Iron Maiden at Holy Name Cathedral

No, it's not a roof-fixing fund raiser headlined by the English rockers from last century.  What popped up in the parking lot of Holy Name Cathedral this weekend turned even more heads than the elderly metal heads would.

It was a 33-foot-tall statue of the Virgin Mary.  Specifically, a stainless steel statue called Our Lady of the New Millennium.

Her appearance was enough to stop traffic on State Street and cause people waiting on Superior to miss their green lights staring at the thing.

Apparently, it's been around for almost a decade and has been touring various parishes in the area. We've been in Chicago six years, and this is the first time we've seen it, so it's new to us.

The 8,400-pound Mary was made by Delaware sculptor Charles Parks at the behest of Chicago South Sider Carl Demma.  He commissioned it in 1995 and gave it to the Archdiocese of Chicago to inspire local Catholics.  Carl died on June 25, 2000 -- shortly after his dream was fulfilled.

So keep your eye open.  You never know where she might pop up next.