Roman Catholics – many Filipinos included – listen, and listen well. When visiting the state of New York in the US, you can still practice your faith.
Head to the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima; this is a Minor Basilica and National Shrine of the Roman Catholic Church in Lewiston, New York, USA.
Located north of Niagara Falls, it honors the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Fatima, the Patroness of US. It is directed by The Barnabite Fathers.
The basilica is located on 16 acres of land, donated by Mr. & Mrs. Walter Ciurzak in 1954. Aside from the (actual) basilica, there is a bell tower, the Shrine of St. Anthony Mary Zaccari, Little Chapel of Fatima, The Avenues of Saints, Shrine of Mother Cabrini, Giant Rosary, Blessed Sacrament Chapel, Immaculate Heart Chapel, The First Chapel, and the Barnabite Father’s Seminary.
The church was started in 1963, dedicated in 1965, and consecrated in 1974. In 1975, Pope Paul VI conferred the title of Basilica upon the church.
Our #LadyOfFatima is, perhaps, a great example of how the concept of separation of #church and #state continues to be extremely challenging, even if blatantly stated in the #constitution (for instance, of the #Philippines). FYI: Devotion to the #VirginMary was dominant in #Portugal and #Spain in the 1920s when the miracles were said to have happened (and these countries were waging wars), and #Russia and even #communism were specifically tackled in the messages supposedly given by the Virgin Mary to the children involved in the occurrence…
But here’s the thing, though: You don’t even have to be a #believer to find comfort here.
If you just want to take a pause, find refuge from the noise of the world, and even just to hear yourself, then the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Lewiston, New York is one good place to be at.
