LIMA, OH (WLIO) - The winners of a design to replace a beloved Indian Lake shrine were recognized on Saturday.
Both the society and the jurors reviewing entries were particularly impressed with the research that went into the winning designs.
The four winners of the youth design competition were honored at a reception at ArtSpace/Lima and given the floor to talk about their ideas for the new Our Lady of Fatima shrine at Indian Lake. The American Society of Ephesus will also be announcing the adult winners of the contest in the future. Our Lady of Fatima had been a point of pride for the Indian Lake community since it was built in 1964, but it was destroyed in the March 14th tornado. Both the society and the jurors reviewing entries were particularly impressed with the research that went into the winning designs.
"From a faith-based standpoint, it's really exciting to see these kids show their faith, show their knowledge of Mary and the Feast of the Assumption, and what this shrine should look like when we redesign and when we rebuild," said Chaz Quatman, the Vice President of the American Society of Ephesus.
The new shrine, which will be dedicated in August of 2026, will include design concepts from all of the winning adult and youth entries.
"I put six benches and main sides at the bottom of the statue for the six times Mary appeared for the miracles."
"I really focused on the apparition of the dancing sun, so I made sure to include the sun imagery in it, and I also made sure to include the rosary because that was a big part of Fatima—her telling the kids to pray the rosary." I wanted to make sure the spotlights were focused on Mary and not really anything surrounding her because she is the main focus of all life," Elizabeth James of Delaware, Ohio, said of her work that won the 18 and under category.
"I put six benches and main sides at the bottom of the statue for the six times Mary appeared for the miracles. These bushes were there when Mary appeared to the three children, so it's good symbolism that they're with the statue as well," explained 16 and under winner Aidan Latham of Lima.
The other contest winners are siblings Anna and Anthony Pizzino of Dublin, Ohio.
