Our Lady of Fatima Statue Stopping in Berkshires; Vigil Set at St. Elizabeth's

Our Lady of Fatima

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church will host the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima for an overnight vigil on Sept. 10-11.

The statue will be at churches within the Diocese of Springfield from Sept. 8 through Sept. 28 as part of a two-year tour.

The procession at St. Elizabeth's begins Saturday, Sept. 10, after the 4 p.m. Mass and the vigil continues through the night until the 8:30 Mass on Sunday morning, Sept. 11.

After Mass at 10:45 a.m. on that Sunday, around noontime, the statue will be carried by firefighters to the city's Veterans Memorial, where a bell will be run for each of the airplanes involved in the Sept. 11 terror attacks. This will be followed by a moment of silence, addresses and a prayer.

The statue of Our Lady of Fatima will then be carried by police officers to Holden Street, transferred to parishioners and returned to the church. The custodian of the statue will give a speech about the messages of Fatima followed by a reception at the St. Elizabeth's Parish Center, where people may view the movie "The 13th Day: The True Story of Fatima," with food and refreshments.

The international statue is one of "twins" carved in 1947 according to the description of Sister Maria Lúcia, one of three children who claimed to see apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. It has traveled the world and, in 2014, was placed in the custody of The World Apostolate of Fatima, USA.

• Sept. 12: St. Mary's, Cheshire, 8 a.m. Mass
• Sept. 13: Sacred Heart, Pittsfield, 9 a.m. Mass    
• Sept. 14: Saint John Paul II, Adams, 8:30 a.m. Mass
• Sept 20:  St. Patrick's, Williamstown, 8:30 a.m. Mass
• Sept 26:  Divine Mercy Shrine, Stockbridge, 9 a.m. Mass

A date for Lee is also possible.

Other nearby stops include the Basilica of St. Stanislaus, Chicopee, Sept. 15; Mother of Hope, Springfield, Sept. 16;  Our Lady of Fatima, Wilmington, Vt., Sept. 18; St Brigid's, Amherst, Sept. 22; Our Lady of the Hills, Haydenville, Sept. 25.  

See the website for a full schedule. http://wafusa.org/the-apostolate/national-pilgrim-virgin-statue/

Brown Street Bridge Reopens in North Adams

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
01:16PM / Monday, December 15, 2025

Mayor Jennifer Macksey is the first to drive across the bridge, closed since early 2023.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Mayor Jennifer Macksey led a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, Dec. 15, marking the official reopening of the Brown Street Bridge.

 

"We are very excited despite the cold weather," Macksey said before the ribbon-cutting. "… We are chipping away at these projects, but this is long overdue."

 

The bridge had been closed to all vehicle traffic since March 2023 after being deemed structurally deficient by the state Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The 26-foot steel structure, built in 1952, was flagged after its superstructure rating fell to 3.

 

The reopening follows a temporary repair project designed to safely restore access while the city and state determine a long-term plan. The temporary repair contract was awarded to J.H. Maxymillian at a cost of $349,920.

 

Funding for the project included $75,000 from state Chapter 90 road funds, with the balance was covered by state flood money the city had been previously awarded following a severe storm in July several years ago.

 

The mayor emphasized the critical need to reopen the span, particularly for public safety. 

 

"The perception behind that was we have flooding on West Main Street and River Street, we have to use this bridge," she said. "We are very excited to have it open. Not only to alleviate traffic problems down at the intersection of Big Y and the intersection of City Hall, but to help our friends at emergency management with the ambulance."