What is "Our Lady's Statue?

Does Bishop Michael A. Saltarelli of the Diocese of Wilmington support this effort?

What does the statue look like?

Who is sculptor Charles C. Parks?

How much did the statue cost?

Where is the statue located and directions?

Who are the members of the Committee for Our Lady's Statue?

What are "Rosary Checks"?

How many rosaries have been prayed for the intention of having a statue of Our Lady?

How can I obtain a "Rosary Check" and have my rosaries counted?

How can I have a name placed in Our Lady Queen of Peace's Heart?

Where can I send a contribution or help?

How can I have a brick engraved with my name/organization?

Questions and Answers:

What is "Our Lady's Statue?
In 1982, a 33-foot stainless steel statue of Our Lady of Peace was built by Sculptor Charles C. Parks. As Mr. Parks worked on this statue, many local residents of Wilmington, Delaware, closely followed his progress. Upon completion, the statue was exhibited in center city Wilmington because of the local interest in the statue.

Thousands of people came to view the statue and they were touched by this magnificent tribute to Mary, the Mother of God. But this statue was commissioned by a priest from Santa Clara, California, and was eventually moved to a permanent site on the grounds of Our Lady of Peace parish in California.

Then in 1998 another 32-foot stainless steel statue of Our Lady of the Millennium was commissioned by a man from Chicago. This statue was exhibited on the Riverfront in the Wilmington area prior to it leaving for its permanent location in Chicago. Again, thousands of people flocked to see this Madonna by Charles Parks.

The desire to have a Parks' statue of Our Lady grew in the hearts of many people who viewed these two statues and in the Fall of 1999 culminated into an organized commitment to have a "Mary of our own."
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Did Bishop Michael A. Saltarelli of the Diocese of Wilmington support this effort?
Although this was a lay project, the Committee for Our Lady's Statue contacted Bishop Saltarelli's and the building of the statue received his blessing in May 2000.  He also donated the proceeds from the sale of his tapes and CDs of the recitation of the rosary for the statue.
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What does the statue look like?
It is a magnificent 8,400 pound, 33-foot, stainless steel statue of the Blessed Mother . This monument honoring Our Lady is similar to the statue, Our Lady of Peace, created by Charles C. Parks of Wilmington, Delaware. That statue of the Blessed Mother was commissioned by Father John J. Sweeney of California in 1982 and now resides on the grounds of Father Sweeney's parish in Santa Clara, California.  However, the new statue, Our Lady Queen of Peace, is similar but the face was fashioned after Our Lady of Medjugorje.  
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Who is sculptor Charles C. Parks?
Highly respected and honored throughout the world, Charles C. Parks is noted for a vast body of work which contains more than 500 figurative sculptures in a wide range of media that includes bronze, wood, welded steel, plaster, iron, terra cotta and fiberglass. This distinguished artist has dedicated himself to portrait busts and figures, liturgical figures and animals. Mr. Parks' projects range from war memorials to life-size figures of entire families. Among his vast array of figurative sculptures, he is especially noted for his sculptures of children.
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How much did the statue cost?
The statue cost $500,000.00. This does not include costs for the site, site preparation,  etc.

Sculptor Charles C. Parks and his assistant Matthew Large worked on the statue in stages as contributions are received.  
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Where is the statue located and directions?
The statue is located at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 12 Winder Road, New Castle, DE 19720, on land owned by the Diocese of Wilmington.  The site overlooks I-295 and the statue is a beacon of light welcoming all those traveling from the Delaware Memorial Bridge into Delaware.  Approximately 40,000 cars will drive by it daily.

Directions from Philadelphia and North on I-95:  Take I-95 S toward Chester; merge onto I-495 S via EXIT 11 toward PORT OF WILMINGTON/BALTIMORE (crossing into Delaware); take TERMINAL AVE. EXIT 2 toward SR-9A/PORT OF WILMINGTON; turn RIGHT onto TERMINAL AVE.; turn LEFT onto NEW CASTLE AVE./DE-9S; turn RIGHT onto HALCYON DRIVE; entrance to church is 1/2 block on LEFT.

Directions from New York and New Jersey via New Jersey Turnpike:  take New Jersey Turnpike south; follow signs to DELAWARE MEMORIAL BRIDGE; merge onto I-295 S/US-40 W toward DELAWARE/DELAWARE MEMORIAL BRIDGE crossing into DELAWARE; merge onto NEW CASTLE AVE./DE-9 N; make a U-TURN onto NEW CASTLE AVE./DE-9 S; turn RIGHT onto HALCYON DRIVE; entrance to church is 1/2 block on LEFT.

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Who are the members of the Committee for Our Lady's Statue?
The desire to have a Charles C. Parks' statue of Our Lady grew in the hearts of many people who viewed two of Mr. Parks' statues of the Mother of God which were exhibited in the Wilmington area prior to being moved to their permanent sites in California and Chicago. A few of the many people from up and down the East Coast who were inspired by both of the statues joined together to bring a "Mary of our own" to Delaware. This is a non-profit effort and the names of the members of this committee are: John and Colette Watson, Michele Lennon, Linda and Don (deceased) Prince, Harold Kuhn, Paul Talley, Sr., Joanna Wojcik, Trudy Callahan, Mary Beth Wroton, Mike Hare, Linda O'Donnell (deceased), Nicky Di Angelo, and Joanne Micallef

The spiritual adviser for the committee is Father Thomas Flowers.

The Knights of Columbus are also committed to this project. Their members are marketing and selling CDs and tapes of the recitation of the rosary led by The Most Reverend Michael A. Saltarelli, Bishop of Wilmington. He has donated the proceeds from the sale of these CDs and tapes for Our Lady's Statue.

This statue symbolizes love and peace and it belongs to everyone. The committee hopes that all people will find its beauty reminds them of Mary's love for us, evokes a sense of peace and tranquility to all that view it and offers everyone hope for a better world.
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What are "Rosary Checks"?
"Rosary Checks" are used to record the number of rosaries prayed for the intention of building a statue to honor the Mother of God. It is a means of affirming our belief in the real value of prayer and a means to build the Statue. The check is not a promise to pray. It is a statement that we have prayed. It gives tangible form to our prayers so that we may realize the gift we give to her. 
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How many rosaries have been prayed for the intention of having a statue of Our Lady?
Over 500,000 rosaries have been dedicated for this intention. 
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How can I obtain a "Rosary Check" and have my rosaries counted?

Contact:  Our Lady Statue
                P.O. Box 2849
               Wilmington, DE 19805-0849
               Call (302) 478-1938 or (302) 658-1610 
               E-mail: Info@ourlady-de.org

              Or click on "Rosary Check"
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How can I have a name placed in Our Lady Queen of Peace's heart or have a brick engraved with my name/organization?

HEART - $100.00             Your name will be placed in Our Lady's heart.  

BRICK - $1,000.00           Your name/organization engraved on a brick permanently installed at

                                           the statue's base.   The engraving is for three lines with a total of 

                                           fifteen characters including spaces.  

Send a check made payable to "Our Lady's Statue" along with the name you want in the heart or the information to be engraved on the brick to the following address:

Our Lady's Statue

P.O. Box 2849

Wilmington, DE  19805-0849

Please include your name, address and a telephone number in case we need further information.

Any questions, call (302) 658-1610.

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Where can I send a contribution or help?
Donations are needed for the site maintenance and improvements.  If you would like to contribute, please send a check made payable to "Our Lady's Statue" and mail it to the following address:

Our Lady's Statue
P.O. Box 2849
Wilmington, DE 19805-0849

Contributions are tax deductible.

There is still much to be done now that the statue is at its permanent site at Holy Spirit Church.  Maintenance of the grounds and site improvements, as well as help with conferences are just a few of the areas which could use help.    If you would like to help, please contact Our Lady's Statue Committee and offer you assistance.  Call (302) 658-1610 or e-mail  Info@ourlady-de.org. 

And your prayers and rosaries to honor Mary, Our Lady Queen of Peace, are always needed.

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How can I have a brick engraved with my name or organization?

Contact the committee at the address above to have a brick engraved.

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