VIRGIN MARY'S TRIP AROUND WORLD ENDS IN NAZARETH

NAZARETH, JAN 10 (ZENIT).- The pilgrimage of the statue of Our Lady of
Nazareth ended in the Holy Land yesterday. Her long journey began in
Nazareth on March 8, 1998, on the occasion of  International Woman's
Day.

The remarkable statue, which represents a very young pregnant Mary, was
sculptured by Gregory Misner and crowned by John Paul II.  Over the past
two years, the statue was venerated in 35 countries around the world, by
millions of faithful in preparation for the Great Jubilee of the year
2000.

The statue arrived in Bethlehem on December 24, for the proclamation of
the Holy Year. After a brief stay in Jerusalem, the statue finally
arrived "home" in Nazareth, according to Capuchin Fr. Giovanni Maria
Leonardi, who organized this worldwide Marian pilgrimage.

After participating yesterday in the consecration of Nazareth and the
entire Holy Land to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Fr. Leonardi is
returning to his monastery in Italy to write a book on his trip around
the world with Mary's statue. The highlights of the pilgrimage will be
recorded in a video-cassette.
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QUESTION:

Is not this statue made of plaster? Ever notice how the Roman Church gives a "life" unto their statues? Kinda like a little girl playing with a doll eh?