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A four-foot cedar statue of Our Lady of Fatima containing original pieces of the oak tree upon which the Blessed Mother appeared in 1917 is increasingly visible in the Albany Diocese. 

Under the auspices of the St. Joseph Marian Center in Altamont, the statue inspires devotion and educates youth on the messages given to the shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, nearly 100 years ago.

"I want to re-energize this," said Joanne O'Hara, president of the SJMC. "Not a lot of people are familiar with her in our Diocese."

Parents of four, Mrs. O'Hara and her husband, Tim, are parishioners of St. Madeleine Sophie Church in Schenectady. 

"Our goal is getting 'Gen X' and 'Gen Y-ers' to participate in our outreach and to learn more about prayer, the Rosary and our Holy Mother," Mrs. O'Hara continued.

She said the Fatima message of prayer, penance and fasting for the souls in purgatory and in reparation for the sins of our nation and the world is as critical today as it was in 1917. 

"These offerings give us means to change the world and to turn hearts of men and women back to God," she explained, "particularly through daily recitation of the Rosary, Eucharistic adoration and a generous acceptance of the duties of our state in life."

Mrs. O'Hara takes the statue to parishes, parades, conferences and shrines. "I am Our Lady's chauffeur," she said. "I bring her around to wherever we are invited."

In private homes with the statue present, families are consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

Rev. Jeffrey L'Arche, director of Our Lady of LaSalette Shrine in Altamont, is also spiritual director of the St. Joseph Marian Center. He said there is an educational component to the apostolate.

Mrs. O'Hara noted that fourth-graders she spoke to "didn't know Our Lady of Fatima. They asked, 'Is there such a person as Sister Lucia [one of the children who witnessed the apparitions at Fatima]?' They don't realize how rich our faith is in heroes."

Lily Fiorenza, manager of the Kateri Center at the Shrine of our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville, says she has witnessed healings as people prayed before the statue. 

"People are moved by it," she said. "It brings people to tears."

"It's the not the statue itself," noted Mrs. O'Hara. "What she represents encourages them in their belief."

Father L'Arche recognizes the need for spiritual healing as well. 

"As the Pope said, 'There are many voices out there that are not the voices of the Gospel,'" he explained. "There are many affronts to the family. The purpose of bringing the statue to homes is to consecrate the home to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It brings peace to families."

Said Mrs. O'Hara: "I hope that everyone we meet will experience Our Mother's love for them. We are humbly grateful for this opportunity to be the instruments, the hands and feet of Our Lord and Mary."

Long history of statue
The St. Joseph Marian Center represents the Albany Diocesan Division of the Blue Army, the worldwide apostolate of the Fatima message, founded by Monsignor Harold Colgan and headquartered in New Jersey. Given six months to live in 1946, Msgr. Colgan is reported to have been cured of heart disease through the intercession of the Blessed Mother. He lived until 1972, promoting devotion to Our Lady of Fatima.

The statue was commissioned for him by the Bishop of Fatima according to specifications of Sister Lucia, who saw the apparitions as a child. Eventually, it found a home at the SJMC, which was founded by Mildred and Ed Breitenbach to spread the message of Fatima. 

Contact Joanne O'Hara at 355-3897 or [email protected]. (EL)[[In-content Ad]]

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