Sunday, June 8, 2014

The healing priest: In late 1800s, thousands sought out Rev. Mollinger at Troy Hill church

From Pittsburgh-

He was born to a wealthy Belgian family, studied medicine in Europe, became a priest, and rode on horseback in northwestern Pennsylvania to say Mass and treat people's ailments.

But it wasn't until the Rev. Suitbert Godfrey Mollinger arrived in Pittsburgh at the end of the Civil War and became priest at Most Holy Name of Jesus parish in Troy Hill that his reputation blossomed, said Kate Lukaszewicz, lead educator at the Heinz History Center.

During his more than 20 years here, she said in a talk at the history center Saturday, the "healing priest" became so well known that 20,000 people would make the pilgrimage to his church for the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua each June, seeking cures for everything from blindness and deafness to crippling ailments and heart problems.


Read more:

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2014/06/08/The-healing-priest-In-late-1800s-thousands-sought-him-out-at-Troy-Hill-church/stories/201406080200#ixzz342moN4uS

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