Today, with a friend, returning from a week of training in Columbus, I encountered a young woman from the Ivory Coast. We ventured downtown to the St John Cathedral only to discover the evening Mass was cancelled due to a funeral. In the process of altering plans, figuring out another daily Mass to attend, the young lady from the Ivory Coast, Miriam, joined our conversation. The breathtaking beauty of the woman was sheer grace. Radiating, her dark skin pronounced purity, excellence, and refinement. Her voice introduced intelligence and holiness. She pronounced that a year ago she was Muslim, her childhood formed by the Islamic faith. With no pretense or dramatics, she told how Our Holy Mother converted her. She was reading the Koran, the chapter detailing the life of Mary, when Mary lifted her heart and showed her the truth of her Son. There were more words, explanations, and relating, yet suffice to say no more. Fellowship blesses, and a new friend has been revealed. Influenced by the recent World Cup, I asked her if she knew the name Drogba. She smiled knowingly, saying of course she knew the man for he was a national hero. She spoke of the love her country possessed for their soccer hero Didier Drogba. The dynamic goal scorer has always been a favorite of mine.

The conversion story centered upon Mary involving the Islamic faith reminded me of two things. First, Our Holy Mother at Fatima—a city named after a Muslim princess named after a favorite daughter of Muhammed—identified the most holy woman standing within the gathered crowd as a Muslim woman. Second is a favorite movie, a Muslim movie on Mary.