The world’s largest statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a beacon of peace and pilgrimage in Windsor, Ohio, is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary this year with a special festival on August 9. Located at the Servants of Mary Center for Peace, the colossal statue stands as a testament to faith and a beloved destination for visitors from across the globe.
Co-founded by Patricia and Ed Heinz in the early 1990s, the Servants of Mary Center for Peace, named a shrine by the Diocese of Youngstown in 1992, has grown into a serene sanctuary. “It’s just a peaceful place for people to just come and pray, or just to be here,” said Patricia Heinz, reflecting on the shrine’s enduring appeal. Its significance is underscored by visits from several bishops over the years.
The genesis of the statue itself is a story of profound faith. Patricia recalled how a friend, Tony Zuniga, suggested placing the statue on a small island on the property. When the sculptor deemed the island too small, a new location was divinely revealed. On a cold, windy October day, Zuniga reportedly threw an Our Lady of Guadalupe prayer card into the air, which “should have landed in the pond… Instead, it landed right at his feet, and there was a little purple flower right there.”
Originally envisioned to be 33 feet tall, symbolizing Jesus Christ’s 33 years of life, the statue’s final dimensions are even grander. While the Virgin Mary herself stands at 33 feet, the addition of the angel at the bottom, clouds, and her iconic rays extends the total height to a staggering 50 feet. This impressive scale truly makes it the world’s largest depiction of Our Lady of Guadalupe, depicted standing between the sun and the moon.
The shrine has become a global draw, attracting pilgrims from as far as Australia, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Spain, and all 50 states within the U.S. Annually, around 6,000 people attend the anniversary festival, a number Patricia Heinz anticipates will be even higher this year for the 30th celebration.
The upcoming anniversary festival promises a joyful atmosphere with drinks, post-sunset fireworks, and various family-friendly entertainment. Kids can look forward to engaging activities like “big giant huge bubbles,” while Aztec dancers will add a vibrant cultural dimension to the festivities.
Beyond the annual celebration, the Servants of Mary Center for Peace remains a dynamic hub, featuring a gift shop with sacred objects and historical information, and hosting various events throughout the year, including weddings and school field trips. The Heinz family continues to work on expanding the facilities, with wedding receptions already booked for the newly developing stable area. “We just get a lot of people who visit, and that’s a good thing,” Heinz affirmed, highlighting the shrine’s ongoing mission to offer a place of spiritual refuge and community.
