Our Lady of Fatima Mother of Mercy
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First Class Relics of Saints Jacinta and Francesco
Custodian: Judith Studer
Email: studerja@hotmail.com
Our Lady of Fatima Statue
THE HISTORY
OUR LADY OF FATIMA MOTHER OF MERCY STATUEDuring the Summer of 2023, this one of a kind statue of Our Lady of Fatima, was hand-carved from a solid piece of wood by a noted carver in Fatima, Portugal. He artistically based its image details, and delicate hand-painting on original icons of Pilgrim statues of Our Lady from the late 1940s. It was commissioned by a small team, now referred to as “Shepherds” from Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Texas, and Florida.
In September of 2023, Our Lady Mother of Mercy, as so named, was blessed by Cardinal António Augusto dos Santos Marto, Bishop emeritus of Leiria-Fátima, (Portugal).
In February of 2024, Our Lady Mother of Mercy, received a coveted blessing from Most Reverend Gregory Parkes, Bishop of the Saint Petersburg Diocese in Florida. (USA)
Officially, Judy Studer welcomes the opportunity to continue with this blessed icon, and travel along with the First Class Relics of Saint Jacinta and Saint Francisco to those who wish to receive this ministry.
About First Class Relics
A First Class Relic is an item directly associated with Jesus Christ’s life, like a piece of His cross, or it is the physical remains of a Saint, like a piece of their hair or a bone.
The Church strives to keep the use of relics in perspective. In his Letter to Riparius, Saint Jerome (d. 420) wrote in defense of relics: “We do not worship, we do not adore, for fear that we should bow down to the creature rather than to the Creator, but we venerate the relics of the martyrs in order the better to adore Him whose martyrs they are.”
Prior to his death, Father Kondor, religious dignitary, Fatima authority, and Postulator for the Canonization of at the time Blessed Jacinta and Francesco, asked Judy to meet with him in his Fatima, Portugal office. It was here that Father Kondor presented Judy with First Class Relics of Blessed Jacinta and Blessed Francisco, now Saints, and asked her to “offer these relics for veneration, especially to the young people of the world.” He ended by telling her that he hoped these relics would bring comfort, and that Judy would use these for healing others, while sharing Our Lady’s message.
These treasured First Class Relics of Saints Jacinta and Francisco, and a piece of the original Holm Oak tree where Our Lady of Fatima appeared on May 13, 1917, in Fatima, Portugal, accompany the blessed statue of Our Lady Mother of Mercy under the Custodianship of Judy Studer.
CNA. Catholic News Agency May 12, 2017
A press conference preceding the Pope’s arrival highlighted the miracle that paved the way for their canonization. The miracle involved a Brazilian boy named Lucas, who was miraculously healed through the intercession of the shepherd children.
Jacinta and Francisco both died before age 12 and will become the youngest non-martyrs to be canonized. Sister Lucia, the third visionary, lived much longer, dying in 2005 at the age of 97. The Church is currently examining documents and collecting testimonies for her. beatification cause.
In recounting the story of their son’s healing in the face of almost certain death, João Batista and his wife Lucila Yurie could not hold back tears.
“On March 3, 2013, before 8:00 pm, our son Lucas, who was playing with his little sister Eduarda, fell out of a window from a height of 20 feet. He was five years old,” related the boy’s father.
“His head hit the ground and he sustained a very serious injury, which caused a loss of brain tissue,” Batista said during the press conference at the Fatima Shrine.
Teetering between life and death, “he was given medical care in our city, Juranda, and given the severity of his condition, he was transferred to the hospital in Campo Mourao, Parana.”
“When we got there, Lucas was in a deep coma. His heart stopped twice, and they performed an emergency operation.
It was at that moment that “we began to pray to Jesus and Our Lady of Fatima, to whom we have a great devotion,” Batista said.
“They told us that the chance of the boy surviving was low, and if he did survive, his recovery would be very slow,” likely dealing with “severe cognitive disabilities or even remaining in a vegetative state.”
On March 7, Batista said, “we called the convent again.” That time, they were able to get their prayer request to the sisters.
“One of them ran to the relics of Blessed Francisco and Jacinta, which were next to the tabernacle, and felt the impulse to pray the following prayer: ‘Shepherds, save this child, who is a child like you’…she also persuaded the other sisters to pray to the little shepherds to intercede for him.”
“And so they did,” Batista said. “In the same way, all of us, the family, began to pray to the little shepherds, and two days later, on March 9, Lucas woke up and began to speak, even asking for his little sister.” On the 11th, he left the ICU and was discharged from the hospital a few days later.
About the Custodian
Imagine being told, “Prepare yourself, you have about six months to live.” For Judy Studer—a nurse, wife, mother, and grandmother—those words were terrifying. She had already experienced the loss of an infant daughter, and four-year old grandson. In addition, at the time of her diagnosis, Judy’s only grandchild, five-year old Jessica, was about to begin treatment for childhood cancer. Judy’s world came to a sudden halt.
Judy’s elderly mother, who was also Jessica’s great-grandmother, commanded her family to pray daily—an order that took her immediate family members by surprise. She told them, “From this moment forward we will pray the Rosary daily for God’s will for our family, and ask our heavenly Mother to intercede on their behalf to her Son.”
Cancer treatments continued for Judy for two months, even as Jessica underwent her own medical regime. One day, Judy received an urgent call from her doctor who asked that she come to his office as soon as possible. Judy believed the end was near. With her husband by her side, the doctor told Judy she was cancer-free—a diagnosis the likes of which he had never seen before. Judy and her family at first wondered if their daily prayers led to God’s intercession.
By the next year, Judy returned to her work as a nurse, never forgetting a prayer-promise she had made to God at the time of her greatest need. Invigorated by Judy’s recovery, over the next seven years, every family member continued the daily Rosary prayer for Jessica’s recovery. Then suddenly, Jessica, showed signs that she, too, might be the recipient of her family’s numerous petitions. Jessica’s cancer was in complete remission.
Never forgetting her promise to Jesus, Judy soon became an active member of the World Apostolate of Fatima, and custodian of the famous United Nations International Pilgrim Statue that continued for over 17 years. Additionally during this time and prior to his death, Father Kondor, religious dignitary, asked Judy to meet with him in his Fatima, Portugal office. It was here that Father Kondor, well-known Fatima authority, thanked Judy for her ministry and asked her to always continue to share the message of Fatima.
Father Kondor presented Judy with First Class Relics of Blessed Jacinta and Blessed Francisco, now Saints, and asked her to “offer these relics for veneration, especially to the young people of the world.” He ended by telling her that he hoped these relics would bring comfort, and that Judy would use these for healing others, while sharing Our Lady’s message.
Now, as a retired nurse, Judy Studer is an active member of the Divine Mercy Health Care Workers, and Custodian of the coveted, hand-carved statue of Our Lady of Mercy icon. As noted above, this beautiful image was commissioned specifically to share with people from all locations. With Mary Mother of Mercy by her side, the First Class Relics of Saints Jacinta and Francesco, and piece of the original Holm Oak tree where Our Lady appeared, Judy continues to travel and visit numerous parishes, school, health facilities, and dioceses throughout the United States.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT JUDY: STUDERJA@HOTMAIL.COM
Why Schedule A Visit?
Dear Reader,
I am available to bring the Our Lady of Fatima Mary Mother of Mercy Statue, and First Class Relics to schools, parishes, hospitals etc.in the United States.
I provide the necessary requirements for Diocesan background review, etc. This ministry was invited to a 2017 100th Anniversary celebration at the United Nations on May 12, 2017. On May 13, 2017, this ministry was also featured to thousands of visitors in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.
Hospital visits may and have included televised Mass programs. Visits to school age children are designed to be age appropriate.
A visit with Our Lady provides background information of Fatima, presentations, and question and answer time. More importantly, the Fatima message can be tailored to quiet devotion time of one hour or an all day visit depending upon the audience.
As a Pilgrim statue, this ministry promotes Our Lady’s intercession through prayer to her Son. This representative pilgrim statue and First Class Relics provide an inspiration to both our young, and old, equally, to answer God’s call.
Please consider a visit. I look forward all inquiries.
Sincerely yours,
Judy Studer, Custodian
Our Lady of Fatima Mother of Mercy Pilgrim Statue and First Class Relics of Saints Jacinta and Francesco
Fatima Statue Visits 