| Home - Latest News | Introduction | Bayside Prophecies | Directives from Heaven | Order Form | Testimonies | Veronica Lueken | Miraculous Photos | Bible | Radio Program |

These Last Days News - June 21, 2012

In Two Michigan Villages, a Higher Calling to the Priesthood is Often Heard...

"My child, make it known to Our priests in My Son’s houses upon earth, churches, that We want Our priests to shine forth as pure examples of chastity and holiness.... "The example that must be shown and given to the children of earth by Our priests must set them apart as representatives of My Son. They do not have any equal upon earth, for their vocation is a special gift of God." - Our Lady, June 18, 1974

The New York Times reported on June 16, 2014:

Aside for the mole grazing his right eyebrow, it is difficult to distinguish Gary Koenigsknecht from his identical twin, Todd, four minutes the elder.

Growing up, the twins, now 26, milked cows side by side on the family farm. They both graduated at the top of their high school class. And with their ordination on Saturday, they have begun careers as Roman Catholic priests, two of 477 men in the United States expected to be ordained this year.

They demonstrate that priestly vocations are not evenly distributed by family or geography: they are among six priests in their extended family, and among 22 from their hometown, Fowler, Mich., population 1,224. They officially tie up the leader board with the neighboring village of Westphalia, population 938, which has also produced 22 priests, making for a robust rivalry in both football and Roman collars.

In an era when the number of priests in the United States continues to dwindle — declining by 11 percent in the past decade and crippling the Catholic Church’s ability to meet the needs of a growing Catholic population — this rural patch of Clinton County offers a case study in the science and mystery of the call to priesthood.

With the older generation of priests dying off, it would take three times as many priestly ordinations as is occurring nationwide to maintain the population of 38,600 priests, according to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University.

But the communities of Fowler and Westphalia, where it is not hard to find an altar boy who is considering priesthood, are doing more than their part. For the Rev. Todd Koenigsknecht and the Rev. Gary Koenigsknecht, encouragement arrived in many forms, from messages scribbled in crayon by grade-school children to $20 checks scrawled in shaky cursive, gifts from older parishioners to defray seminary costs.

Their home parish, Most Holy Trinity, hosts a weekly prayer hour dedicated to religious vocations and an annual fund-raiser to help cover tuition; it contributed more than $10,000 to each Koenigsknecht twin.

The houses in these two villages eight miles apart in Central Michigan are orderly, with Virgin Mary statues in front yards, American flags on front porches and unlocked front doors. Faith is the center of life, those who live here say: Everyone is Catholic, everyone is related and everyone shows up at Mass. The youth groups are active. Nearly all the students attending the prom in the villages begin the festivities by attending a regularly scheduled 4:30 p.m. Mass, dressed in their party attire.

The only grade school in Westphalia is a Catholic one, and the only place of worship is a Catholic church, St. Mary’s, pictured in the city logo alongside the water tower.

“It seems like culture takes a little longer to catch up out here in the sticks,” said Vernon Thelen, who serves as president of Fowler, the equivalent of a mayor, and attends morning Mass several times a week. “When I say culture, I mean some of the bad culture you see on sitcoms and TV.”

The Koenigsknecht twins grew up without a TV, playing cribbage and praying the rosary instead. Their community naturally fosters priestly vocations, Father Todd said. “It’s in the air.”

Logan Trierweiler, a 12-year-old from Westphalia, said he was surprised by the attraction to priesthood he experienced last month while watching his parish priest, the Rev. Mathias Thelen, pastor of St. Mary’s. “I was observing how close he gets to God, and I thought it would be so cool if I could become that close to God.”

Logan, who is an altar boy, readily shared the prospect with friends. “They said that sounds cool,” he said. One friend responded that he, too, was contemplating becoming a priest.

When Father Mathias polled Logan’s sixth-grade class a few weeks ago, asking how many of the 43 students would consider life as a priest, brother or sister, at least a dozen raised their hands, he said.

He, too, is from Fowler and speaks freely about his path to the priesthood, including a breakup with “the girl of my dreams.”

“My heart was not made for a woman,” he tells parishioners. “My heart was made for God.”

Logan has already imagined the sacrifices that would be required by vows of celibacy, poverty and obedience. “It would be a little sad to not have a family and to live far away from home, depending on where I go,” he said.

Some parents do hesitate to give up their sons to the priesthood, Father Mathias said, campaigning for a more conventional — and seemingly less lonely — married life.

That never occurred to Agnes Koenigsknecht, an organic dairy farmer and a mother of 10. “They’re not ours to keep,” she said of her twins. “How can you hold them back?”

The elevation of religious life here has also had an effect on young women: Westphalia has produced 37 Catholic nuns over the decades, according to diocesan data, while Fowler claims 43. Marita Wohlfert, who is 20, is in the running to make it 44, having professed her first vows last year with the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará and taking the name Sister Mary of the Holy Family.

She is the fifth of nine children for Jerry Wohlfert, who runs the millwork shop in town and went through four years of seminary himself before getting married. His oldest son attended a year of seminary, then ruled out the priesthood; his 18- and 14-year-old sons say they are considering it. “If the families are open to God’s calling,” Mr. Wohlfert said, “then the seminarians will come.”

Meanwhile, farmers joke about who will break the tie in Fowler-Westphalia’s priest count.

The answer may have been in the sanctuary during the Saturday ordination Mass, sitting behind the bishop’s wooden throne and holding his foot-tall miter: Lee Koenigsknecht, the twins’ 19-year-old brother, who just finished his first year of seminary.

"I have asked you once, I have asked you again, My children, not to abandon your parish churches. It is the plan of satan to shut the doors. Remember, My children, and I repeat again, that My Son is with you in the Eucharist. He is present with you in Body and Spirit. He will be brought to you by a legally-ordained priest, a man of God. Do not judge My Son's Church or its structure by the ways of man. The Spirit will work miracles over the corruption of the man. A legally-ordained priest is a priest for life.
     "Please, My children, pray for your priests. Many are being led astray. Discipline and the rule must be followed in the priesthood. This brings great sorrow to the Eternal Father and My Son to see the manner in which the priesthood has cast aside the rule in the name of modernism and humanism." - Our Lady of the Roses, March 25, 1978

We urgently need your prayers and financial support to be able to continue to create these web pages.  Click here... Thank you in advance.

Our Lady of the Roses awesome Bayside Prophecies... http://www.tldm.org/Bayside/
These prophecies came from Jesus, Mary, and the saints to Veronica Lueken at Bayside, NY, from 1968 to 1995.

MASS IS VALID
"Do not lose faith in My Mass. It is valid. Man may distort, but it is valid, I say! When a legally-ordained priest of the Roman Catholic Church conducts this Mass, it is valid, I say!"  - Jesus, December 7, 1976

NO EQUAL
"My child, make it known to Our priests in My Son’s houses upon earth, churches, that We want Our priests to shine forth as pure examples of chastity and holiness.... "The example that must be shown and given to the children of earth by Our priests must set them apart as representatives of My Son. They do not have any equal upon earth, for their vocation is a special gift of God." - Our Lady, June 18, 1974

HELP
"You must help your priests. It is not constructive to speak out in anger against My Son’s House, Church. If you have anything to say that you feel is being done wrong, go to the ones concerned--your priests, your bishops. Do not spread words among the disbelievers, those waiting to take anything that can be thrown back to destroy My Son’s House." - Our Lady, April 3, 1971

FOR LIFE
"When a man has given himself, and chosen from out of the world as a priest of his God, he will be a priest for life." - Our Lady, March 18, 1973

DO NOT BREAK
"You must still in your human nature not become prideful or arrogant. You must accept the counsel of the true priests who are in My Church. You cannot and must not break away and form your own groups.... I do not want you to leave your parish churches. I want you and counsel you as your God to remain! If you have any dispute, I ask you for the preservation of your salvation upon earth, to not cast aside the role of the priesthood as given through the Apostles, My followers. Peter was My first Pope and your first Pope, and as all others who followed him, they must be accepted. Be they weak or noble, be they with sanctity or unholiness, they must be accepted and followed." - Jesus, June 9, 1979

TRADITIONALIST
"We hear all names coming forward to Our ears of churches being born anew, called the Traditional Roman Catholic Church. My child and My children, We need no more Traditionalists running around and creating new churches. We have to remain steadfast and firm in our convictions that with enough prayer, and also the firm example of holiness among many, this will not happen. We do not condemn those who make these side churches, the Traditional Roman Catholic churches; they mean well, but they are being led astray. There will be eventually an American Catholic Church if this continues. This is not approved by Heaven.... It is most urgent that this breaking away stop now before it evolves into a major schism." - Jesus, September 14, 1985

REMAIN
"Do not judge My Son's Church by man. The foundation is My Son, Jesus. And though the walls may develop cracks, the foundation is solid. Will you not remain and patch these cracks, My children? We do not wish that you break apart into small groups of discord. No schisms must take place in My Son's Church. For all who are baptized a Roman Catholic must die Roman Catholics to enter Heaven." - Our Lady, November 20, 1979

BADGE OF HONOR
"A duly ordained priest in the House of God shall not remove his habit. He shall not take the badge of honor of his vocation from him. In doing thus, he subjects his soul to contamination from worldly influence." - Our Lady, March 25, 1973

REWARD
"The simple life, My child, is the best for the dedicated. The dedicated, those who have accepted a vocation, must live only as human beings in the world, but must accept the spiritual.... Discipline must be returned to the Orders. Many must now retire from the world that has been given to Satan. Know now, my brothers and sisters of religious orders: you will be mocked, you will be scorned, but you will please the Eternal Father and receive your reward in the Kingdom." - St. Francis of Assisi, May 28, 1975

ETERNITY
"Additional graces I give unto you, My dedicated. Those who remain true to your teachings know that there is none whom you will answer to but the Father. Eternity is forever. Do not bargain your soul for the few years you have on your planet earth." - Jesus, September 13, 1974

POLITICS
"You must not involve yourselves, My pastors, with the political machines of your world. It is a satanic involvement." - Jesus, May 15, 1976

INSTRUMENT
"During the consecration of My Body, regardless of his human nature, whether it be saint or sinner, I come to you in full Body and Spirit. I come to you through him as a medium from God, through him as an instrument from God." - Jesus, June 18, 1977

"DO NOT GO SEEKING ELSEWHERE"
"I ask you all not to abandon My Church. Do not judge My Church by the priest, for in his human nature he can err. But I assure you I am using him, as a legally ordained priest, to bring you My Body and Blood. Do not go seeking elsewhere, for you will lose your baptismal right, and you will no longer be accepted as a Roman Catholic, and you will not enter into the highest place of Heaven, the Kingdom of Paradise." - Jesus, October 6, 1980

Directives from Heaven... http://www.tldm.org/directives/directives.htm

D1 - The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass   PDF  Order copies...
D2 - The Holy Eucharist  PDF  Order copies...
D5 - The Holy Priesthood PDF  Order copies... 
D11 - Remain in the Parish Church PDF  Order copies...
D82 - Sacraments  PDF  Order copies...
D233 - Vocations, Part 1   PDF  Order copies...
D234 - Vocations, Part 2  PDF  Order copies...
D228 - Consecrated Hands   PDF  Order copies...

EDITOR'S COMMENT:  Evil is accelerating and the Anti-Christ forces are gaining power in the world.  When the persecution starts, all Christian web sites on the internet will be forced to close.  Be sure to have in your possession all the following items: the Bayside Prophecy books, Bayside Medals, Douay-Rheims Bibles, the Protection Packets, Candles, Sacramentals, and Religious Books.  Purchase these items now while they are still available!  You will urgently need them in the days ahead.  Also, you can print out all PDF files for the Directives from Heaven and all of the Bayside Prophecies.  Copy Our Lady's messages and the Directives from Heaven now while they are still available!  Pray to the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance on how to prepare now and for the days ahead when the Antichrist is revealed.  Viva Cristo Rey!  

There are 4 things you must have to survive the end times:

1.) The Douay-Rheims Holy Bible...

"You must all obtain a copy of the Book of life and love, the Bible. Do not accept the new mods. Try to find in your bookstores the old Bibles, My children, for many are being changed to suit the carnal nature of man.  I repeat, sin has become a way of life." - Our Lady, October 6, 1992  
    "I must ask you all to read but a few short chapters a day now, the Book of life and love, your Bible. Knowledge must be gained for all the disciples of My Son, for you will be attacked by scientific minds. But do not be concerned what you will say to them when accosted, for the words will be given to you by the Spirit." - Our Lady, April 10, 1976  (Order Form)

2.)  The total Virgin Mary’s Bayside Prophesies in 6 paperback books...

The Virgin Mary brings directions from God, the Father in Heaven on how to survive the end times.  God, the Father, through the Virgin Mary, tells what is coming, how to prepare for it, how to survive it, and how to even stop it.  These six volumes along with the Bible are most important to save yourself and your loved ones.  Order it now.  Tomorrow may be to late.  These 6 pocket size paperback books costs $33.00.   (Order Form)

3.)  Heaven's Home Protection Packet...

Heaven’s Home Protection Packet...
Our Lord stated we must have crucifixes upon the outside of all of our outside doors. In the "Heaven’s Home Protection Packet" there are instructions, four crucifixes, a tube of special cement for wooden or metal crucifixes. Wooden crucifixes adhere better to the doors when the aluminum strap is removed from the back. Put a light coat of cement on the back of the crucifix and then press it to the outside of the door. If you have any problems, you can call us at 616-698-6448 for assistance. This Heaven’s Home Protection Packet is available for a donation of $7.00 plus $3.00 shipping and handling. Send $10.00 to TLD Ministries, P.O. Box 40, Lowell, MI 49331. Item # P15  (Order Form)

Crucifix on front and back door...  The only real protection against terrorists...

Jesus - "Pray and wear your sacramentals. And, also, My children, I ask you again to place a crucifix upon your door. Both front and back doors must have a crucifix. I say this to you because there will be carnage within your areas, and this will pass you by if you keep your crucifix upon your doors." (6-30-84) (Testimonies of lives and homes saved by the crucifixes.)  http://www.tldm.org/news/crucifix.htm    (Order Form)

4.) Heaven's Personal Protection Packet...

Your names have been written in Heaven… "It is not by accident that you are called by My Mother, for your names have been written in Heaven.... But with this great grace you have great responsibility to send this Message from Heaven throughout the world, for if you are able to recover just one more for Heaven, an additional star shall be placed in your crown." - Jesus, August 5, 1975

A great obligation to go forward... "It is not by accident that you are called by My Mother, for it is by merit and the prayers that have risen to Heaven for your salvation.  For those who have received the grace to hear the Message from Heaven, you have a great obligation to go forward and bring this Message to your brothers and sisters.  Do not expect a rest upon your earth, for you will have eternal rest very soon." - Jesus, June 12, 1976

The sin of omission...  "The sin of omission shall condemn many to hell, be they layman or Hierarchy.  I repeat:  not the sin of commission, but the sin of omission will commit many to hell."  Our Lady of the Roses,  October 6, 1980

We encourage everyone to print or email copies of this web page to all the Bishops and all the clergy.  Also, email or send this web page to the news media and as many people as possible.

Email this page to a friend.

| Home - Latest News | Introduction | Bayside Prophecies | Directives from Heaven | Order Form | Miracles & Cures | Veronica Lueken | Miraculous Photos | Bible | Radio Program |

The electronic form of this document is copyrighted.    
Quotations are permissible as long as this web site is acknowledged with a hyperlink to: http://www.tldm.org
Copyright © These Last Days Ministries, Inc. 1996 - 2014   All rights reserved.
P.O. Box 40                   616-698-6448
Lowell, MI 49331-0040
Revised: July 31, 2018