By Bonnie Washuk,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – As “Ava Maria” played, people came to the front of Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Saturday night. They stared at the white statute with the angel-like face. To Catholics the face was Mary, the mother of Christ. They knelt and prayed.

The “Our Lady of Fatima” statute, which some credit with miracles and healing hearts and souls, has been brought to churches around the world since 1946. As a result of the efforts of Ray Albert of Lewiston, it is now in Maine.

Those who prayed in front of the statute Saturday said the experience was inspiring.

“I’m here because I have tremendous devotion to our lady,” said Mildred Whittingham of Lewiston. “I recall her doings at Fatima, (Portugal) and how she talked to the children.” Whittingham said she always wanted to visit Fatima, where between May and October, 1917, Mary is said to have appeared to three children, telling them saying the Rosary was key to world peace. Lucia dos Santos was one of those children. Years later Lucia described what Mary looked like. A statute was made from that description. That same statute is the one brought to Lewiston.

Whittingham said she always wanted to visit Fatima, but at age 85 she isn’t sure if she’ll make the trip. “Seeing her here, it just makes you feel you’re there,” she said.

She attended Mass at St. Joseph’s Church on Saturday before praying in front of the statute at the basilica. She prayed for an end to war. “With all the trouble in the world, we need to turn to our lady.”

Tom Theberge of Lewiston said he came to pray for a medical healing for his 27-year-old daughter. “You can draw from her healing,” he said. “There’s a lot of power in that.”

His aunt, Yvette Sirois of Lewiston, asked for peace.

Her friend, Pearl Martel, prayed for “everything healing, for more understanding of her. And for peace, especially that.”

Johnny Doucette was among the many who knelt in front of the statute. He held rosary beads he said he bought in Dallas from Lucia, “the lady who saw Mary. She was an old lady. She was selling these.” Lucia died in 1997. Doucette said he prayed for Mary’s blessing and for his family.

Ray Albert began making arrangements to bring the statute to his parish a year ago. The last time it was in Maine, 1991, Albert saw it at St. Mary’s in Augusta. “She changed me totally, spiritually,” Albert said. “I’ve always been religious. But she brought me closer to Christ, made me more human.”

Mary is someone who is not adored but honored, Albert said. “When she appears, she always leads people to her son. That’s her job.” Wherever the statute is, “Mary is, trust me,” he said.

Today, the statute will go to Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Sabattus. On Monday, it will go to St. Rose of Lima in Jay, then to other churches.

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