Pilgrim Fatima statue attracts huge crowds on Kildare
30,000 people in the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin have attended services where the beautiful statue of the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima has been on display.
The fifty eight year old statue, which was crafted by artist who sculpted the magnificent statue at the Marian shrine in Portugal, arrived in Ireland on 5th July, and leaves this Sunday.
On its whistlestop tour of the Kildare and Leighlin diocese, it has visited 22 towns and villages in Kildare, Laois and Carlow and Wicklow. Mr Carl Malburg, who accompanies the statue, said they had given out over 25,000 scapulars to visitors and that he estimated that between 30,000 and 50,000 people had come to the services. “We are very, very pleased,†he told CatholicIreland.net.
In each venue the statue prompted a great outpouring of piety and devotion. In Prosperous for example, hundreds of people flocked to the church on the evening of 15th June. Children dressed in their first communion outfits led the procession around the church grounds as everyone recited the rosary.
Finally the magnificent statue was brought inside where Mr Malburg spoke of the message of Fatima, encouraging people to say the rosary, and offer their daily crosses for the reparation of sin. He pointed out that people had to undergo sufferings in their lives anyway, but if they offered up their sufferings for sinners they became a precious gift to save souls. His address was followed by benediction and a blessing of scapulars.
The next day hundreds of people attended a special Mass. Many left petitions in the box beside the Fatima statue, and throughout the day, there was a stream of people to the Church.
In other parishes, like Monasterevan, people held all-night vigils near the statue.
“People really feel touched by this statue of Our Lady,†said Mr Malburg. “There seems to be someone there with it. It has a presence. People come away with a feeling of peace and joy that they are near their mother.â€
Maura O’Brien, Irish representative of Pilgrim Virgin Committee which manages the tours for the statue, said that it has been the best tour the statue has had so far and she has been surprised at the large numbers attending the services.
In its tour, the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima has visited Graiguecullen, Portlaoise, Killeen, Ballyfin, the Curragh Camp, Nurney, Kilcock, Newbridge, Muine Bheag, Ballon, Portarlington, Prosperous, Baltinglass, Carlow, Tullow, Myshall, Abbelyleix, Hacketstown, Graignamanagh, Emo and Monasterevan.
Its final visit, this weekend, was to the parish of Askea where it was in the Holy Family Church on Saturday. Its next stop will be the United States, and Austria during the second half of July.
Carl Malburg has been accompanying the statue for twelve years. Donations given at the churches he visits pay his “stipend†and travelling expenses. The statue travels in a specially made soft padded bag, and always occupies a seat of its own on a plane, with the seat belt firmly buckled around it!
It was sculpted in 1947 by José Thedim, based on the description of Sr Lucia, one of the three young visionaries who saw Our Lady each month from May to October 1917 in Fatima, Portugal.
