'Virgin Mary' image appears in window

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Staff at a Springfield, Mass., hospital said hundreds of people gathered to view an image of what appeared to be the Virgin Mary in a vacant office window.

Sister Kathleen Sullivan, senior vice president at the Mercy Medical Center, said the shadow outline that some identified as the mother of Jesus appeared late Tuesday morning in the window of a vacant office at the center, the Springfield Republican reported Wednesday.

"What it is I don't know, but it was certainly humbling to see the faith of the people. It was so beautiful," Sullivan said.

As many as 300 people gathered in the center's parking lot at one point to view the image. A group of elderly women led the crowd in reciting the rosary and singing religious songs.

Mark Dupont, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, said it usually takes years for the church to investigate an alleged apparition.

"Certainly it was inspiring people, and Catholics throughout their history have a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin," Dupont said. "We want to be careful not to mislead people, but what we can't debate is the faith of the people.