In 2017 we restored an outdoor statue of Our Lady of Fatima for the pupils of St. Werburghs school. It was a little weather worn, and the gold details were sparse.
As devotees of the daily rosary, we were hopeful that we might be chosen to restore the statue; as a means of encouraging children in their prayer life, and acknowledging Our Lady as our Heavenly Mother.
We were delighted to receive a number of letters from the children asking if we could restore the statue which stood in their prayer garden.
We responded to each pupil who had written, and thanked them for the lovely photos of the statue which they had sent, and their concern for the break to its arm.
Feeling sluggish
We wanted the statue to look splendid for the children, and with the schools approval re-decorated the statue's gown with the design most associated with Our lady of Fatima. Early one morning around 3 a.m. and feeling wakeful, I went to the workshop to consider how the next stage of paintwork on the statue should progress.
To my suprise I noticed what seemed like a blob of dark paint on the statue's pristine gown. That 'blob' happenned to be a small slug that had somehow survived the rigours of cleaning and prepping. No doubt he was hiding in some undetectable crevise inside the hollow statue itself.
Its not unusual for us to find some small creatures on the outdoor statuary brought to us for restoration. They are disposed of humanely; and this little blob was escorted to his new residence in my garden as soon as I had donned my silicone gloves!
I do hope he approved of the new paintworks though.
Back to school
The statue of Our Lady of Fatima was restored for St. Werburgh's school's jubilee. On that occasion it was blessed by Archbishop Longley. The school's Head teacher Mr. Grove kindly sent us the above clipping of the event. (Photographer : Leanne Bagnall.)
He also very kindly ensured that our work be mentioned in the local news paper, for which we are grateful.
Seeing the children with the statue took me back to my childhood days. The annual Marian processions would take place in the school playground which was surrounded with cherry blossom trees. As we sung our hymns to Mary the trees shed their petals on every breeze - like confetti. It added to the feeling of celebration and unity; it was a joyful thing for everyone in the church community to be singing Mary's praises together. Its a memory I treasure and something I wish all Catholic children could experience.
Our Lady of Fatima's promise to us.
2017 marked the centennial of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima Portugal. Devotees of the rosary will be aware of Our Lady's request for us to pray for the conversion of sinners, and for the triumph of her Immaculate heart; In these present times where faith in the the Lord is less than it should be, and faith in the state is on the increase; we need Our Mother Mary's prayers more than ever.
“The Most Holy Virgin in these last times in which we live has given a new efficacy to the recitation of the Rosary to such an extent that there is no problem, no matter how difficult it is, whether temporal or above all spiritual, in the personal life of each one of us, of our families…that cannot be solved by the Rosary. There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary.” -Sister Lucia dos Santos of Fatima.
See more of our Outdoor statuary restorations.
Comments