THE NATIONAL Pilgrim Virgin Statue of the United States will tour throughout the Diocese of Peoria for 15 days at the beginning of October, a month of special rosary devotion.

That the visit of this blessed image of Our Lady of Fatima comes at a key point of our diocese’s “Year of the Most Holy Rosary” is Mary’s doing, according to local organizers.

“That’s Our Lady’s hand in that,” said Mary Anna Meyer, president of the World Apostolate of Fatima in the Diocese of Peoria. She also pointed out that the statue will be in the diocese on both the Feast of the Holy Rosary, Oct. 7, and on the anniversary of Mary’s “Miracle of the Sun” appearance in Fatima, Portugal, Oct. 13, 1917.

The 4-foot-tall statue was blessed by Pope Paul VI and presented to our country by the Bishop of Fatima to carry the message of conversion and peace given by Mary to shepherd children in 1917. It is accompanied by William Sockey, a representative of the World Apostolate of Fatima (formerly known as the Blue Army) who will present a background talk at many of the locations.

Following is the schedule as known by The Catholic Post’s deadline on Wednesday, along with local contact numbers. More information is also available from Meyer at (309) 691-3874 or Lisa Charneske, (309) 231-2945.

OCT. 1 (Thursday) — Danville, St. Paul’s Church, 1303 W. Walnut; 7:15 a.m. Mass, 8:45 a.m. children’s Mass, talk at 6 p.m., (217) 442-5313.

Oct. 2 (Friday) — Champaign, St. Matthew’s Church, 1303 Lincolnshire Drive; 7 a.m. Mass, 10 a.m. children’s Mass, all day adoration, benediction closing at 5 p.m., (217) 359-4224.

Oct. 3 (Saturday) — Pekin, St. Joseph’s Church, 8 a.m. Mass followed by first Saturday devotions including rosary, Fatima prayers, benediction, procession; 1 p.m. rosary; 3 p.m. Chaplet of Divine Mercy; 4:30 p.m. rosary; 5 p.m. Mass, followed by reception in the parish center. (309) 347-6108.

Oct. 4 (Sunday) — Peoria, St. Mary’s Cathedral, 12:15 p.m. Spanish Mass, (309) 682-5823.

Oct. 5 (Monday) — Metamora, St. Mary’s Church, 2:30 p.m. presentation/rosary for students, 7 p.m. prayer festival for public, (309) 367-4407.

Oct. 6 (Tuesday) — Bloomington, Central Catholic High School, 1201 Airport Road, 8:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., (309) 661-7000.
Historic St. Patrick’s Church, 1209 W. Locust St., 3:30 p.m. adoration; 5:15 p.m. Mass; 6 p.m. talk; 6:30 p.m. rosary, procession, (309) 829-1355.

Oct. 7 (Wednesday) — Galesburg, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 2401 N. Broad St., 8 a.m. Mass; Corpus Christi Church, 273 S. Prairie St., 6 p.m., (309) 343-8256.

Oct. 8 (Thursday) — Moline, Sacred Heart Church, 1608 13th St., 10:15 a.m. children’s Mass, afternoon talk for grades 6-8, 5:30 p.m. parish prayer service and talk, (309) 762-2362..

Oct. 9 (Friday) — Creve Coeur, Sacre Coeur Church, 601 Rusche Lane, 7:30 a.m. Mass, 10 a.m., (309) 699-8511.

Oct. 10 (Saturday) — Brimfield, St. Joseph’s Church, 314 W. Clay St., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., (309) 446-3275; Princeville, St. Joseph’s Priory (Brothers of St. John), 11227 W. Legion Hall Road, 5 p.m. prayer, 6 p.m. talk, 8 p.m. candlelight procession, (309) 385-1193.

Oct. 11 (Sunday) — Peoria, St. Sharbel Church, 2914 W. Scenic Drive, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by a potluck, (309) 688-5555.

Oct. 12 (Monday) — Peoria, St. Augustine Manor, 1301 N.E. Glendale Ave., 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., talk at 12:30 in the residents’ lounge, (309) 674-7069; Missionaries of Charity, 506 Hancock St., 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., 6 p.m. holy hour open to the public, (309) 495-9490.

Oct. 13 (Tuesday) — Peoria, St. Vincent de Paul Church, 2:30 p.m. talk to school students, rosary; 7 to 8 p.m., evening service, talk, and rosary, (309) 691-3602.

Oct. 14 (Wednesday) — Princeton, St. Louis Church, 616 S. Gosse Blvd., afternoon Mass, evening devotions to be announced, (815) 879-0181.

Oct. 15 (Thursday) — Ottawa, Marquette High School, 1000 Paul St., 10:30 a.m. talk, enrollment in Brown Scapular, consecration to Immaculate Heart, (815) 433-0125; Earlville, St. Teresa of Avila Church, 215 W. Union St., 5 p.m. rosary, 5:30 p.m. Mass, vespers, enrollment in Brown Scapular, social to follow, (815) 246-4321.