Death of Dr. Michael T. Sullivan
First Saturday November 2, 2024
I first met Dr. Michael Sullivan back in 1998 when I first arrived at the Thursday Night Prayer Group at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Emmitsburg, Maryland. It started off as a friendly, casual acquaintance and over the years developed into a friendship that ultimately led to me being a pall bearer for him at his funeral.
Mike had an unwavering faith and absolute confidence in the apparitions Gianna Talone was having of the Blessed Virgin Mary that started back in Scottsdale, Arizona after returning from a pilgrimage to Medjugorje. Mike and Gianna married and at the request of The Blessed Virgin Mary, relocated to Emmitsburg, Maryland to help fulfill God’s plan of making the Emmitsburg area “The Center of The Immaculate Heart of Mary” through a series and multitude of apparitions from 1993 to 2000 within the four walls of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with explicit permission of Cardinal William H. Keeler.
After the Archdioceses of Baltimore suspended the Thursday Night Prayer Group on September 8, 2000 (Our Lady’s Nativity) from taking place on church property it moved to private venues where it continued to grow until shutdown AGAIN by the Archdioceses of Baltimore to also include “Private Property”.
At this point much of the support for the apparitions of Our Lady of Emmitsburg began to fade slowly. People drifted away and belief in the apparitions were losing more people than it was gaining. During this time Mike only worked harder for Our Lady. He formed a special 2nd Sunday Eucharistic Prayer at St. Mary’s in Fairfield, PA just over the diocesan line. This prayer group is in its 12th year. I hope that it can continue.
Mike and Gianna have also had difficult times with their marriage and ultimately divorced. I know for a fact that Mike wanted to try and reconcile with Gianna. He told me this himself on numerous occasions. Gianna has also told me the same thing. Despite the problems both Mike and Gianna faced Mike NEVER wavered in his belief and support of the apparitions of Our Lady of Emmitsburg. NEVER.
Through these turbulent years Mike and I grew closer together and he confided in me. I confided in him. We were friends and I knew that friendship was because of a supernatural link between us, forged by Our Lady. No other explanation possible. Period.
Eventually Mike came to me stating that Our Lady has requested that S.C.C. and I move back to Emmitsburg. I knew this was true because I had already received the invitation in a spiritual way that I won’t describe again because I have already written an earlier paper about it. With this very brief background I will now describe the events of Mike’s death as I experienced them.
Unknown Date
About Two Months Ago
During this time Mike was still recovering from back surgery that caused him a lot of pain. One night during this period of time I had a very frightening dream/nightmare. In this nightmare it was just pitch black with absolutely no visuals. I could hear my cell phone ringing and I answered it by saying “Hello”. Then the “voice” of Raymond Sanders said to me “Robert, Dr. Mike has died.” I remember being in shock hearing this and I woke up thinking it was real. It frightened me and I absolutely refused to look over at the clock next to the bed because I was afraid it would be 13, 33 or 333. I did everything I could to block it out of my mind and memory. I did not record it in my journal.
First Saturday November 2, 2024
Dr. Michael T. Sullivan’s Death
The day started by me waking up in the middle of the night. I felt the urge to pray, I started to pray and looked over at the clock next to the bed and the time was 4:13.
Later in the morning S.C.C. and I went to daily mass at St. Joseph’s. Fr. Andrew Ayala IVE was the priest. Mass ended and we remained for First Saturday devotions. After the devotions were over S.C.C. and I drove home.
Later in the day while at home I felt the URGENT need to pray the rosary. I got in my car and drove across the street to the Basilica. I glanced at my watch as I began the Joyful mysteries and the time was 12:33.
I did not know what but something seemed urgent. That’s just the feeling I had. I prayed the entire rosary Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries along with an extra Sorrowful mysteries. Just as I was finishing I had a CRASHING thought that I should continue with an extra Glorious mysteries. This caused me to glance at my watch and the time was 2:13:13. I prayed the extra Glorious mysteries and glanced at my watch as I finished and kissed the crucifix and the time was 2:33:59.
I drove home which is just across the street. Later S.C.C. and I got ready to go to the 4:30 mass at St. Joseph’s because I had made plans to go to Culpeper tomorrow and go metal detecting for Civil War relics with my friend Tom Mc_____. S.C.C. and I arrived at St. Joseph’s and Fr. Andrew was the priest. His homily was about people who die and go straight to heaven. Mass ended and S.C.C. and I got in the car to leave. INSTANTLY as we got in the car my cell phone rang. It was Caroline P____ and George C____ on a conference call. Caroline then said to me: “Robert, Dr. Sullivan has died.” As these words came out of her mouth and into my ears I just so happened to notice the clock on the dash switch to 5:33.
I felt like collapsing. My mind went back instantly to the dream/nightmare I had of Raymond Sanders voice telling me the same exact thing in exactly the same words a couple of months ago. As shocking as this was to me I felt cushioned and comforted by the fact that I received this news in complete harmony with the 13, 33 and 333 sequences that started with me at St. Joseph’s by getting this news at 5:33.
George dropped off the line and S.C.C., Caroline and myself prayed a rosary for Mike over the phone. A little later I received a phone call from our good friend Mary B______ and she provided a few more details about Mike’s unexpected death. We finished talking and hung up and I noticed the time on my phone was 6:13.
Later in the evening I was still in a state of shock. I needed comfort and the only way I could think of to achieve that was to drive back to St. Joseph’s and sit in the car and pray another rosary for Mike. I drove to St. Joseph’s and when I arrived the odometer was 133.
During the rosary my phone rang many times from people around Emmitsburg calling me to tell me or ask about Mike’s death. I also started receiving text from people asking me if it was true. I hated to answer the phone during the rosary but these were people who loved Mike and they like everyone else in this town were shocked. Before I finished the rosary Raymond Sanders walked up to my car and got in. He had not heard about Mike’s death and I was the one who had to break it to him. Raymond is fragile. Raymond and I finished the rosary together. I then walked up to the corner of St. Joseph’s and kissed the corner thanking God for the Our Lady of Emmitsburg experience. I left to go home and the time was 8:13.
Sunday November 3, 2024
No Metal Detecting Today
I considered calling my friend Tom and telling him that I could not come to Culpeper today and go metal detecting because of Mike’s unexpected death. I gave it some more thought and decided that I would drive to Culpeper. I reasoned in my mind that I would spend much of the day praying for Mike and I could do that from anywhere. At the same time I also had thoughts that I should stay in Emmitsburg. I made the decision to go to Culpeper.
I drove to Culpeper and met Tom at S.C.C.’s land on Gibson Mill Rd near our old house. Tom and I then rode out to Barfield’s old farm because we have permission to detect there and the soy beans have been cut low to the ground. While driving Gianna Sullivan called and asked if she could stay at our house for Mike’s funeral and a little extra prayer time. I told her absolutely yes. Tom and I arrived at our destination and I parked my car in the field and Tom went one way and I went another. I had only been metal detecting for maybe 20 minutes or so when SUDDENLY the metal shaft on my detector just simply snapped in half making the detector 100 percent unusable. I glanced at my watch and thought it was only a coincidence that the time was 1:33.
I told Tom my detector broke and walked back to my car where I had a spare metal detector in the trunk. I started detecting with that detector and when I got my first good reading that detector also snapped in two making the detector 100 percent unusable. I could not believe it. I was absolutely floored when I glanced at my watch and the time was 2:13.
It was at that time I was sure I should have stayed in Emmitsburg and not gone to Culpeper the day after Mike’s death. I noticed a deep cut road bed and it made a perfect seat so I sat down and began to pray the rosary for the repose of Mike’s soul. I glanced at my watch as I began the Joyful mysteries and the time was still 2:13.
I finished the Joyful mysteries and started the Luminous mysteries and my friend Tom came walking up. I told him about my 2nd broken metal detector. I continued the rosary. Then while Tom was detecting I also prayed the Sorrowful mysteries for Mike. I finished the rosary and glanced at my watch as I kissed the crucifix and the time was 3:13:33.
After I finished the rosary Tom and I left and I drove him back to his truck and I started driving back to Emmitsburg. I arrived at St. Joseph’s and the time on the dash was 7:13. I completed the rosary for Mike by praying the Glorious mysteries. I finished and glanced at my watch as I kissed the crucifix and the time was 7:33:33.
Monday November 4, 2024
I Will Be a Pall Bearer for Mike
Today has started off somewhat chaotic. I planned on going to daily mass at the Grotto at 11 AM. That did not happen because other things just seemed to come out of nowhere.
I did make it to the 1:30 mass at the Basilica. Mass ended and I prayed the Joyful mysteries for Mike. I finished the rosary and glanced at my watch as I kissed the crucifix and the time was 2:33.
I drove home and then stopped by Brother Paschal O’Brien’s apartment to pick up a few things to take to him at the rehab center in Hagerstown. Brother Paschal is a consecrated hermit for the Dioceses of Baltimore. I drove to Complete Care Rehab to see Bro. Paschal (Jim O’Brien) and when I arrived the time on the dash was 3:33.
I delivered the items Bro. Paschal asked me to bring and then I visited for a few minutes before leaving. I drove from Hagerstown back to Emmitsburg and arrived at St. Joseph’s and the time on the dash was 5:13. I sat there in the car and prayed the Luminous mysteries for Mike. I finished the rosary and glanced at my watch as I kissed the crucifix and the time was 5:33:33.
I then drove home which is about 3 blocks away and later in the evening with absolutely no regard for the time S.C.C. and I sat down at the kitchen table and began praying the Glorious mysteries for Mike. During the rosary my cell phone dinged and I received a text message stating the funeral arrangements for Mike. Then the phone rang and it was Mike and Gianna’s daughter, Anne Marie asking if I would be a pall bearer for Mike. I said yes. We finished the rosary and I glanced at my watch as I kissed the crucifix and the time was 8:33:33.
Tuesday November 5, 2024
Handicap Ramp St. Francis
Today is my father, Daniel John C___’s 95th birthday. He passed away St. Patrick’s Day 1980. After attending daily mass at the Grotto I returned a call from George C____. George asked if I could check on the handicap ramp at St. Francis Xavier in Gettysburg because George will be bringing his son, Kevin to Mike’s funeral mass on Saturday November 9th. I drove to Gettysburg with no regard for the time whatsoever. I arrived and checked the handicap ramp. I then prayed the Joyful, Luminous and Sorrowful mysteries for both my father and Mike. I also prayed for a Trump victory in today’s presidential election. I glanced at my watch as I finished and kissed the crucifix and the time was 3:13.
Wednesday November 6, 2024
Gianna Arrives From Florida
I got up this morning and the clock next to the bed was 5:33. I picked up my phone and was happy to see Donald Trump won the presidential election. It was still 5:33.
S.C.C. and I went to daily mass at St. Joseph’s. There was a visiting priest who I did not recognize. Mass ended followed by adoration for the school kids. S.C.C. and I stayed for about a half hour or so to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. I left and picked up Sam Houston who has no transportation and took him to the grocery store. I then drove home and I just felt like sitting down and praying the rosary for Mike and for Trump’s victory. I prayed the Joyful and Luminous mysteries. I finished and glanced at my watch and the time was 11:33:33.
Later and with no regard for the time I drove to the Grotto with no particular plans. I walked into the Glass Chapel and had the urge to complete the rosary by praying both the Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries. I finished the rosary and glanced at my watch and the time was 2:13.
I then took a leisurely walk through the Grotto. No plans, no agenda, no nothing other than thinking about my friend Dr. Michael T. Sullivan. I arrived at the statue of Our Lady of Fatima and was INSTANTLY STRUCK with a strong, overwhelming desire to pray another rosary for Mike. I sat down on the bench and I prayed the Joyful mysteries. Just as I was finishing I was AGAIN STRUCK with the same urgent desire to pray another Glorious rosary for Mike. This caused me to glance at my watch and the time was 3:13. I completed the rosary and I looked at my watch and the time was 3:33.
Later I received a text from Gianna saying she would be here at our house around 8 pm. Gianna arrived about 7:45. It was good to see Gianna. Gianna, S.C.C. and myself sat in the kitchen and talked for a while. Mostly about Mike. Later Gianna said she was tired and was going to go to bed. I looked up and the time on the kitchen clock was 9:13.
Thursday November 7, 2024
Our Lady Appears to Gianna in Our Living Room
I got up this morning and had coffee with S.C.C.. A little while later Gianna got up and walked into the kitchen where we were sitting. S.C.C. has to babysit our granddaughter today. Gianna and I got ready to go to mass at St. Joseph’s. Gianna asked if I would sit with her. It surprised me that she asked this question as if it would be shameful to be seen with her. I replied by asking “Who else would I sit with?” This caused a smile on her face.
Gianna and I arrived at St. Joseph’s and we sat together up front on the left very close to where she and Mike sat every Thursday night during the time of the apparitions. Mass began and Fr. Andrew Ayala IVE was the priest and at the opening of mass said we needed to pray for Dr. Sullivan who passed away. Mass ended and Gianna drove her borrowed car to Gettysburg for a breakfast with her daughter Anne Marie and other family members. I drove back to my house and pulled in my driveway and the time on the dash was 9:13.
Later I was sitting downstairs and I had a SUDDEN thought to pray the rosary. This one felt different. It seemed extra tranquil. I got my rosary out and I prayed the Joyful and Luminous mysteries. Just as I was nearing the end I had a SUDDEN peace run through me that made me want to continue with the Sorrowful mysteries. This caused me to glance at my watch and the time was 11:13:33. I continued with the Sorrowful mysteries and when I finished I glanced at my watch and the time was 11:33:33.
I could tell something was different about today. Everything seemed more peaceful and urgent at the same time. I could not put my finger on it but I KNEW something was going on. The peace surrounding the day felt as if it had weight. I drove to Rutter’s Store because I wanted a V8 Juice. I got it and returned to my car and my good friend Peter B________ called. We talked about Mike and Gianna for a good while. We finished talking and hung up.
SUDDENLY I FELT THE NEED TO GO TO ST. JOSEPH’S without delay and complete the rosary by praying the Glorious mysteries. I arrived at St. Joseph’s and sat in the car and prayed the Glorious mysteries. Just as I was finishing I was AGAIN STRUCK with the SUDDEN, URGENT desire to continue with an extra Sorrowful mysteries. This caused me to glance at my watch and the time was 3:13. I completed the extra Sorrowful mysteries and glanced at my watch and the time was 3:33.
I then drove home. I was very aware that something was different than usual. I was sitting at the kitchen table and Gianna arrived back from Gettysburg. We sat at the table and talked. Gianna is very sad about Mike’s death. She cried a lot. Sobbing at times. Gianna then asked me if I would like to pray the rosary with her. I said yes. I thought we were going to do it then but we got side tracked and did not actually begin the rosary until about a half hour later.
Gianna then said “Oh we were going to pray the rosary.” Gianna and I then moved from the kitchen to the living room. We sat down and we prayed the Glorious mysteries for Mike. Gianna was crying throughout most of the rosary. Then SUDDENLY in the 5th decade after the 8th Hail Mary Our Lady appeared to Gianna. She bolted to her knees with lightning speed. The apparition lasted about 5 or 6 minutes. Our Lady gave Gianna a message about Mike and our Lady mentioned me by name. She also talked about Emmitsburg being The Center of Her Immaculate Heart. It will be up to Gianna to release the details of the message if she desires. The apparition ended. Gianna sat back down and we resumed the rosary with the 8th Hail Mary of the 5th decade. We finished the rosary and I glanced at my watch and the time was 5:13. (Nov 14, 2024 6:33 pm)
Friday November 8, 2024
Funeral Home Visitation
This morning Gianna and I went to the 8:30 mass at St. Joseph’s. Fr. Andrew was the priest. Mass ended and Gianna and I walked down the street and had breakfast at The Palms Restaurant. After breakfast we went back to my house and we prayed the Sorrowful mysteries sitting in the living room. S.C.C. was babysitting our granddaughter.
Later Gianna and I went across the street to the Basilica for Eucharistic Adoration. During this time before the Blessed Sacrament I completed the rosary by praying the Joyful, Luminous and Glorious mysteries. Mass was about to begin so we left since we had both already been to mass this morning at St. Joseph’s. We got in the car and I started it to leave and the time on the dash was the last few seconds of 1:33.
Gianna and I then rode to the Grotto of Lourdes and took a leisurely walk through the Grotto and then returned back to my house. Gianna got ready and I then drove her to the Gettysburg Hotel where she was meeting family members. I started the car to take her there and the time on the dash was 3:13.
I drove back to my house in Emmitsburg and later S.C.C. and I picked up Raymond Sanders at St. Joseph’s to go to Monahan’s Funeral home for Mikes family and friends visitation night. I saw many faces there that I had not seen since The Thursday Night Prayer Group. During the visitation we prayed the Sorrowful mysteries led by both of Mike’s daughters, Chelsey and Anne Marie. The rosary ended and I glanced at my watch and the seconds were 13. Visitation continued for a while. When it was over I glanced at my watch as we were leaving and the time was 8:13.
Saturday November 9, 2024
Mike’s Funeral
S.C.C., Gianna and myself ate breakfast. Afterwards I caught up my notes that I am using to write this paper. I then sat down and prayed the Joyful mysteries of the rosary for Mike. I finished and glanced at my watch and the time was 10:13.
Later we left the house and rode up the street to St. Joseph’s and picked up Raymond Sanders. We rode into Gettysburg and were very fortunate to get a parking space. We went into St. Frances Xavier church and it was absolutely packed. There were no seats remaining. Mike’s brother in-law David Liddle delivered a very nice eulogy. Mass began with five priest celebrating Mike’s funeral mass. The main celebrant was Fr. Peter DeTomasso who was Mike’s pastor at St. Mary’s in Fairfield. The instant Fr. Peter began the mass I glanced at my watch and the time was 12:13:33.
It was a beautiful mass and Mike’s priest friend Fr. Joe Stahura was one of the co-celebrants. After the mass ended there was a funeral procession from St. Francis in Gettysburg to St. Mary’s Cemetery in Fairfield. Fr. Peter performed a beautiful grave side service. When it ended and we were leaving the cemetery I noticed the time on the dash was 2:13.
We drove back to Emmitsburg and when we arrived at St. Joseph’s the odometer was 33. We then had a nice reception was then held at the Carriage House Restaurant in Emmitsburg. Mike had a lot of good friends who showed up for a celebration of a life well lived in Our Lady and Her Son Jesus. After the reception I drove home which was only about 500 yards away and I sat down on my front porch and prayed the Joyful mysteries of the rosary for Mike. I finished and glanced at my watch as I kissed the crucifix and the time was 4:33:33.
Later in the evening Gianna returned to our house and again Our Lady appeared to her in our house. Our Lady spoke about Emmitsburg and Mike.
Sunday November 10, 2024
A Quiet Day
S.C.C., Gianna and I went to the 11 am mass at the Basilica. After mass Gianna left to go to lunch with she and Mike’s friend Paul Berghman’s who came from Denver, Colorado for Mike’s funeral. C.R.C. and our granddaughter walked up to say hello and then S.C.C. and I went home. It was a very quiet day.
Monday November 11, 2024
Visit to Mike’s Grave
S.C.C. went to babysit our granddaughter for a few hours while C.R.C. and H_____ took care of a few things. I then went to St. Joseph’s for mass. Mass ended and I drove home. Gianna was there and she asked if we could ride to Fairfield to visit Mike’s grave. I said yes. We drove to St. Mary’s cemetery and when we arrived and parked right next to Mike’s grave the odometer was 3.3 and the time on the dash was 11:33. Not only that, but Mike is buried in plot number 33.
About 1 minute after we arrived Mike’s good and long time friend Peter Smith (Smitty) pulled up and parked behind us. The three of us then prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for Mike. After the Chaplet we stood there and talked for a while. Smitty left and then Gianna and I left also. We rode back into Emmitsburg and arrived back at St. Joseph’s and the time on the dash was 12:13.
Gianna and I then drove down the street to the Basilica for Eucharistic Adoration. We took our seats and I decided to pray the rosary before the Blessed Sacrament. I began the Joyful mysteries and glanced at my watch and the time was12:33. I continued with the Luminous mysteries and as I finished the luminous I knew to glance at my watch and the time was 1:13.
I stayed for a 2nd mass because Gianna had not yet been to mass. Fr. Ted Trinko IVE said mass and when everything was over I walked out of the door with Gianna and I glanced at my watch and the time was 2:13:13.
Peter B______ called and talked to Gianna. We decided that all 5 of us would go out to dinner later tonight in Gettysburg. That would be Peter and Mary B_____, Gianna and S.C.C. and I. Later we drove to Peter and Mary’s house and arrived at 4:13. We talked for a while before leaving for a Irish restaurant called Gary Owen’s in Gettysburg. We ate dinner, had a nice time and then returned back to Peter and Mary’s house. S.C.C., myself and Gianna then rode back to Emmitsburg and arrived back at St. Joseph’s and the time on the dash was 8:13.
Tuesday November 12, 2024
I Drove Gianna Back To The Airport
I had to get up very early this morning because I need to drive Gianna to BWI Airport for her flight back to Florida. I wanted to leave a little early in case we got hung up in rush hour traffic. Traffic was not as bad as I feared and we made pretty good time. We arrived at BWI and I parked the car and got Gianna’s luggage out of the back seat. Gianna thanked me and gave me a hug. I then got back in the car to leave and the time on the dash was 8:13.
I drove back to Emmitsburg and the trip going home was slower than the one going. I had not yet been to mass so I drove to the Basilica for the 1:30 mass. I arrived and the upper parking lot was full. I ended up parking on the street between 2 cars parked along the curb. There was just enough room for me to park between them. I parked and the car parked in front of me had the license plate of 33 and the car behind me had the license plate of 13.
I walked in the Basilica and mass was going to start soon. Fr. Ted was the celebrant. Mass ended and I left. I needed to stop by Rutter’s store and along the way I arrived at St. Joseph’s where all of this began for me and the odometer was 3.3 and the time on the dash was 2:33.
R.C.
Nov. 14, 2024
9:13:13 pm
