Last time we checked the Virgin Mary was at the The Las Palmas restaurant in Calexico, then on a piece of toast and now she has become part of a tree stump. But there is a slight problem, Mary may be removed.
Nearly 2,000 people in Ireland have signed a petition to prevent the Mary tree stump which from being removed from a church.
Workmen made the discovery after cutting down trees at Holy Mary Parish Church in Rathkeale, County Limerick. Scores of people have since gathered there to pray.
The prayerful say "it's doing no harm and it's bringing people together from young and old to black and white, Protestant and Catholic, to say a few prayers. So what's wrong with that?"
But parish priest Father Willie Russell has urged people not to worship the tree.
"There's nothing there . . . it's just a tree . . . you can't worship a tree."
"There's nothing there . . . it's just a tree . . . you can't worship a tree."
Noel White, who sits on a graveyard committee, said that the stump will stay.
"Nature has a funny way of showing things up and let it be a freak of nature or something else, whatever it is, surely it is a wonderful thing to see so many people coming out to pray.
"Maybe this is Our Lady's way of getting people back to the church."
A prayer vigil was held at the stump where locals have erected a temporary shrine.
"Nature has a funny way of showing things up and let it be a freak of nature or something else, whatever it is, surely it is a wonderful thing to see so many people coming out to pray.
"Maybe this is Our Lady's way of getting people back to the church."
A prayer vigil was held at the stump where locals have erected a temporary shrine.
