The American Society of Ephesus, Inc. and St. Mary of the Wood Parish announce that the annual Feast of the Assumption Mass conducted each August at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine overlooking Indian Lake is canceled again this year.
The Catholic Mass is normally planned for a date around Aug. 15. However, the mass was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19.
This year, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati conducted a large outdoor mass at the shrine May 16 as the kick-off to the 300-mile Bicentennial Marian Pilgrimage to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the diocese.
“Due to the Cincinnati Diocese event at the shrine in May, we have decided not to hold another large outdoor mass at the shrine this year. But we will be back in August 2022,” said Bill Quatman, President of The American Society of Ephesus, which owns the shrine property.
Our Lady of Fatima Shrine at Russells Point is one of the tallest statues of the Virgin Mary in the United States. Dedicated in August 1964, the 43-foot-tall monument includes a 19-foot, 6-inch fiberglass statue of Our Lady of Fatima on a concrete pedestal. It is located at St. Mary’s Point, 261 Chase Ave., Russells Point
The annual mass has been hosted each year since 1964, Quatman believes, and always draws a large crowd from the region.
“We know the people in the area look forward to this event each August, so we are already making plans for next year. The shrine will turn 60-years old in 2024 and we are planning for that event as well.”
The American Society of Ephesus, Inc. (George B. Quatman Foundation) is a non-profit private foundation formed in 1955 and based in Lima, Ohio, whose mission is to promote a greater realization and appreciation of the teachings and wonders of God; to preserve and erect religious shrines; and to restore and preserve the burial grounds of outstanding religious leaders. To find out more, visit www.ase-gbqfoundation.org.
St. Mary of the Wood Parish began in 1927, and promotes the ideals of Christian community through the recognition that each person is given the manifestation of the Spirit of the common good. The parish believes in fostering spiritual growth through scripture, the sacraments and through the use of each person’s gifts.