Fox News - IPVS in Rhode Island

Statue said to cry, smile, heal in RI
Believers say Virgin Mary statue is a miracle
Updated: Thursday, 25 Mar 2010, 4:23 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 25 Mar 2010, 4:14 PM EDT

Reported by: Erin Kennedy
WESTERLY, R.I. (WPRI) - Some say they’ve seen a miracle in Westerly – a statue of the Virgin Mary said to cry tears, heal the sick and guide the faithful.

On Wednesday, the traveling icon which has been all over the world came to the Immaculate Conception Church .

The International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima travels the world and now her tour is wrapping up in Rhode Island.

At the Immaculate Conception Church in Westerly, hundreds of people filed in and out to see the statue that is said to make miracles happen.

Believers say the 40-pound, 46-inch tall, carved mahogany statue of the Virgin Mary sheds human tears, smiles, and even has physically healed the afflicted.

The statue’s custodian also says that a man from northern Rhode Island looked at the statue and was moved to go to confession for the first time in 25 years.

"It's beautiful, if you look into the eyes, it's like your mother looking back at you. It's a beautiful masterpiece, it's a beautiful work of art. But what's even more beautiful is what it represents," said Patrick Sabat, the custodian of the statue.

The Bishop of Fatima commissioned this particular statue to commemorate when Our Lady of Fatima first appeared to three shepherd children in Portugal – something that, according to a local pastor, means a lot to Rhode Islanders.

"It's not every day of every year that they have that opportunity and many of them can't go to Fatima to visit the original shrine so to have the statue here makes it extra special to them," said Father Wilford Gregoire, pastor at the Immaculate Conception Church.

After Holy Week, the tour will continue in Texas, Guam, and Ireland.

It was also supposed to stop in Haiti, but will have to reschedule because of the devastation left behind by January’s earthquake.