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Marian grotto restored after vandalism

Kevin Schweers | Catholic Herald Executive Editor of Content

Fr. Robert C. Cilinski, pastor of Nativity Catholic Church in Burke, blesses the new grotto June 5. (KEVIN SCHWEERS | CATHOLIC HERALD)

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Scores of parishioners and Nativity Catholic School students and faculty attended the June 5 blessing of a new parish grotto. (KEVIN SCHWEERS | CATHOLIC HERALD)

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Fr. Robert C. Cilinski, pastor of Nativity Catholic Church in Burke, speaks during a special ceremony to bless the new grotto June 5. (KEVIN SCHWEERS | CATHOLIC HERALD)

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Fr. Robert C. Cilinski, pastor of Nativity Catholic Church in Burke, blesses the new grotto with incense June 5. (KEVIN SCHWEERS | CATHOLIC HERALD)

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On a Thursday morning in January, the clergy and parishioners of Nativity Catholic Church in Burke rose to find the statues honoring the Virgin Mary’s apparitions in Fatima and her message of peace had experienced a disturbing act of violence. The figures of Our Lady of Fatima, Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia were toppled and decapitated, leaving parish leaders to decide what to do with the space.

Father Bob Cilinkski, pastor, and some of his fellow priests led prayers of exorcism on the grounds soon afterward. Then the parish began planning and fundraising to rebuild in a grander fashion. Late last month, the new statues were installed, and the Our Lady of Fatima grotto was blessed at a June 5 prayer service led by Father Cilinski and attended by scores of parishioners and Nativity Catholic School students and faculty.

The expanded grotto occupies a prominent space near Old Keene Mill Road on the parish campus. Winding pathways are dotted with large crosses marking the stations of Christ’s passion, and benches invite prayerful reflection among the statues, green grass and trees.

For Father Cilinski, the attack on the statues was a reminder “for all of us to renew our commitment to the dignity and sacredness of every boy and girl, every child, of women’s dignity, and the dignity of every person.”

Parishioners Rex and Debby McHail frequented the grotto for reflection and spiritual encouragement from life’s stresses, including the burdens of her stage four metastatic breast cancer. Sometimes they came in the middle of the night.

“When the grotto was destroyed it was really a blow to the heart,” she said. “To see it now, restored in so much glory, it’s just beyond words. I am so blessed.”

“Mary is honored whenever we pray. Mary will be honored when we pray here,” Father Cilinski said during the blessing. “The first important message that Mary gave at Fatima was ‘pray.’ Pray so you experience God’s love, the one who loves us the most.”

Schweers can be reached at [email protected].

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