By Richard Beckman

October -- the Month of the Rosary -- opened with a smile as the original International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima was welcomed to Atlanta by approximately 1,000 persons at Immaculate Hart of Mary Parish.

The newly five-hour program centering on the Pilgrim Virgin Statue's appearance here included a Concelebrated Mass, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, a Rosary Procession, Crowning of the Statue, Benediction, two talks by Louis Kaczmarek, who tours with the statue under the auspices of the Blue Army, and periods of quiet for people to file by and venerate this world-renown sacramental.

What began as a dreary Sunday ended up with the smile of sun by the time the Pilgrim Virgin Statue entered Immaculate Heart of Mary Church shortly after 5 p.m. and was placed on the altar.

The Concelebrated Mass with Monsignor Donald Kiernan, current IHM pastor as principal celebrant, and two other former IHM pastors, Monsignor Michael Regan and Father Noel Burtenshaw, assisting began at 6 p.m. They were joined at the altar by 15 other priests from throughout the archdiocese. Father Terry Young, principal of St. Pius X High School, was the homilist and spoke on Mary's role in the Church today as outlined by Marian documents from both Vatican II and the American bishops.

Immediately following Mass, there was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and then the first of two addresses scheduled by Kaczmarek, who has been touring with the statue for more than three years.

In both addresses, Kaczmarek stressed the messages of Fatima, particularly the Blessed Mother's call for the daily recitation of the Rosary, the wearing of the Brown Scapular, and the daily recitation of the morning offering prayer. He encouraged daily attendance at Mass and the daily reception of the Eucharist for those "whose family commitments would permit."

Noting we venerate and honor Mary, Kaczmarek referred to her as the "daughter of God the Father, mother of Jesus Christ and bride of the Holy Spirit." Much of his messages warned of the strides made by atheistic communism throughout the world and the fact that Mary at Fatima had called attention to this danger before the Bolshevik revolution had deposed the Tsarist government of Russia.