Hundreds attend the Father Seelos Healing Mass

New Orleans, LA --It's a very special day for Catholics and believers who pray to Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos for miracles.

Hundreds of parishioners packed the National Seelos Shrine in Uptown for the last healing mass of the year.

They are the faithful believers of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos.

Preston Edwards prayed to Blessed Father Seelos for healing after being diagnosed with stage three cancer in the year 2000. He's also recovering from a stroke.

Twelve years later he's cancer free and the symptoms from his stroke are all, but gone.

"The scan showed that I had no cancer anywhere in my body from my head to my toes. Today, my only symptoms are speech therapy," says Edwards.

The mass has grown over the years.

"Almost 25 years ago, our mayor at the time declared that the last Sunday in April would be Father Seelos Day. At that time, they started that mass and have been doing it ever since.  Jazz Fest goes on, but so does Seelos; bring them in," says Father Byron Miller, a Redemptorist Priest.

The Vatican declared Father Seelos blessed in 2000 and parishioners also pray for his sainthood.

"The mass was powerful, very moving and we have great faith," says Mary Gormon of Memphis, Tennessee.

"Eventually, I want to walk. Maybe everything will work out good," says Eddie Costello of Memphis.

"I especially prayed for the healing in the whole world," says Gloria Marrufo of New Orleans.

Parishioners believe miracles happen everyday.