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Our Lady of Fatima international pilgrim statue to visit archdiocese

by Jared Field of The Michigan Catholic
Published September 25, 2009

Irene Nowak, pictured at St. Frances Cabrini Church in Allen Park, holds a photo of the international pilgrim statue she arranged for visitation in the archdiocese.

Jared Field | The Michigan Catholic
Irene Nowak, pictured at St. Frances Cabrini Church in Allen Park, holds a photo of the international pilgrim statue she arranged for visitation in the archdiocese.

Allen Park - It's a picture worth far more than 1,000 words for Irene Nowak.

The 4x6-inch photo of Our Lady of Fatima she carries is a reminder of a life-changing experience, and the peace that belies understanding.

"I want to share this experience with everyone," said Nowak, of Our Lady of the Angels in Taylor, who is in charge of the visiting international pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima Oct. 1-21.

The statue, inspired by the Virgin's appearance before three Portuguese children at Fatima, beginning May 13, 1917, has been bringing Mary's message to the world for more than 60 years. Mary called her children to live their baptismal consecration in every moment of their existence, to follow Jesus and to be faithful to Him.

"You can't leave after seeing this statue and be the same. Something about you is going to change, and change for the better," Nowack said.

"I think (the experience) made my faith stronger," she added. "It made me have a greater devotion to our Blessed Mother, and now I'm her champion."

Nowak first saw the traveling pilgrimage statue at the Blue Army Chapel in Riverview last year.

"When I saw her the first time, there was just something about her," she said. "Just look at her eyes ... it's like she comes alive. I was so mesmerized by the beauty of this statue and how alive it looks. She brought me such peace, that's all I can say; I felt compelled to follow her to all the other churches ... I just didn't want her to leave.

"The presence of Blessed Mother is in this statue."

Nowak was further inspired by Fr. Bernard Fraser, who had been the pastor of Our Lady of the Angels, to bring it back.

"He was the catalyst," she said. "But when I saw how much work it would take, I thought 'oh my goodness.'"

Nowak couldn't just get the statue, which will come to the Archdiocese of Detroit by way of Haiti, for her parish. She had to fill up 21 days with parishes, and that's exactly what she did - with a little help.

After sending out correspondence to nearly 80 parishes, time was running out and she still needed to fill two more days to have a full slate.

Nowak prayed through the 11th hour before she received a call from Immaculate Conception Church in Lapeer, more than 70 miles to the north. Nowak said she was shocked when the parish requested her final two days - she hadn't sent them anything.

"I'm telling you, it was (the Blessed Mother)," Nowak said. "She helped me fill those days up right away."

The statue has traveled the world several times with two full-time custodians.

"Look into her eyes and you will want to come back, have a greater devotion to her and to do what she's asking us to do: Pray for our world," Nowak said. "I'm one who believes in miracles. They are possible and they happen every day."

Pilgrim statue events

The following events at parishes were confirmed as of press time, but you may want to call to check for changes.

8:30 a.m.-noon Oct. 1 St. Elizabeth Parish, Wyandotte, (734) 284-7727. 8:30 a.m. Mass, rosaries and quiet contemplation.

7 a.m. Oct. 2 to 10 a.m. Oct. 3 Blue Army Chapel, Riverview, (313) 320-7887. Mass: 7 p.m.; overnight Eucharistic adoration until Mass 8 a.m. Oct. 3.

4 p.m. Oct. 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 4 St. Stephen Parish, New Boston, (734) 753-4305. Mass Oct. 3, 4 and 5:30 p.m. Rosary every hour. All-night vigil. Masses Oct. 4 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

noon-8 p.m. Oct. 5 St. Clement Parish, Dearborn, (313) 581-7495. Noon procession and Mass and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament; 1:30-5:30 p.m. private prayer, 6:30 p.m. Benediction, living rosary; 7 p.m. closing, procession.

8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 6 St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Allen Park, (313) 381-5601. 8:30 a.m. Mass, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament; 6:30 p.m. rosary, Benediction; 7 p.m. Mass, procession.

noon-9 p.m. Oct. 7 St. Joseph Parish, Detroit. (313) 831-6659. Mass noon and 7 p.m.

noon-9 p.m. Oct. 8 St. Josephat Parish, Detroit, (313) 831-6659. Mass noon and 7 p.m

noon-9 p.m. Oct. 9 Sweetest Heart of Mary Parish, Detroit, (313) 831-6659. Mass noon and 7 p.m.

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 10 St. Louise Chapel, Metamora, (810) 678-2588. Procession, Litany of Mary and color corp, rosary at noon.

1:30 p.m. Oct. 10 to 4 p.m. Oct. 11 Immaculate Conception Parish, Lapeer, (810) 664-8594. Oct. 10: 1:30 p.m. procession; 3 p.m. Consecration to Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary; Masses 4, 5:30 p.m.; 6:30-9:30 p.m. prayer. Oct. 11: Masses 8, 9:30, 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. 2 p.m. Benediction.

8 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 12 Mary Mother of the Eucharist Convent, Ann Arbor, (734) 994-7437. 8 a.m. talk, prayer.

6 p.m. Oct. 12-8 p.m. Oct. 13 St. Barbara / St. Cunegunda Parish, Dearborn, (313) 582-8383. Oct. 12: procession, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, rosary, litany. Oct. 13: 9 a.m. prayer, 6 p.m. Mass.

6 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Oct. 14 SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish, Sterling Heights, (586) 726-6911. 6 a.m. Mass; 9 a.m. Mass with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Benediction, rosary; noon Mass, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament; 8 p.m. Mass, procession.

9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 15 St. Basil Byzantine Church, Sterling Heights, (586) 268-1082. 9:30 a.m. Liturgy, rosary, presentation, noon Liturgy of the Hour, 4 p.m. rosary, 5 p.m. Akathis to the Mother of God.

10 a.m.-10 p.m. Oct. 16 St. Sebastian Parish, Dearborn Heights, (313) 562-5356. 10 a.m. prayer, 6 p.m. rosary, 6:30 p.m. Mass, procession.

8 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 17 St. Albert the Great Parish, Dearborn Heights, (313) 292-0430. 8 a.m. Mass, 4:30 p.m. Mass, procession.

Noon-4 p.m. Oct. 18 Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Woodhaven, (734) 671-5101. Procession, noon Mass, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, adoration, rosary, Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary; 2:30 p.m. Benediction.

12:15-9:30 p.m. Oct. 19 St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, Saline, (248) 931-0194. 12:15 p.m. Mass, 2 p.m. rosary, 3 p.m. Divine Mercy chaplet, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. rosaries, 7 p.m. Benediction, litany, rosary, procession.

8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 20 Our Lady of Grace Parish, Dearborn Heights, (313) 561-6373. 8:30 a.m. Mass, novena, prayer.

noon-8:30 p.m. Oct. 21 All Saints Parish, Detroit, (313) 841-1428. Procession, Mass, rosary, Litany to Our Lady, Consecration to Immaculate Heart of Mary noon in English, 6 p.m. in Spanish. Adoration, procession, final prayer at 8 p.m.