Members of Our Lady of Angels Catholic Association carry the statue for the very first time using the new poles and the new base on Monday, 8/26/19. The new system allows for two people in front and two people in back on each of the two poles for a total of eight people carrying, and also allows the sides of the base to be unobstructed, unlike the old system. Photo by Glenn C. Silva.
By Beth David, Editor
Members of Our Lady of Angels Catholic Association have been busy behind the scenes cutting cacoila, sprucing up the feast grounds, and otherwise getting ready for the “Biggest Little Feast” this weekend, the 89th annual.
This year the base of the big statue of Our Lady of Angels got replaced with a brand new, aluminum-frame base that uses different poles for a new experience for the members who carry the statue in the procession.
The statue weighs about 700 pounds. The old base weighed 176 pounds, the new one weighs 266 pounds, a 90 pound increase. The new poles, made from Douglas Fir, are 14 feet long and weigh in at a combined 75 pounds. The old system used four poles, with two people carrying in the front and two in the back holding each pole. Two other people also carried by standing in the middle and holding up the statue, for a total of six people carrying.
Members of Our Lady of Angels Catholic Association carry the statue for the very first time using the new poles and the new base on Monday, 8/26/19. The new system allows for two people in front and two people in back on each of the two poles for a total of eight people carrying, and also allows the sides of the base to be unobstructed, unlike the old system. Photo by Glenn C. Silva.
The new system has two poles that go all the way through the base, front to back. The extra long poles allow for two people each in front and in back for a total of eight people carrying, with no one in the middle.
Three teams of eight will take turns walking the statue up and down Main Street during the procession on Monday.
The old base was the original and was 89 years old.
Chris Costa was in charge of the carpentry part of the base, with help from other members to paint it and get it ready.
The statue was also restored and repainted, a process that took four months.
Fairhaven Lumber donated a crane and operator to hoist up the statue and lower it into the new frame on Monday afternoon, 8/26/19.
The OLOA feast is this weekend (click here for more info). The feast grounds have been sprayed for mosquitoes. According to the OLOA Facebook page, the county is spraying twice, the association will spray the grounds, and insect repellant with DEET will be available.
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- And we have LIFTOFF! Members of Our Lady of Angels Catholic Association lift the statue and new base for the very first time on Monday, 8/26/19. The longer poles allow two people in front and two people in back on both poles. PHoto by Glenn C. Silva.
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- Jason Frates from Fairhaven Lumber uses a crane to hoist the statue of Our Lady of Angels at Saint Mary’s Church during the replacement of the new base on Monday, 8/26/19. Fairhaven Lumber donated the crane and operator to get the job done. The 89-year-old statue will be carried along Main Street in Fairhaven during the annual procession on Monday, 9/2/19. Photo by Glenn C. Silva.
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- Chris Costa of Our Lady of Angels Catholic Association blows the aluminum shavings from the freshly drilled holes for the bolts that hold the statue of OLOA on its new base on Monday, 8/26/19. Photo by Glenn C. Silva.
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Click here to download the entire 8/29/19 issue: 08-29-19 StatueRestore
