MICHIGAN CITY – “The timing was a miracle,” remarked Dori Huber.
Huber was describing the brilliant sunlight which suddenly filled St. Stanislaus Kostka Church during the Liturgy of the Eucharist on a cloudy Oct. 13 – the day of “The Miracle of the Sun.”
“All of a sudden there it was, a bright golden, yellow haze streaming through the south stained-glass windows. It was so beautiful. I thought I was going to have to put my sunglasses back on,” said Huber following Mass.
Before the service began, a long procession wound its way through the Michigan City parish in celebration of the 107th anniversary of the last Marian apparition in Fatima and the day on which thousands of people witnessed the miracle of the dancing sun.
Prior to the Oct. 13, 1917 miracle, the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children, Lucia dos Santos, 10, and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, 9 and 7, in a field in the Portugal town, bringing with her requests for the recitation of the Rosary, for sacrifices on behalf of sinners, and a secret regarding the fate of the world.
The woman told the children that during the last of her six appearances, she would provide a sign so people would believe in the apparitions and in her message. That message has come to be known as the “Miracle of the Sun,” or “the day the sun danced.” That day the rainy sky cleared up, the clouds dispersed, and the ground, which had been wet and muddy from the rain, dried up.
Huber recalled the stories that her Hungarian grandmother would share about the apparitions at Fatima. “I loved hearing those stories. They’ve stayed with me all my life,” she said.
As cross bearer and Knights of Columbus member Mike Eisele led the procession, fellow Knights carried a large Our Lady of Fatima statue. Nearly 75 others followed, including several St. Stanislaus students, as they looped around the church singing Marian hymns.
“It’s a very humbling experience,” Eisele said of leading the procession.
Eisele, a fourth-generation parishioner, said the procession took him back to his youth. “When I was a student here, I was an altar server and participated in events like this with candles, incense, and the whole bit. It makes it extra special.”
He described the route of the procession down the center aisle and looping around the outer rows as almost taking the form of the rosary, something that was important to him. “This way it involved everybody, including those remaining in the pews. We could have just gone down the center aisle, but this way people on the sides could see,” said Eisele.
Nearly 75 others processed, including students from the parish school each carrying a flower which were eventually placed in vases near the statue.
Unique Holt, a seventh grader, was quick to answer the importance of Oct.13.
“It’s the Lady of Fatima today,” said Holt. “We’re supposed to follow Mary’s instruction because she’s the mother of Jesus. We need to listen to her so that we can grow closer to her Son – and lead me to Heaven.”
She offered her thoughts as to why the Blessed Mother appeared to the three children, close to her age. “They were younger and open to hearing the message.”
The day had an extra special meaning for Brother Shaun Gray, C.S.C, as he celebrated his birthday.
“It means a lot to share it with this special day,” said Brother Shaun.
He joked about birthdays ceasing years ago for him, while putting the spotlight on the importance of the day. “It brings people to the knowledge of the Miracle of the Sun, to pay homage to our Blessed Mother, and show her off.”
Later, not too far from St. Stanislaus, a group of about 15 gathered at St. Mary the Immaculate Conception to pray the Rosary as they processed through the neighbor before finishing outside the church.
Unlike the sun breaking through the clouds as it did for the St. Stanislaus Mass in the morning, clouds quickly blotted out the sun prior to the start of the St. Mary procession. Strong winds and sprinkles accompanied the clouds.
“It’s ominous,” said Ellen Woods, a St. Mary parishioner.
“While we were praying, I was thinking about how all those people were soaking wet and then suddenly, when the miracle happened, all their clothes were dried. Here we are today, cloudy and starting to get wet.”
Constance Cooper, another St. Mary parishioner, said although they were few in number, they were there to do as requested by the Blessed Mother – to pray the Rosary.
“We’re here to bring hope and to pray for the conversion of sinners. God is here and answers our prayers,” said Cooper.
She shared that the group meets outside of St. Mary on the thirteenth of every month at 3 p.m. to pray the Rosary. “Rain or shine or snow or wind, we’re out here,” said Cooper.
St. Mary is located at 411 W. 11th St. in Michigan City.
Gary and Linda Marcheschi said the Fatima message resonates today as it did back then.
“We need prayers. With the way everything is going on in today’s world – the ratcheting up of evil, the battle between good and evil – that’s why we’ve got to be praying the Rosary,” said Linda.
Caption: Strong winds and sprinkles didn’t deter a group of faithful from processing in the neighborhood near St. Mary the Immaculate Conception concluding by praying the rosary outside the church. (Deacon Bob Wellinski photo)