A Closer Look: Our Lady of Fatima Shrine
From the Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures series
Our Lady of Fatima Shrine has become a place of natural beauty, art, communal prayer and renewal to thousands who visit the unique buildings and grounds each year.
Rosary
A rosary left for someone to pray with is seen on a bench in the yard at the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Lewiston.
The three children
A statue of Lúcia Santos and Jacinta and Francisco Marto, the three children whom the Virgin Mary revealed her famous "three secrets" in Fátima, Portugal in 1917, in front of the basilica at the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine.
Top of the dome
The statue of Our Lady of Fatima on top of the dome at the National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima. The statue, which is 13 feet high and weighs 10 tons, is sculpted from Vermont granite.
North America
The shape of North America on the glass dome at the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine.
Special gift
A left-behind stuffed animal is seen at the feet of the Our Lady of Fatima statue.
The sanctuary
The sanctuary at the National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima.
Hand-carved statue
The hand-carved Our Lady of Fatima statue at the entrance of the basilica.
St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria
A statue of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, the founder of the Barnabite Fathers, in the relics area at the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine.
St. Padre Pio
A relic, a glove, of St. Padre Pio on display. A Capuchin friar, he spent most of his life in a remote mountain friary. He received the gift of stigmata (bearing marks resembling the wounds of Christ) and many other gifts including reading the hearts of penitents.
St. Joseph
A St. Joseph statue at the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine.
Little Chapel of Fatima
The outdoor Little Chapel of Fatima, a replica of the chapel of that was built in Portugal on the site where the first apparitions happened, is shown here.
Our Lady of Fatima
The statue of Our Lady of Fatima on top of the dome.
Top of the dome
A person climbs to the top of the dome to see the giant statue of Our Lady of Fatima. Two flights of stairs consisting of 63 steps each lead to the top of the dome.
Avenue of the Saints
Statues for the saints stand along the Avenue of the Saints.
St. Anthony of Padua
A statue of St. Anthony of Padua, who was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII in January 1946.
The rose
A person placed a rose in the hand of the statue of the crucified Christ at the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine.
The gardens
Construction of the basilica began in 1959 and was dedicated with the title of basilica in 1975 by Pope Paul VI.
Thoughtful prayers
On the grounds there are over 100 life-size marble statues representing saints from every race and walk of life.
This series has taken Buffalo News photographers inside, outside, above and, on occasion, underneath local landmarks and to places most people…