Downtown in New Haven in South Central Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)

Blessed Is He

Photographed by Conrad Ward, May 21, 2025

1. Blessed Is He Marker

Inscription.

Blessed Is He. . , Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God., In 2014, Michelle and Daniel received devasting news about the son in her womb. "I've been doing this for 30 years and I've never seen anybody survive," said the doctor "to have fetal hydrops and a chromosomal diagnosis together, it's over." The doctor suggested that terminating the pregnancy was the best solution. "It made me mad," recalled Daniel. "My job as a dad is to protect my children, not to kill them.", "I became so afraid of delivering another baby stillborn," recalled Michelle., When they were alone, Daniel, a Knight Columbus, said, "Father McGivney needs a miracle. I just prayed that if Father McGivney saves him, I'm naming him Michael.", He explains, "If there was any baby McGivney would want to help, this would be the one. I knew that McGivney was the oldest of 13 children. I had the feeling that he liked us, too." Out of 13 McGivney children, six died before adulthood. The Schachle family had 12 kids and wanted to save the 13th, though modern medicine said there was no hope. After continual prayers asking the intercession of Fr. McGivney and a pilgrimage to Fatima, they received a second ultrasound. When the technician showed them the picture, the lethal fluid buildup had disappeared from the baby's face. "This is the prettiest baby I've ever seen.", Michael "Mikey" McGivney Schachle was born on May 15, 2015., On May 27, 2020, after extensive medical and theological reviews, Pope Francis recognized this cure as an event not explainable by medical science. This miracle was attributed to the intercession of Father McGivney, paving the way for his beatification on October 31, 2020., "To meet him was at once to trust him; children actually loved him; and the very old people of his neighborhood called him a positive saint and meant it." , Father Joseph Daley, (images) , Mother and son. Michelle Schachle with Mikey / Daniel Schachle family collection, Mikey Schachle (age 5) at home with a statue of his namesake, Father Michael McGivney / Tennessee Register

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

In 2014, Michelle and Daniel received devasting news about the son in her womb. "I've been doing this for 30 years and I've never seen anybody survive," said the doctor "to have fetal hydrops and a chromosomal diagnosis together, it's over." The doctor suggested that terminating the pregnancy was the best solution. "It made me mad," recalled Daniel. "My job as a dad is to protect my children, not to kill them."

"I became so afraid of delivering another baby stillborn," recalled Michelle.

When they were alone, Daniel, a Knight Columbus, said, "Father McGivney needs a miracle. I just prayed that if Father McGivney saves him, I'm naming him Michael."

He explains, "If there was any baby McGivney would want to help, this would be the one. I knew that McGivney was the oldest of 13 children. I had the feeling that he liked us, too." Out of 13 McGivney children, six died before adulthood. The Schachle family had 12 kids and wanted to save the 13th, though modern medicine said there was no hope. After continual prayers asking the intercession of Fr. McGivney and

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a pilgrimage to Fatima, they received a second ultrasound. When the technician showed them the picture, the lethal fluid buildup had disappeared from the baby's face. "This is the prettiest baby I've ever seen."

Michael "Mikey" McGivney Schachle was born on May 15, 2015.

On May 27, 2020, after extensive medical and theological reviews, Pope Francis recognized this cure as an event not explainable by medical science. This miracle was attributed to the intercession of Father McGivney, paving the way for his beatification on October 31, 2020.

"To meet him was at once to trust him; children actually loved him; and the very old people of his neighborhood called him a positive saint and meant it."
Father Joseph Daley

(images)
Mother and son. Michelle Schachle with Mikey / Daniel Schachle family collection

Mikey Schachle (age 5) at home with a statue of his namesake, Father Michael McGivney / Tennessee Register

Erected by St. Mary Church.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Science & Medicine. A significant historical date for this entry is May 15, 2015.

Location. 41° 18.707′ N,

Photographed by Conrad Ward, May 21, 2025

2. Blessed Is He Marker

72° 55.429′ W. Marker is in New Haven in South Central Region, Connecticut. It is in Downtown. It is on Hillhouse Avenue north of Grove Street, on the right when traveling north. Located at St. Mary Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5 Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven CT 06511, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Connecticut River Valley

and on the Connecticut Shoreline.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Haven County

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Strong Right Arm of the Church (here, next to this marker); Let Us Pray (here, next to this marker); The Dominican Legacy (here, next to this marker); The Cost of Life (here, next to this marker); Stepping into the Breach (here, next to this marker); The Stone that was Rejected (here,

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next to this marker); On the Frontline of the Pandemic (here, next to this marker); God and the Curveball (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Haven.

More about this marker. Part of a series of 12 panels about Father Michael J. McGivney

Also see . . .
1. Michael J. McGivney (Wikipedia). (Submitted on May 17, 2026.)
2. St. Mary Church (Official Website). (Submitted on May 17, 2026.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 17, 2026, by Conrad Ward of Guilford, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 17, 2026, by Conrad Ward of Guilford, Connecticut. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.