A priceless statue of the Holy Mother. An icon, encrusted with precious jewels. It's something you'd expect to see in an ancient cathedral, but this holy relic resides in Pahokee, a migrant worker town on the shores of Lake Okeechobee in Florida.
Father John Mericantante, St. Mary's
"That's a long journey from Prussia or Russia to Pahokee."
How the statue, a 16th century relic owned once by a Russian Czar, got there is one story. The miracles the people say she's done since she arrived, is another.
Father John Mericantante
"In the name of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost, Amen."
Winchester Native Father John Mericantante started his ministry in Weston and Revere and now serves this small Florida parish. During his ministries, he met an antique dealer who had happened upon the statue. She was so impressed with the man, that she decided to give him the icon.
Ms. Kahn said it seemed to her that the mother was not happy. She needed to be among the people. The icon was delivered. And the people started to pray. And then, they say, the miracles started to happen. Ivania's son was covered with horrible red spots.
Ivania Larios, Prayed to Statue
"They told me it was lupus...and others told me it was leprosy."
Then she prayed to the icon, and his spots disappeared. Lydia needed a place to live after a hurricane destroyed her home.
Lydia Caso, Prayed to Statue
"I began to pray, day and night, day and night, and I can say thanks to the icon and to Jesus Christ I found a home."
Anna Moncada, Prayed to Statue
"I would ask him to pray for her health."
And Anna prayed to the Virgin Mary for comfort, after her mother's death.
Anna Moncada, Prayed to Statue
"She says her mother came to her in a dream and told her everything was OK. She was alright, to be happy."
Could these really be small miracles? Or just coincidences?
Father John Mericantante, St. Mary's
"So it's I mean how many coincidences can you have so its just beyond, its just beyond me..."
The miracles continued. When they needed a new building for an after school program, the money came by messenger.
Father John Mericantante, St. Mary's
"I prayed to Our Blessed Mother and a man came up and gave me $40,000 worth of stock."
Now the congregation is praying for a new church. And they are confident that their prayers will be heard.
Father John Mericantante, St. Mary's
"If the Blessed Mother wants us to have it, we will have it."
The icon will remain with Father Mericantante until his death. After he is gone, it will be donated to a church in Jerusalem.
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