The statue of Our Lady, beautifully renovated by local artists Brendan Burke and Tom Kane, was placed in a newly constructed shrine on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which this year fell on 15 August.
This new grotto is located at the side of Saint Gabriel’s.
During the blessing ceremony, Father McManus narrated a story about how the restoration of the grotto came about and said.
The Parish Priest said, “Some time back when our maintenance team were clearing out abandoned items from upstairs in the bell tower – and these had been there for up to sixty years – they came across a very dilapidated statue of Our Lady. Covered with dirt with chipped paint and a few cracks, the statue had two serious faults: the two hands were missing and the snake’s head was broken, and this is probably why it had been abandoned in the attic.”
Father McManus continued, “Many will remember Brendan from the time he worked here and the results of his artistic talent are everywhere-visitors to the sacristy will know his great sketch of Father Pat! Brendan’s artistic curiosity was aroused and he wondered firstly if he could make new hands. He took a model of the hands of our crib statue of Saint Joseph and worked from there, eventually being able to make and attach a perfect pair of hands. He then proceeded to research what needed to be done and what materials and paint to use.
“Eventually the statue was moved down to our working sacristy and Brendan came to work on it, as time allowed, and with the help of his colleague, Tom Kane. We all watched in awe as it took shape. Finally, it was so beautiful that everyone agreed it had to have a special place where everyone could see it and perhaps stop for a short prayer.”
Father McManus concluded, “We are very thankful to Brendan for generously sharing his wonderful talent with Saint Gabriel’s. Our gratitude also extends to Sean McKeon and his dedicated team for overseeing the construction of the shrine and for the beautiful landscaping that surrounds it.”