The world-famous International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima will be visiting parishes across the Diocese of Saginaw this July, with the blessing of Bishop Robert D. Gruss. The statue is recognized as a primary way the message of Our Lady of Fatima – a Church-approved 1917 apparition of Mary in Portugal – is spread throughout the world. The tour is being organized by the Saginaw Division of the World Apostolate of Fatima (formerly known as the Blue Army).
According to the website of the World Apostolate of Fatima: "Sculpted by Jose Thedim – 'the Michelangelo of Portugal” – the statue has been traveling internationally since 1947. On October 13, 1947, in the presence of 200,000 pilgrims at Fatima, the statue was blessed by the Bishop of Leiria-Fatima and commissioned to serve as the Pilgrim Virgin. The bishop prayed that Mary herself accompany the statue wherever it goes. She was then flown to America, where she was crowned in Ottawa, Canada, and began a 2-year tour of Canada and the U.S. She has since traveled to over 100 countries." The statue carries Our Lady of Fatima’s urgent message of prayer, conversion and peace to people worldwide.
Here is the schedule for the tour of the Pilgrim Virgin Statue in the Diocese of Saginaw (specific times are still to be announced):
July 22 Annunciation of the Lord Parish, St. Michael Church, Port Austin - (3 pm ETA of Statue, Exposition of Blessed Sacrament Rosary, Mass 7 pm)
July 23 Ave Maria Parish, St. Mary Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Port Sanilac - (9:30 am Rosary, 10 am Mass, Short presentation of Our Lady of Fatima following Mass.)
July 24 Ss. Francis and Clare Parish, Birch Run - (8 am Confession, 9 am Mass, Mid-Day Prayer, Rosary following Mass)
July 24 Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Bay City - (4 pm Church open for private meditation, 6 pm Rosary, 7:30 Mass)
July 25 Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption Parish, Saginaw - (8 am Mass, Private meditation, Rosary)
July 26 Our Lady of Grace Parish, St. Agnes Church, Sanford - (8 am Church open, Rosary, 9 am Mass)
July 27 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish Church, Midland - (8 am Mass, Rosary following Mass)
July 27 Sacred Heart Parish Church, Gladwin - (4 pm Confession, Rosary, Sunday Vigil Mass 5 pm, Short Presentation following Mass)
July 28 Sacred Heart Parish, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Mt. Pleasant - (9 am Sunday Mass, 11 am Sunday Mass, Short presentation, Q & A following Mass)
July 29 Nativity of the Lord Parish, Mount St. Joseph Church, St. Louis - (9 am Mass, Rosary before Mass, Short presentation, Q & A following Mass)
July 29 St. Paul the Apostle Parish Church, Ithaca - (TBD)