Fatima statue winds its way to Metairie

By Christine Bordelon
Clarion Herald

Celso Costa walked into the Metairie home of Deacon Michael and Mable Taylor Jan. 31 carrying a cloth-wrapped object. As he carefully began unwrapping the item, a 4-foot replica statue of Our Lady of Fatima came into focus.

Costa, a lay Catholic custodian of the Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima for America Needs Fatima TFP, brings the statue to local homes and parishes to counteract society’s continued movement away from God. TFP represents the motto of Christian “tradition, family and property.”

“These three traditions keep the social order,” Costa said in a short discussion. “Our country is in trouble because we forgot our Christian roots.”


Mable Taylor registered to host the statue after witnessing the America Needs Fatima segment on EWTN. She is now a member of America Needs Fatima, a nonprofit based in Pennsylvania (www.anf.org).

The Taylors invited Catholic friends to hear Costa speak of the importance of the Virgin Mary’s intercession, to pray a rosary and to view a video that correlates the tragedies of today’s world to ignoring the prophetic warnings of death and destruction that Mary gave to three children, Francisco and Jacinta Marto and Lucia de Santo, in apparitions in 1917 in Portugal.

Lucia became a Carmelite nun and promulgated, until her death, Mary’s messages in hopes that society would change its ways. 
Sister Lucia was responsible for the creation of the first wooden statue of Fatima after describing her vision of Mary to an artist in 1946. A replica of the original statue first visited the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1972.

Mary’s conversion message
The Fatima film details how the world has devolved from its Christian roots. Following the Industrial Revolution and by the turn of the 20th century – with advances in science and technology and world wars – the film notes that God’s importance began to decrease.

When Mary first appeared to the children in 1917, it was a year before WWI ended with approximately 20 million casualties. Communism took over Russia in 1918.

“God sent her to the world with an urgent call to conversion,” the film stated. “If what I say is done, many will be saved, and there will be peace,” was one of Mary’s prophesies.

The film states that prior to WWII, in January 1938, God warned nations to repent with a light in the sky. War broke out in 1939, and an estimated 50 million or so perished.

“But, WWII did not correct man’s evil ways,” the film stated. “The prophecies of Fatima are fulfilled because men have not converted,” Costa said.


Those at the Taylors’ home were asked to spread Our Lady of Fatima’s message.

Sharon Bastian of Blessed Trinity Parish in New Orleans, where Michael Taylor is a deacon, attended the event. She, too, had the Fatima statue in her home and found it gave clarity to decisions after her mother died.

“I was able to make the right decision about the home I am in,” she said.

Faith grew
Mable Julian-Taylor attributed her devotion to Mary to her studying the Bible and reciting the rosary with neighbors and friends at her childhood home in Kaplan, outside of Lafayette. She taught catechism and has directed the Young Voices of Praise at St. Leo/St. Raymond Church in Gentilly and the Knights of Peter Claver 4th Degree Ladies of Grace Choir, among other endeavors. She is currently studying to be a spiritual director.


“It’s just something about growing up with a dedication to Our Lady,” she said. “Anywhere I can do a rosary, I will.”


Julian-Taylor, state deputy of the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary, recites the rosary every Thursday at 8 p.m. CST with approximately 100 Black Catholics by conference call at (351) 999-3082. The Taylors pay for this telephone line used to conduct this rosary and also the parish rosary that Deacon Taylor leads on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. CST.

America Needs Fatima promotes an annual Public Square Rosary, now more than 22,000 locations strong, on or around Mary’s Oct. 13 appearance at Fatima, Costa said. The group also prays an outdoor rosary at noon on the second Saturday of the month at Clearview and Veterans Memorial boulevards in Metairie.

“We keep growing from coast to coast,” Costa said. “Our prayers are not just for our church and homes. Our country is in trouble because we forgot our Christian roots. Our Catholic roots are very profound. We have to go back to them.”

Costa said by being united to Jesus and converting Russia through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, peace will be granted to the world. The Virgin Mary told the children, “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph,” he added. “Without conversion, there is no return to order.”

To request a Fatima statue home visit, email: [email protected] or call 1 (888) 460-7371.

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