Virgin Mary Image in West New York – Do You Believe in Divine Apparitions [POLL]

It does happens from time to time.

A Christ-like image will be seen in something like a cheese sandwich, or there will be the report of the Virgin Mary showing up in a tree stump on the side of Route 3 in Clifton…attracting throngs of the faithful, and disturbing neighbors.

I know.

It sounds far fetched…but while slightly exaggerated, the aforementioned had actually been reported.

Now comes this:

Crowds continued to trickle in to West New York as people came out to see what some are saying is the image of the Virgin Mary on a tree.

The image, on a tree near the intersection of 60th Street and Bergenline Avenue, has been causing a lot of commotion as people, religious or not, try to decide what to make of it.

"I think (it's special if) they believe in Guadalupe," said Gerardo Gaspor of West New York, who added that he is not very religious and thought the image was "nothing special."
Still, people have continued to come out to see what some are calling a miracle in West New York.

"It's really cool," said Angus Kennedy from Long Island, who was in town for work. "As you keep looking at it, you start to feel something."

Kennedy noted that he got goose bumps from looking at the image.

Yesterday, Newark Archdiocese spokesman Jim Goodness said the image is likely "just some discoloration" that resembles Mary.

"But if it helps people to be stronger in their faith, then it is a good thing," Goodness said.

Not too unlike the apparition that was supposedly seen in Marlboro back in 1992.

This was first reported by Joseph Januszkiewicz, a 54-year-old draftsman, who at the time said that the mother of Jesus has been visiting him for 18 months and subsequently told him she would visit only on the first Sunday of the month.

Word of that got around, and attracted some 6 to 7 thousand people to his backyard to pray. Some sought divine intervention to cure physical and spiritual ailments.

And while it was a pain to some of the neighbors, some others gladly gave up their parking spaces for a fee. Many charged people $5 a car to park in their fields.

The apparition was later debunked by the Bishop of Trenton.

However, it did turn out to be some miracle! Or at least, as I see it!

The Blessed Mother as tourist attraction and a revenue enhancer.

Do you believe in Divine Apparitions?