The world-famous International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima will be visiting parishes across the Diocese of Saginaw this July, with the blessing of Bishop Robert D. Gruss. The statue is recognized as a primary way the message of Our Lady of Fatima—a Church-approved 1917 apparition of Mary in Portugal—is spread throughout the world. The tour is being organized by the Saginaw Division of the World Apostolate of Fatima (formerly known as the Blue Army). 

According to the website of the World Apostolate of Fatima: "Sculpted by Jose Thedim—the Michelangelo of Portugal” – the statue has been traveling internationally since 1947. On October 13, 1947, in the presence of 200,000 pilgrims at Fatima, the statue was blessed by the Bishop of Leiria-Fatima and commissioned to serve as the Pilgrim Virgin. The bishop prayed that Mary herself accompany the statue wherever it goes. She was then flown to America, where she was crowned in Ottawa, Canada, and began a 2-year tour of Canada and the U.S. She has since traveled to over 100 countries." The statue carries Our Lady of Fatima’s urgent message of prayer, conversion and peace to people worldwide. 

Here is the schedule for the tour of the Pilgrim Virgin Statue in the Diocese of Saginaw (specific times are still to be announced): 

• July 22 Annunciation of the Lord Parish, St. Michael Church, Port Austin 

• July 23 Ave Maria Parish, St. Mary Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Port Sanilac 

• July 24 Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Bay City
  Ss. Francis and Clare Parish, Birch Run 

• July 25 Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption Parish, Saginaw 

• July 26 Our Lady of Grace Parish, St. Agnes Church, Sanford 

• July 27 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish Church, Midland in the morning
  Sacred Heart Parish Church, Gladwin in the afternoon 

• July 28 Sacred Heart Parish, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Mt. Pleasant 

• July 29 Nativity of the Lord Parish, Mount St. Joseph Church, St. Louis
  St. Paul the Apostle Parish Church, Ithaca 

Nearly 25,000 senior sisters, brothers and religious order priests have dedicated their lives to serving others by praying for us, ministering to all, educating the young, caring for those who are sick and helping those in need—usually for little or no pay. Today, their religious communities do not have enough retirement savings. Your donation will make a real difference by providing essential care, medicine and other necessities. Please give generously.

The Diocese of Saginaw has completed compilation of its report for the Synod, and it is now available for you to read. 

The Parish Summary Report is also available.