Wisconsin's Church Of Mary's Miracles

ROBINSONVILLE, Wis. (WFRV) -- A church in Robinsonville attracts thousands of people who are seeking miracles every year.

For over 150 years, tales of miracles have brought people to Our Lady of Good Help Chapel. The Chapel brings people like George Kaczmarek, who started making an annual trip with his wife 25 years ago.

"This is my favorite spot," Kaczmarek said. While his wife passed away five years ago, Kaczmarek still makes the two hour trip for her, and for the indescribable feeling he gets while he's there.

"From a spiritual stand point, miracles have happened. People who have lost their way, I'm sure some of them have rediscovered their faith," said Kaczmarek.

The tales of miracles dates back to 1859, first with the apparition of the Virgin Mary to a young Belgian woman named Adele Brisse.

Brisse then took on the mission of founding the Chapel and a school. It was said that once Brisse got the Chapel started miracle cures began to occur in the Chapel.

There are tales of blind visitors regaining sight, of desperately sick being cured and of cripples restored to health. There are also stories of people leaving crutches behind, crutches that can still be seen in the crypt today.

"From that time the place has been regarded as a holy place, an initial chapel had been constructed and it's been a place of prayer and pilgrimage ever since that time," said Rev. John Doerfler of the Diocese of Green Bay.

Just last week a Green Bay woman says she brought her 3-year-old grandson who had been diagnosed with leukemia to the shrine.

"They were going to be doing some tests the next day in preparation for a possible bone marrow transplant," Rev. Doerfler said.

She told Rev. Doerfler that a day later the doctors said they found no trace of leukemia in the boy.

There has been no formal declaration by the Catholic Church of the apparition of Mary at the shrine. An official investigation was opened in Jan. of last year, but is still underway.