This statue of Mary, Mother of God was unveiled during the Jan. 12 opening Mass for the diocese’s 50th anniversary at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte. The statue will make a pilgrimage to more than a hundred sites during the golden anniversary year. (Photo provided by James Sarkis)CHARLOTTE — A custom statue of Mary, Mother of God will travel throughout the diocese to parishes, missions, Catholic schools and other locations over the course of the diocese’s 50th anniversary year so people may venerate Mary as our patroness and pray for special graces for the Church in western North Carolina.
In his proclamation of the 50th anniversary year, Bishop Peter Jugis noted that as “Mary, the patroness of our diocese is so closely connected with her Son’s work for our salvation, we also draw close to her in this special year of grace.”
The Marian Pilgrimage is one of the signature events of the diocese’s 50th anniversary activities. The statue will travel to more than 100 locations across the diocese during the year – visiting churches, schools, events and sites of significance to Catholics in western North Carolina.
The statue was blessed by Bishop Jugis Jan. 12, just before the start of Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral to open the anniversary year.
Made of linden wood, it was hand carved in Germany about 20 years ago. It stands 52 inches tall and weighs approximately 41 pounds.
When the statue arrived in Charlotte earlier this month, local artist Lisa Autry gave it a thorough renovation before it was unveiled by the bishop at the opening Mass.
“I believe it was perfectly timed,” Autry said. “I had six days and it took six days.”
“It is a very high honor to be asked to work on such a piece of art that will be seen and venerated by so many,” she said. “The Almighty has once again raised the bar for me. I cannot put into words how humbled and honored I am when I am asked to bring glory to God through my work.
“I felt close to Mary, and small in her presence while I worked on her. This brings me one step closer to realizing my purpose as an artist, and I am grateful for the opportunity.”
A committee led by Bryan Somerville, special assistant to the chancellor and also a member of St. Patrick Cathedral, is coordinating the pilgrimage route over the course of the year, leading up to the closing Mass on Jan. 12, 2023.
The statue will be escorted from location to location by members of the faithful in a circuit around the diocese, Somerville said. A special program of prayers and music has been created for each pilgrimage visit, to receive the statue and venerate Mary, Mother of God as patroness of the diocese.
Where's Mary?
At www.faithmorepreciousthangold.com: Track the progress of the pilgrim statue of Mary, Mother of God
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Artist Lisa Autry thoroughly refurbished the 52-inch statue, which arrived only a couple weeks ago – changing the color of her robes, making necessary repairs, and touching up other details.