"I Felt as if Heaven Were Brought to Earth…"

On April 27-30, the International Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima visited the Headquarters of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, in Spring Grove, Penn., where over 100 TFP members, supporters and friends gathered to pray for America, and the fulfillment of Our Lady's Fatima prophesies. Many local members of the TFP's America Needs Fatima campaign were among those who venerated the extraordinary statue.

The statue is famous, not only due to its unique beauty, but also by weeping miraculously in New Orleans, La. in 1972.

Loyally devoted to Our Lady of Fatima, TFP members have always held a special devotion to the International Pilgrim Statue, and have also sponsored the statue on visits to South America and Europe. The April trip to the American TFP headquarters marked the end of a tour which included Brazil and Washington DC.

After an all-night vigil spanning the night of April 27-28, the public was invited to an open house at the social center of the TFP headquarters. TFP Vice President Thomas McKenna led periodic rosaries and gave short presentations on the history of the statue.

Attendees were filled with enthusiasm and joy, upon seeing the statue. "The gaze of Our Lady fell upon me, and I felt as if she were bringing heaven to earth," said TFP supporter Elena Berrizbeitia.

The statue also visited the TFP-staffed St. Louis De Montfort Academy when she ended her short stay.

With heavy hearts, the TFP members bid farewell to the statue. Despite the sighs on every mouth, Our Lady did bring the hope that she would soon fulfill the prophecy she made at Fatima, and bring about the triumph of her Immaculate Heart.