Austen Ivereigh
An American football team should visit the site of the only officially-recognised Marian apparition in the United States after pulling off a so-called ‘Hail Mary pass’, a local bishop has said.
Pointing out that the community of Champion in Wisconsin’s Green Bay diocese is home to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, Milwaukee’s Archbishop Jerome Listecki suggested that the Green Bay Packers should rent a bus to visit the shrine and dedicate the team to Our Lady of Good Help.
The bishop’s suggestion came after the team was beaten in a play-off match by the Arizona Cardinals, despite the Packers scoring after quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw a ‘Hail Mary’ pass with just five seconds left to play.
‘Hail Mary’ passes are exceptionally difficult and rare passes only tried as last resorts. Dr Listecki said that having scored twice with such passes this year the Packers “better say thank you – especially to Mother”.