No one is more surprised than Seelos when he is chosen as pastor and rector of St. Philomena’s Parish. At thirty-two, he was years younger than the fathers and brothers he was asked to lead. But this disparity of age doesn’t seem to intimidate him in being faithful to his duties as a rector. His simple acts of kindness and love for the poor and sick of the area have been handed down among parishioners for many years after his departure. They consider his prayers as very powerful with God, due to several cures of the sick. | Shown above, Redemptorist community bell and altar stone from St. Philomena’s Church, on display at the Seelos Shrine in New Orleans.