What team would Jesus play on?

This is NOT funny...

Dozens of people flocked to a homemade shrine in Hoboken yesterday, hoping to see a miracle.

According to witnesses, a Sacred Heart of Jesus statue in the shrine "opened its eyes" and turned its head slightly to the right yesterday afternoon, staring out at the scene in front of the Jackson Street public housing complex.

Some witnesses said they saw tears streaming from the statue's sapphire-blue eyes, though no tears appeared to be coming from the statue's eyes when a reporter and photographer arrived at about 4 p.m.

The plaster statue is the centerpiece of a nativity scene built 26 years ago by Julio "Sly" Dones, who continues to maintain the collection of statues, vases, wood and wire, occasionally adding new pieces. He said he recently added the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue, which he'd found in the trash.

The statue, badly peeling and chipped, had closed eyes, Dones said.

At about 1:30 yesterday afternoon, Dones said, he noticed the right eye was open, staring out into the street. The statue's left eye is only partially open.

"A miracle has happened," Dones said. "This is a sign from God, hoping that man will ask for forgiveness."

Many in the crowd of about 40 people looking at the shrine yesterday afternoon swore the statue's eyes had been closed before. Nearly all of them discouraged the idea that the eyes had been painted on by a prankster -- or even an overzealous believer.

"This is not a hoax," Dones said. "I am not doing this for fame."

Residents said the Jackson Street corner was a popular site for drug dealers and crack addicts, many who would mock Dones as he lovingly cares for the shrine.

Now, they say, the statue may be the neighborhood's salvation.

"Maybe this is a sign to solve all the crime and problems of the community," said George Morales, who lives in the housing project. "Do you know how many people who are looking at that Jesus have AIDS?"

Another resident, Evelyn Lopez, asked: "This has happened everywhere else in the world. Why can't it happen in New Jersey?"

Sarajevo - Christians are flocking to a north-western Bosnian town to view an image of Jesus Christ that allegedly appeared in a section of a cut tree branch two days ago, Bosnian media reported on Friday.

The image resembling Jesus' face cannot be seen from a close distance but only from a few metres away.

The branch, in the town of Bijeljina, was cut about a year ago, said the Oslobodjenje daily.

Sceptics have dismissed the image as a freak of nature, but pilgrims have been streaming to the tree, kneeling before it to pray, lighting candles, leaving money and cutting off bark to take home.

The region's Serb Orthodox bishop Vasilije visited the site and said church officials would discuss the phenomenon and advise believers how to behave. He appealed to visitors not to destroy the tree and not to leave money at the site.

"Even yet!"

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