To believers, statue sheds tears of woe

As Catholics brace themselves for what's sure to be a painful series of parish closings, there's talk of a miracle at Sacred Heart Church in Medford: people are flocking to a statue of the Virgin Mary they say is shedding tears.

Two weeks ago, a delivery man told a rectory worker that the life-sized statue outside the red-brick church near Tufts University was weeping. By yesterday at noon, the devout and the curious were arriving at the statue every few minutes.

"I think she's crying because this church may close," said Stephanie Pucillo of Medford, who visited the statue yesterday during her lunch break after her mother told her about it. "Is it real? I don't know. But the timing is ironic, with everything that's going on."

Last month, Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley informed all the 357 parishes that due to dwindling Mass attendance, a shortage of priests, and financial constraints, some churches would be forced to close by the end of the year. He instructed priests and parish officials to meet and identify which parishes ought to be slated for closing.

The five Catholic parishes in Medford have decided that if one of them must close, it should be St. James Parish, and if two churches must close, then Sacred Heart Church has been recommended, according to Sacred Heart's church bulletin.

The Rev. Christopher J. Coyne, the archdiocesan spokesman, was on vacation and unavailable for comment.

But Sacred Heart's pastor, the Rev. Robert Doherty, said: "The statue is not weeping. It's just an outdoor statue."

He said that streams of water have been rolling down the statue's face from one or both eyes. Doherty said that given all the troubles that the Catholic churches have faced lately, from the sex-abuse scandal to the proposed church closings, it makes sense that devout Catholics believe the statue is weeping. "I think the Blessed Mother is crying, but I don't think the statue is," he said.

Doherty said the statue has been in front of the church for years, and until recently, it was entirely white. About two years ago, a parishioner added blue hues to the icon's robe, and flesh colored paint to its face.

The church has remained open during the day to handle the crowds. At the Espresso Pizza nearby, employee Chris Hernon said the weeping statue is "the talk of the town." He said he has watched people stop by at all hours of the day, and night. "We close at 3 in the morning, and they are out there even then, getting a look," Hernon said.

Yesterday, there were a dozen people praying in the church, and another dozen outside in front of the statue. The base was covered with bouquets of flowers, stuffed animals, and candles. Rosary beads dangle from its hands.

For a while, people also were leaving money, but Doherty posted a sign asking people not to leave the donations. "We are not in debt," he said, "and the [proposed] closing has nothing to do with the weeping statue."

Christine McConville's e-mail is cmcconville@globe.com.