Published: October 23, 2009 02:07 pm      

Remembering men of faith

Candlelight Saints Tours start Friday in Loretto

BY RUTH RICE

RRICE@TRIBDEM.COM

The lives of holy men will be commemorated through outdoor tours.

Candlelight Saints Tours will be held beginning at 6 p.m. Friday through Nov. 1 on the grounds of the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, Loretto.

The last tour will depart at 10 each evening.

Jennifer Sentz of Loretto, tour organizer, said the tours have started again after an absence of several years.

“I think I started the tours in 2003 or 2004,” Sentz said. “I’m from Gettysburg, and they do ghost tours there. When I heard about Prince Gallitzin, I thought this would be a great way to let everyone know the history of the area. It’s a neat way to celebrate Halloween.”

The tours will start in the cafeteria of St. Michael’s School next to the Basilica, where tickets will be sold, and soup, sandwiches and hot beverages will be available for purchase.

Someone portraying Gallitzin’s mother will be present to give visitors an introduction to the early history of the Gallitzin family.

There will be six tour guides, and groups of 25 will leave every 15 minutes. The tours are 90 minutes long.

Visitors will meet seven saints on the tours.

After an introduction at the Basilica, the first saint to appear will be Gallitzin, coming out of his tomb in front of the Basilica.

After Gallitzin gives a history on his life, visitors will start out on the outdoor paths.

The paths are not handicapped accessible, and the tours are not recommended for children younger than 8 years old.

“There will be an outdoor altar where those on the tours may bring the name or picture of a loved one and say a prayer for them,” Sentz said.

When Gallitzin first came to the area, he finished the chapel house on Christmas Eve.

“There will be a re-enactment of that first celebration,” Sentz said.

“There will be someone to play a Christmas carol on the violin. She will have Prince Gallitzin’s violin with her, but I don’t know if she’ll play it.”

At the Charles Schwab mausoleum inside the graveyard, an exorcism account in which Gallitzin had a role will be portrayed.

“There were some strange happenings on a farm,” Sentz said. “The story will be told theatrically.”

Other saints on the tours include St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare and St. Cyril.

“St. Francis’ father was a materials merchant and quite wealthy,” Sentz said. “Francis gave up a life of comfort to preach the gospel and live in poverty.”

“St. Clare was supposed to marry a count, but after she heard Francis preach, she met with him, had her hair cut and dressed in a habit. She dedicated her life to God and remained in a cloistered convent.”

The meeting of Francis and Clare will be portrayed at one of the stops.

Sentz said a more modern saint portrayed on the tours is Edith Stein, who became St. Theresa of the Cross.

Stein died in a gas chamber at Auschwitz on Aug. 9, 1942.

The tours will end back at the school, where visitors can leave or have more hot refreshments.

“The tours will be held rain or shine, so dress accordingly,” Sentz said.

“Those who attend can bring flashlights to be able to see the paths better.”

Proceeds from the tours will be donated to charity.

Cost: $7 at the door.