Our Lady of Fatima Shrine

In the summer of 1917, three shepherd children from Fatima, Portugal claimed to have seen an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary on several occasions. The children said the Virgin Mary instructed them to pray for world peace and told them three secrets. 

That August, Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto were kidnapped by the mayor and taken to the town hall for questioning. Despite threats of being boiled in oil, the children stuck to their story. Upon their release, they were forbidden from returning to the pasture where they saw the Virgin Mary. Soon after, they saw her again and people began flocking to the area.

Today, the story is represented by four life-size statues of the Virgin Mary and the three children at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Youngstown, New York. The three children are also immortalized in a bronze statue that was unveiled in 2017 for the 100th anniversary of the Fatima sightings.

Founded in 1954, Our Lady of Fatima Shrine “is a destination for pilgrims, art enthusiasts, and tourists of all kinds.” Throughout the grounds, there are over 100 life-size marble statues of saints from various countries and walks of life. 

The showpiece is the Basilica, which boasts a magnificent, glass dome “depicting a contour of the Northern Hemisphere” over which a 13-foot statue of Our Lady of Fatima presides. Visitors can climb the stairs to the top of the Dome and see the granite statue up close and take in the breathtaking view of the grounds and surrounding countryside. 

In front of the Basilica lies a heart-shaped reflecting pool outlined in 59 lights that--along with a marble statue of Jesus nailed to the cross--forms “one of the largest outdoor rosaries in the world.” Statues of the twelve apostles surround the reflecting pool. 

Other area highlights include a bell tower, waterfall, peace mural, chapel, and meditation area.

Our Lady of Fatima Shrine is cared for by the Barnabite Fathers, a clerical group founded in Milan, Italy, in 1533. In 1954, an Italian priest purchased the 15 acres of farmland from a Polish immigrant for one silver dollar. He planned to build a seminary. The immigrant’s only request was that a small shrine be built in honor of Our Lady of Fatima. As fate would have it, the man had prayed and prayed to her for a miracle after suffering a devastating stroke the previous year. He fully recovered. 

Upon release of the secrets in 1960, pilgrimages to the shrine skyrocketed and the site expanded.

Our Lady of Fatima Shrine is located “just 5 minutes from Historic Lewiston, and 20 minutes from beautiful Niagara Falls!” It is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. 

Hope L. Russell, Ph.D.