Medjugorje Calls You was founded in 2015. It grew out of pilgrimages in previous years to Medjugorje by several current board members who learned about the challenges faced by many very poor families in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
President: Maggie Shaffer
Board Members: Anita Hood, Karen Stynchula, Cindy Fetchero
Legal Counsel: Daniel DeMarco
Treasurer: John Poznick
Our Lady of Medjugorje, also called Queen of Peace and Mother of the Redeemer
The relationships we form last a lifetime.
Medjugorje is a town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It’s been an unofficial place of Catholic pilgrimage since the Virgin Mary allegedly appeared on Apparition Hill in 1981. There is a “Queen of Peace” statue marking the site of the 1st apparition and one in front of the St. James Church. Liquid has been said to drip from the “Risen Christ” statue near the church. A concrete cross tops Cross Mountain, to the south.
in memoriam
Fr. Bill Kiel
Father Kiel, who was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Greensburg at age 50 after serving as a high school biology teacher for 23 years, died Oct. 6, 2019, at St. Anne Home, Greensburg. He was 76 and had been a priest for 26 years.
A son of the late Michael and Clara Myslewski Kiel, Father Kiel was born June 9, 1943, in Mount Pleasant. He attended elementary school at the former Transfiguration School and graduated from the former Ramsay High School, both in Mount Pleasant. He received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1961 and a master’s degree in education from IUP in 1970. He earned a master’s degree in biology from Ball State University, Muncie Ind., in 1971.
He taught biology at Greensburg Salem High School and during that time was a parishioner of Our Lady of Grace Parish, Greensburg, where he was on pastoral council, was an extraordinary minister of holy Communion and a faith formation instructor.
Father William J. Donahue, pastor at that time, asked if he’d like to become a priest, and Father Kiel said yes. He entered Saint Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, in 1989 and received his master of divinity degree in 1993.
Father Kiel was ordained to the priesthood by the late Bishop Anthony G. Bosco May 22, 1993, at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, Greensburg.
He served as parochial vicar of Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Parish (1993-94) and St. Regis, Trafford (1994-95). He was pastor of St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Kittanning (1995-99), St. John the Evangelist Parish, Uniontown (1999-2005) and St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Indiana (2005-13). He retired from active ministry June 25, 2013.
Father Kiel also served as chaplain for the Catholic Daughters of America Court Patricia No. 998.
He was well known throughout the region for celebrating Masses with prayers and blessings for healing, which he continued doing in his retirement.