Shrine of Our Lady of the Cedars
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'Shrine of Our Lady of the Cedars Woodmead, Sandton (also known as Our Lady of Lebanon) is the first Shrine to be built in South Africa. It is at the Church of Our Lady of the Cedars of Lebanon in Woodmead, Sandton. Unofficially known as Our Lady of the Highway, the shrine is passed by almost a million cars daily. Building commenced in November 1992 by the Superior, Rev. Fr. Elie Madi and was consecrated by the historic visit of Patriarch Cardinal Nasrallah Peter Sfeir.
The original statue was too small for the Shrine and in 1998 with the approval of Fr Tabet (Superior), plans were made for a new statue to be manufactured. It was donated by Umberto De Stefanis in thanksgiving for graces received. The statue was cast in fibreglass and reinforced to withstand the rigours of the Highveld summer thunderstorms and high winds. The height of the statue is 4,45 m and weighs approximately 1,5 ton, including the motor. The original statue was removed and placed in the gardens of the Church. Brickwork had to be undertaken to re-proportion the structure to accommodate the larger statue and a rotating plinth had to be constructed. The motor is an electrical 4 pole B5 motor. In April 1999 the statue was hoisted into place and the turning platform set in motion.
On Saturday, 1 May 1999 at a Solemn Mass, the unveiling of the new statue of Our Lady of Lebanon took place with much celebration and fireworks. Presiding was the Apostolic Nuncio, His Excellency Archbishop Manuel Montero De Castro with Fr Marwan Tabet, Fr Pierre Albalaa and Fr Nadim Abou Zeid.
The Shrine holds about 40 people and is currently occupied 24 hours a day with Perpetual Adoration.
[edit] Shrine of Our Lady of the Cedars, Mulbarton, Johannesburg
The new shrine at Love & Peace - Mulbarton, south of Johannesburg is spirally built as a symbol of perfection, using traditional Maronite architectural styling with a rockface finish. The Shrine was planned for with the construction of the new Church. Superior of the Mission, Fr Nadim Abou Zeid with Bruno Barradas, after the death of his mother, and with the help of the Lebanese and Portuguese communities planned and developed this unique Shrine.
Below the Chapel is a special chamber dedicated to the disciples. Above, is a candle grotto in loving memory of all donors.
Completed and opened in May 2002, it holds the biggest statue of Our Lady in South Africa, initially weighing ten and a half tons and standing 4.5 m high. This statue, manufactured by ArteChrista in Fatima, is particularly unique in that it is of Our Lady holding the Infant Jesus. In November 2003, artist Nayef Alwan arrived from Lebanon to artistically enhance the original statue. The statue was reduced to 7.6 tons and transformed to a more beautiful and elegant image of Our Lady. On Thursday, 4 December the statue was again hoisted to the top of the Shrine and Our Lady again takes her place overlooking the mountains of the south.
The Chapel hold approximately 70 people and is regularly used for daily Mass, baptisms, small weddings and special family Masses.
Categories: Articles lacking sources from November 2006 | All articles lacking sources | Monuments and memorials in South Africa | Places of worship in South Africa | Marian shrines | Marian Devotions | Titles of Mary | Virgin Mary | Roman Catholic devotions | Roman Catholic Church | Eastern Rite Catholicism | Maronite Church | Lebanon
