World-famous statue to visit Detroit to kick off Marian apparitions’ centennial celebration

Riverview — In May 2017, the world will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Marian apparitions at Fatima, Portugal.

The appearance of Our Lady of Fatima to St. Lucia, Blessed Francisco and Blessed Jacinta — shepherd children in rural Portugal — led to perhaps the most popular devotion to Our Lady in modern times and has captivated Catholics for a century.



To commemorate the centennial, members of the World Apostolate of Fatima’s Detroit Archdiocesan Division will host the world-famous International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima when it visits the Archdiocese of Detroit from July 24-31.

“This year, the traveling statue is coming here,” said Leonard St. Pierre, president of the local apostolate — also known as the Blue Army — who manages the archdiocesan shrine of Our Lady of Fatima at 18637 Ray St. in Riverview. “We’re very excited about hosting the statue. We’ve had her here before three years ago, but she didn’t travel from parish to parish like (she will) this time.”

Sculpted in 1947 based on the description of the three shepherd children and blessed by the bishop of Leiria at Fatima, the pilgrim statue travels the world to spread the message of Fatima, visiting more than 100 countries since.

The statue, along with its full-time custodian Patrick Sabat, will be at the Riverview shrine July 29 for visitation from noon to 9 p.m., including a 7 p.m. Mass. The last time the statue visited the chapel, it was packed, and that was just for a regular visit, St. Pierre said.

“We’re probably going to use our extended space; we expect a full house and steady foot traffic throughout the day,” St. Pierre said. “We have a gathering area with TVs where people can watch the Mass. Fatima sticks with us because of the rosary, the prayer for peace in the world. Pope John Paul II had a great Fatima devotion, when he was shot he prayed to (Our Lady of) Fatima, and the bullet is in her crown.”

Fr. John Hedges, pastor of St. Stephen Parish in New Boston, celebrates a Mass at the shrine on the first Friday and Saturday of the month, and on the 13th of each month from May to October — a nod to the apparitions that took place from May 13 to Oct. 13, 1917.

Faithful from across the archdiocese — and beyond — often visit the shrine to express their devotion.



“I had a devotion to Our Lady and the message of Fatima when this was at the Marian Center on Vernor in Detroit,” said Greg Kowalskiy, a parishioner of Our Lady of the Scapular Parish in Wyandotte. “I love parish life, but this chapel gives us a space and an opportunity to participate in Mass and worship our Lord by the ways prescribed at Fatima.”

As the 100-year anniversary approaches, the volunteer staff at the chapel says more and more people are stopping by the center to learn more about the devotion.

“When people come here for the first time, they’re amazed and they didn’t know the place existed,” said Jane Lenart, a volunteer at the shrine’s bookstore. “People are just blown away by the statue of Mary; it’s like she’s looking right at them. I think more people are coming in saying, ‘I think I know about Fatima,’ but are blown away when they learn so much more here.”

The chapel offers a place for further service to the Lord, especially for 12-year-old altar server Zeke Szatkowski of St. Stephen Parish, who said he likes serving at the shrine because of Fatima’s connection with children.

“You get a special blessing after coming here for first Friday and first Saturday services,” said Zeke, who has been serving for five years. “As a child, having a devotion to Mary is like taking Francisco’s place. Mostly, it was kids who took up this devotion.”

For the people who make monthly trips to the chapel, the visit from the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima is an incredible opportunity.

“To me, it’s not a culmination, but a 100-year celebration with the statue coming,” Kowalskiy said. “I just want to give God all the glory, but hear that message again. Because let’s face it, we live in a broken world. So we come here for guidance, praying for everybody.”

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Fatima statue coming to Detroit

The world-famous Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima will visit the Archdiocese of Detroit from July 24-31 as part of a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Mother to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal. Below is a schedule for the visit:

Sunday, July 24
Old St. Mary’s (Greektown) Parish, 646 Monroe Ave., Detroit (10 a.m.-2 p.m.)
National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, 2100 W. 12 Mile, Royal Oak (3-8 p.m.)

Monday, July 25
Our Lady of Grace Parish, 26262 Ryan, Warren (8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Assumption (Grotto) Parish, 13770 Gratiot Ave., Detroit (6-9 p.m.)

Tuesday, July 26
All Saints Parish, 7824 W. Fort St., Detroit (noon-9 p.m.)

Wednesday, July 27
Church of the Divine Child, 1055 N. Silvery Lane, Dearborn (6:30 a.m.-noon)
Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, 47650 N. Territorial Road, Plymouth (2-9 p.m.)

Thursday, July 28
St. Mary Parish, 32477 Church St., Rockwood (8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.)

Friday, July 29
Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, 18637 Ray St., Riverview (noon-9 p.m.)

Saturday, July 30
St. Andrew Kim (Korean) Parish, 21177 Halsted Road, Northville (10 a.m.-1 p.m.)
St. Regis Parish, 3695 Lincoln Road, Bloomfield Hills (3-6 p.m.)
St. Stephen Parish, 18858 Huron River Drive, New Boston (7:30 p.m.-entire night)

Sunday, July 31
St. Stephen Parish, 18858 Huron River Drive, New Boston (all morning until noon)