(May 10, 2006) A statue billed as the first in the United Kingdom commemorating Pope
John Paul II will be unveiled at the Carfin Grotto in Scotland this Saturday, May
13,on the 25th Anniversary of the assassination attempt on Pope John
Paul II and the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. The statue sculptured by Tom Allan will
be blessed by Bishop Joseph Devine of Motherwell. He will be joined by Archbishop
Szczepan Wesoly, the retired prelate for Polish immigrants, who will be the principal
concelebrant at Mass. Father Marian Antoni Lekawa, representing the Polish community
in Scotland, will also be present. The statue was commissioned by the pastoral planning
team of St. Francis Xavier's Parish, Carfin. Spokesman Tommy Hughes said that John
Paul II's pontificate "had a global impact. He was especially significant to us because
of his 1982 visit to Scotland" he added.