Bishop Edward M. Grosz has celebrated with the Pilgrim Virgin statue when it has toured Buffalo in the past. (File Photo)

The national Pilgrim Virgin statue of Our Lady of Fatima will return to the Diocese of Buffalo with more than a dozen stops throughout the area in October.

The story of Fatima began in 1917, when three children in Portugal delivered a message from Our Lady about dire consequences for the world as a result of sin. The message included five requests, such as to pray and offer sacrifices to sinners for their conversion, offer a special devotion to Her Immaculate heart, pray the rosary daily, fulfill the requirements for the Five First Saturday devotion, and spread the message of Fatima to others. Bill Sockey, the custodian of the national Pilgrim Virgin statue, will deliver the message at each stop throughout the diocese.

Pope Paul VI blessed the national Pilgrim Virgin statue in 1967 in honor of the 50th anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions at Fatima. The statue first came to the United States when Bishop Joao Venancio, then bishop of Fatima, presented it to Cardinal John Carberry of St. Louis in 1967. The statue was crowned as the national Pilgrim Virgin statue in 1972, and since then, has traveled throughout the United States to spread the message and graces of Fatima.

The statue will be in each parish for veneration all day following morning Mass. In addition, a prayer with the rosary will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a reflection by Sockey, unless noted.

The following parishes will host national Pilgrim Virgin statue of Our Lady of Fatima:

Oct. 9, Epiphany of Our Lord Parish, 10893 Sisson Hwy., North Collins. Veneration after 11 a.m. Mass.
Oct. 10-11, Dominican Monastery, 335 Doat St., Buffalo. Veneration in the chapel following 7:30 a.m. Mass.
Oct. 12, SS. Joachim & Anne Parish, 50 East Ave., Attica. Veneration after 11 a.m. Mass.
Oct. 13, St. Andrew Parish, 1525 Sheridan Dr., Kenmore. Veneration after 8:30 a.m. and noon Masses.
Oct. 14, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, 8500 Main St., Williamsville. Veneration after 9 a.m. Mass.
Oct. 16, SS. Mary, 13 South Main St., Holley. Veneration after 10:30 a.m. Mass.
Oct. 17, Nativity of Our Lord Parish, 26 Thorn Ave., Orchard Park. Veneration after 9 a.m. Mass.
Oct. 19, Carmelite Monastery, 75 Carmel Road, Buffalo. Message of Fatima after 7:30 a.m. Mass, veneration after 2 p.m. Mass.
Oct. 20, Good Shepherd Parish, 8700 Goodrich Road, Clarence Center. Veneration after 8 a.m. Mass.
Oct. 21, Infant of Prague Parish, 921 Cleveland Dr., Cheektowaga. Veneration after 9 a.m. Mass.
Oct. 22-23, St. Mary of the Cataract Parish, 259 Fourth St., Niagara Falls. Rosary prayer half an hour before each Mass at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 7:15 a.m., 9 a.m. and noon on Sunday; Message of Fatima delivered after each Mass.
Oct. 24, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, 165 Central Ave., Silver Creek. Veneration after 8:30 a.m. Mass.
Oct. 25, Our Mother of Good Council Parish, 3688 South Park Ave., Blasdell. Veneration after 8:30 a.m. Mass.
Oct. 26, St. John XXIII Parish, 1 Arcade St., West Seneca. Veneration after 8:30 a.m. Mass.
Oct. 27-28, Corpus Christi Parish, 199 Clark St., Buffalo. Veneration after noon; Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 5:30 p.m., with rosary prayer and message of Fatima to follow.