The Brick House Masses

The old brick house served as the living quarters of the resident physician of Kneipp Springs and his family. When Dr. GT Willke was here, this house probably saw as much activity as any place on the entire property...and we're not just referring to excited children running in and out of the house.

There used to be a larger porch on this house and it was used quite frequently for outdoor Mass and Benediction as part of celebratory processions to the Grotto area at the base of what we now call Holy Family Hill. A beautiful altar area was set up on this porch and it is in this exact location where an old concrete statue of The Sacred Heart of Jesus began exhibiting a strange coloration around the heart and down the front of Christ's tunic. This happened on January 7, 2008 (Feast of Mother of Mercy). This is the same name on the cornerstone of the main chapel dated 1916 The Our Lady Mother of Mercy Chapel.

We would like to thank Dr. John Willke and his wife Barbara for sharing photos from their private archives.

More to come...