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Our Lady of Tickfaw is a seven-acre field in the small village of Tickfaw in south Louisiana. Alfredo Raimondo, who emigrated to Chalmette, Louisiana, from Tunisia, was called to honor Saint Joseph after visiting Medjugorje, a tiny town in Bosnia. That site is a pilgrimage where many have seen apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In 1987, Alfredo purchased a former landfill site and started building. He made a healing pool, an outdoor stove for breadmaking, a chapel, and erected almost a hundred statues. In 1989, the Blessed Mother visited and asked him to gather people and pray for the feast of Saint Joseph. Saint Joseph was Jesus’ father and the patron saint of artisans, fathers, and families. He was sainted after believing God’s plan for him after Mary’s supernatural pregnancy.
Alfred had to spread the word himself since the archdiocese wouldn’t sanction the event. That March, around 20,000 people, including two priests who were given permission to attend and lead a mass, joined together for the feast.
Many reported seeing Mary, Joseph, angels, and various saints. A few photographs from the day show apparitions. Some people came back with accounts of broken bones being healed and cancer being cured.
Alfredo died in 2011. His wife, Vita, continued to live on the property until she died in 2018. While Vita did not experience any apparitions, she felt peace at her home surrounded by statues of saints and loved making bread to feed visitors.
The community have helped maintain the grounds and small chapel.
