Cardinal Burke, a former La Crosse Bishop, returns from Rome

Made one of his two yearly trips back to region

La Crosse’s former bishop, turned cardinal, wrapped up his traditional December visit to the Coulee Region.  

Cardinal Raymond Burke led a series of Catholic masses at the Guadalupe Shrine this past week to honor the December 12 feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Burke spearheaded construction of the shrine off Hwy. 14 during the years that he was Bishop of the La Crosse Diocese.

He continues to work in Rome, two years after he was replaced as head of the Vatican’s supreme court.

Twice each year – July and December – Burke returns to the area to celebrate feast days. 

During a mass Tuesday, the cardinal praised the service of Father Jacinto Mary Chapin, who is leaving his post as rector of the shrine church. Father Jacinto has been reassigned to a church post in Connecticut.

Burke also complimented the good work of the shrine’s board of directors. 

While he was back in La Crosse, Cardinal Burke was presented with a ‘Christ Brings Hope’ award by the Relevant Radio broadcasting group.