August 4, 2025, Press Release from the American Society of Ephesus:
RUSSELLS POINT, Ohio – The American Society of Ephesus, Inc. and St. Mary of the Woods Parish announce that the Feast of the Assumption Mass will be held at St. Mary of the Woods Catholic Church on Thursday evening, August 14, 2025. For decades, the Annual Mass has been held at the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine overlooking Indian Lake. The Shrine was destroyed by a tornado last March, so the Mass has been moved temporarily to the church. But the famous Shrine is being re-built. “As a result of the local design competition last year, we have lots of exciting design ideas for the new shrine and we plan to break ground in October,” said Bill Quatman, President of The American Society of Ephesus which owns the Shrine property. “The new shrine will be ready next year, and we will hold the Annual Mass at the shrine in 2026. The public will be invited to the formal Dedication, set for August 15, 2026.” The Annual Mass had been held each year at the Shrine since the 1960s, except for two years due to COVID-19. “We also moved to the church in 2023 after high winds blew down the tents a few hours before the Mass. Then the tornado destroyed the shrine in March 2024. But we will be back at the shrine property next year,” Quatman added.
“The Our Lady of Fatima shrine was originally dedicated in August 1964, and it would have turned 60-years old last year. We had planned a big celebration, but that had to be postponed,” Mr. Quatman said. “I think the public will love the new shrine. Everyone is curious and we will release a few drawings as soon as we have hired a contractor.” The new Shrine will feature a 20-foot tall fiberglass statue of the Virgin Mary plus 3 smaller bronze statues of the children who witnessed the miraculous apparition in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. The Shrine’s architect is Freytag & Associates of Sidney and the sculptor is Mike Major of Urbana.
The Catholic Mass is planned around August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption for the Catholic Church. St. Mary of the Woods church is located at 464 Madison Ave., Russells Point and the Mass will begin at 7:00 p.m. Fr. Shawn Landenwitch, pastor, will celebrate the Mass. Parking is available for free at the church.
For more information, visit:
www.ase-gbqfoundation.org or www.queenofangelsfamily.com
The American Society of Ephesus, Inc. (George B. Quatman Foundation) is a non-profit private foundation formed 70 years ago in 1955 and based in Lima, Ohio whose mission is to promote a greater realization and appreciation of the teachings and wonders of God; to preserve and erect religious shrines; and to restore and preserve the burial grounds of outstanding religious leaders. To find out more, please visit www.ase-gbqfoundation.org.
St. Mary of the Woods Parish began in 1927 and promotes the ideals of Christian community through the recognition that each person is given the manifestation of the Spirit of the common good. The parish believes in fostering spiritual growth through scripture, the sacraments and through the use of each person's gifts in our family. To find out more, please visit www.queenofangelsfamily.com.
The Our Lady of Fatima Shrine at Russells Point, Ohio was one of the tallest statues of the Virgin Mary in the United States. Dedicated in August 1964, the 43’ tall monument included a 19’-6” fiberglass statue of Our Lady of Fatima on a concrete pedestal. The statue and pedestal were both severely damaged by a tornado on March 14, 2024.
