Faithful see vision of Virgin Mary on school pizza pan

(2/23/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- Many Houstonians say they see something on a pizza pan that's nothing short of a miracle. And now, hundreds are flocking to an east Houston house on Leslie at Hahlo to get a peek.

Apparently, they're serving something special at the cafeteria of Pugh Elementary. On Ash Wednesday, HISD employee Guadalupe Rodriguez was washing and scrubbing a sheet pan when she noticed something.

"On the third rinse I started watching it, trying to discover what it was," she recalled.

So moved by the discovery, Rodriguez took the pan to her manager, who saw the vision too.

HISD employee Coralia Pacay said, "I know it's something good for this community, and especially for this school."

What the women saw was an image that is unmistakable to them. It drew so much attention the pan was moved to a nearby home, where it has become the center of a shrine.

"I see an image of the Blessed Mother," said worshipper Vincent Santiago. "That's what I see."

Santiago came to the home to pray on the first Friday of Lent.

He said, "This is a sign that something in the world is going to happen. We don't know, but we have to keep our faith very, very strong on her."

A pilgrim from down the street, like so many whose faith is strengthened by what they know they see. And for the hard-working woman who found it? She feels blessed to be the messenger.

"It's all about faith," said Rodriguez.

More than 200 of the faithful attended the shrine on Thursday, and dozens more arrived on Friday. A service was planned for Friday evening.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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