The Our Lady of Fatima Shrine is an interesting and beautiful place to spend some time. Even if you aren’t a religious person or even catholic for that matter, this is a lovely and peaceful place that has many surprises awaiting those who walk the grounds.
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Exploring the Grounds
There are over 100 life-size statues of different saints and important religious figures located throughout the Shrine grounds. If you stroll around and look at each statue, you will also find that some of these have been adorned with rosaries by visitors. There is also a small outdoor chapel near the woods that is as peaceful as it is beautiful.
You will notice a large heart-shaped reflecting pool in the middle of the Shrine surrounded by 59 lights with a crucifix located at the bottom of the heart. This is actually one of the world’s largest outdoor rosaries. Each night the lights around the pool come on and bathe the pool in light. This is an amazing sight to see, and visitors can get a bird’s eye view of the very top of the Basilica
The Basilica
The Basilica is the large building located in the center of the Shrine. The church inside takes up the majority of the building, but there are other smaller chapels with the basilica, as well as a relic area and peace mural. Services are held here, check the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine’s website for times.
Incidentally, there is also an enormous 13-foot statue of the Virgin Mary (also known as Our Lady of Fatima) located on the roof of the Basilica. The roof can be reached by climbing the 63 steps of staircases located on both sides of the basilica.
The Festival of Lights
Each Christmas Season, running late November through New Year’s, the grounds of the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine are lit up in Christmas lights. The Nativity story is told through colorful displays. This is a fun, family-friendly event, and the best part…it’s completely free.
Getting to Our Lady of Fatima Shrine
Address: 1023 Swann Road, Youngstown, NY
Google Map Link
Other Places to Visit
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