The Great Father Norm Weslin Has Died

Here are the Last Photos and Video of this Great and Holy Priest

The very great and holy priest, Fr. Norman Weslin died in the evening of May 16th. He was a giant personality in the pro-life movement–founder of the pro-life rescue group Lambs of Christ, he was arrested dozens of times and jailed for his defense of God's little ones. He authored a book about the Lambs called The Gathering of the Lambs.

Wanting to live the poverty of Christ, he donned a tattered and patched cassock and held his shoes together with silver duct tape.

Fr. Weslin was in a category all by himself.

On April 12, 2012 Steve Gendregske, Terese Rancor Beste and I made the trip to Traverse City to visit Fr. Weslin one month before he died. These are the very last photos and video of this dear holy priest. (see video link below)

During the visit we prayed the rosary and sang hymns with him. In advanced stages of forgetfulness, he did remember me-- After the first 10 minutes he said: "Monica, right?". Then another 10 minutes later he said, "You're a professor." Then another 10 minutes later he said "Oh, and you dodged the police at Notre Dame" referring to the fact that I bobbed and weaved my way across the Joyce Center parking lot to show our pro-life posters to the ND graduates lined-up for Obama's commencement speech!

Fr. Weslin passed away peacefully in a nursing care facility in Traverse City, Michigan and died on the very anniversary of his arrest three years ago at Notre Dame–in protest of Obama's commencement speech at this Catholic university. This was the last time Father Weslin was arrested for the pro-life cause. As Fr. Weslin was a fellow ND-88er, I am proud to have been in his company. Indeed, when I arrived at the St Joseph County Jail, Father Weslin was already there in a jail cell, singing and praying–living his faith–giving glory to God.

Fr. Weslin became a priest after his dear wife Mary Weslin was killed in a car accident. After her death he turned their Colorado home into a shelter for pregnant women. He was also a retired army colonel in and was fond of military metaphors in his pro-life work and spiritual outlook. Based on Rev. 12:1 he called Mary, the Mother of God, his 12 Star General. He was also fond of referring to what he called the "Divine Set-Ups" namely seeing the hand of God even in the smallest things of life.

I am proud to say that in 2002 Fr. Weslin was our keynote speaker at the local CPLS March for Life in Milwaukee. In 2007 he was also a supper guest in our home here in South Lyon, MI.

If we had only another 100 priests like Fr. Weslin–bold, true, loving and courageous, the battle for life would be over and the unborn would be free.

May his example, and the legacy he has left behind,

be an inspiration for priests and lay people everywhere to jump in–take up the cause–and never give up!

See below a letter from our ND 88 attorney Tom Dixon–in whose Michigan nursing home Fr. Weslin spent his last days.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of dear Fr. Norman Weslin.

Dear ND 88ers:

Father Norman Weslin passed away last evening very peacefully. He spent the last few years of his earthly life bringing joy to the residents and staff of Cherry Hill Haven, a senior living facility in Traverse City, Michigan owned and run by my wife, Patti and her incredible staff, headed by Administrator Evon Ryan.

Around the time of the ND 88 arrests, Father was diagnosed with early stage Alzheimers. As the disease progressed and he required placement, the Holy Spirit's divine setups kept him closely in our lives. Even after his placement, we were able to frequently pray the Holy Rosary outside the Planned Parenthood in Traverse City, and to arrange a trip for him to be with his friends in the Washington D.C. area for a week long prayer vigil. He also received visitors from all parts of the country... many Lambs from the Omaha area, friends from Detroit, the Upper Peninsula, and throughout the country.

In the last weeks of his earthly life, Father was filled with excitement and anticipation of his reunion with the Blessed Mother, his beloved wife Mary Lou, and all of his family and friends who went before him, as they accompany him into the eternal presence of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Friends from Omaha were with him at his death, and a prayer community in Traverse City kept almost constant vigil. Even in retirement and battling the effects of Alzheimers, Father Weslin touched many lives, brought many people to Christ, and spread the joy of his faith with contagion.

I think Dr. Charlie Rice has said it best, "while we have been praying for him, we will soon start praying to him."

Father Weslin increased my faith and deepened my devotion to the Blessed Mother. Each day, when I pray the Holy Rosary, I now include at the end of each mystery "Our Lady of Guadalupe pray for us" and the "Ave Maria" both included in his daily devotion. And, I now pray the Memorare as I begin my daily travels. His legacy in my life is much greater than these things, but he will always be with me as I continue in these devotions.

May God bless you all, and may we all celebrate having been bestowed the grace of being in the presence of Father Norman Weslin, and pray for our own reunion with him.

In Christ,

Tom Dixon

Thomas M. Dixon, Esq.

Dixon, Wright & Associates, P.C.

The last Video of Fr. Norm Weslin:

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