A Steward’s Gift of Time by Parishioner Brian Bourbeau

On May 16, a small group of pilgrims set out from the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Russells Point, Ohio with a statue of Our Lady of Fatima. Over the subsequent 33 days, pilgrims will carry Our Lady over 300 miles, visiting more than 36 parishes in our archdiocese. I recently had an opportunity to join leg 5 of the pilgrimage, traveling from St. Patrick in Troy to Emmanuel in Dayton. Throughout our four day, 45- mile journey, we met many whose lives were changed by Mary. On our first morning, traveling to New Carlisle, a woman stopped her vehicle in the middle of the road, falling to her knees at the sight of Our Lady and testifying to how it was Mary that brought her into the church. Another family drove around Dayton to find us on our route in order to bring a young girl to venerate Mary – just weeks earlier, this girl had been diagnosed with heterotaxia, until her mother’s prayers to Our Lady of Fatima resulted in the doctor calling to apologize that it was a “misdiagnosis.” As someone without much exposure to Marian devotion, it was truly a life alternating experience. I personally encourage everyone in the parish to participate in the 200th year celebration and Marian pilgrimage by attending either the pilgrimage’s visit to our deanery at St. Ignatius or the concluding celebration downtown.