Hothouse Image of Virgin Mary Draws Visitors

September 13, 2002

ILE-A-LA-CROSSE, Sask. (CP) -- Some say it's nothing more than some condensation on a hothouse wall. Others believe it is an image of the Virgin Mary, with her arms spread wide as if she is giving a blessing.

Whatever the case, people are flocking to this northern Saskatchewan community, candles and rosaries in hand, after townspeople say they saw the white image on the side of a backyard greenhouse.

"It looked like the Virgin Mary from behind," said Lloyd McCallum, who works at the Northern Sunset Motel.

"She had something over her head -- a veil -- and her arms were spread out like she was blessing someone."

The image first appeared Monday night. The greenhouse owner tried to scrub it away on Tuesday, but it reappeared.

Now, people say there's a strong smell of roses inside the shed.

"They said when they first saw it, there was a bright light and there was this woman who is nearly blind from diabetes that said she saw it," McCallum said.

"The people are very religious, so I don't think they would make a story like that up."

Resident Randy Desjarlais saw the image on Monday and said it was glowing with a cross in the centre.
He also said he was left with a "good feeling" in his body.
About 500 people showed up Wednesday.

The greenhouse owners say they're ready to keep welcoming visitors as long as the image is present.

"I'm kind of a skeptic," McCallum said. "I believe in the Virgin Mary and all, but I just don't know."

Ile-a-la-Crosse is 520 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.

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