and homilist at the liturgy and prayed the devotions with the congregation at the end of the Mass.

The devotions were started by Queen of Peace parishioner Sue De Marse and have grown to about 200 people a month, she said.

“Every month we see a new face,” De Marse said, and shook her head. A new face means someone else is suffering with cancer.

A choir has formed with people from many different parishes, and lectors and extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist are drawn from different parishes as well.

About 14 parishes share responsibilities for the liturgy, De Marse said.

In his homily, Bishop Braxton said: “ Cancer seems to be all pervasive in the western world. We must never abandon our confidence that God is with us in our suffering.”

St. Peregrine, who became a Servite priest, lived from 1260-1345 in Forli, Italy.

The night before St. Peregrine was to have surgery on his cancerous leg, he prayed before an image of the crucified Christ, literature says. “His prayers led him into a deep trance-like sleep during which he envisioned the crucified Christ leaving the cross and touching his cancerous leg. The following morning, Peregrine was cured.”

For more information about the monthly liturgies and devotions, please call 235-1194.