The American Society of Ephesus, Inc. and St. Mary of the Woods Parish announce that the Feast of the Assumption Mass will take place at St. Mary of the Woods Catholic Church on Saturday, Aug. 10.
The church is located at 464 Madison Ave., Russells Point and the Mass will begin at 6 p.m., with prelude music starting at 5:15 p.m. Father Shawn Landenwitch, pastor of St. Mary of the Woods, will celebrate the Mass. Parking is available for free at the church.
For many years, the Annual Mass has taken place at the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine overlooking Indian Lake.
“But the shrine was destroyed by a tornado in March, so we have to use the church for two years,” said Bill Quatman, president of The American Society of Ephesus, which owns the Shrine property.
The Annual Mass has been conducted each year at the Shrine since 1964, except for two years due to COVID-19.
“Also, last year, in 2023, high winds blew down the tents a few hours before the mass, so we moved the mass to the church to be safe. It seems like that was foreshadowing things to come,” Quatman added.
The Catholic Mass is normally planned around Aug. 15, the Feast of the Assumption for the Catholic Church.
“We plan to have the shrine rebuilt by August 2026, and will return the mass to the shrine property then,” Quatman said.
“The shrine was originally dedicated in August 1964, and it would have turned 60-years old this year. We had planned a big celebration, but that is now postponed until 2026,” he said.
For more information, visit: www.ase-gbqfoundation.org or www.saintmaryofthewoods.com/fatima.