CHARLOTTE — St. Ann parish in Charlotte celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Fatima on Saturday evening May 13 with the special unveiling of two new outdoor statues honoring Our Lady of Fatima, and her mother, St. Ann, the parish’s patron saint.
The festivities began with a Marian procession around the parish led by St. Ann pastor Father Timothy Reid immediately following the Saturday evening anticipatory Mass. Father Reid was joined by parochial vicar Father Brad Jones, and Deacons Tom Sanctis and Peter Tonon.
Also participating were Father Matthew Kauth and Father Matthew Buettner from St. Joseph College Seminary and sisters from Daughters of the Virgin Mother. At the conclusion of the procession was the unveiling of the two new statues.
The statue of St. Ann, which rests atop the St. Ann Allen Center, was unveiled by two sisters of the Daughters of the Virgin Mother, with assistance from Father Kauth.
Afterwards the attention drew down in the recently completed Marian grotto, where Father Reid and Sister Mary Raphael, foundress of the Daughters of the Virgin Mother, unveiled the new statue honoring Our Lady of Fatima, which was then blessed with holy water by Father Reid.
The day also marked the eighth anniversary of the founding of the Daughters of the Virgin Mother, and Sister Mary Raphael addressed the attendees giving thanks to St. Ann parish, Bishop Jugis, and the diocesan priests for their support of her community.
All attendees celebrated with a joyous outdoor reception hosted by the St. Ann’s Mens’ Club.
The Our Lady of Fatima statue was sculpted by artist and parishioner Jacob Wolfe. It was six years in planning, overcoming various delays due to COVID, supply chain shortages and other obstacles, all which Father Reid noted had allowed the statue to finally be dedicated on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima 2023.
— Photos by Mike FitzGerald
