Successive priests fostered and nurtured the devotion and Confraternity of Our Lady of Europe.

During the Great Siege (AD 1778-1782) the statue in St. Mary the Crowned witnessed precarious moments.

During Maundy Thursday Mass, Fr. Francisco Messa experienced a barrage of shots by the joint French and Spanish forces. He was left alone with only a few persons, the others fled. That same night they would remain in the Church with the Blessed Sacrament exposed. On Good Friday morning the bombardment had increased. Fr. Messa consumed the Precious Body and tried to save as many valuables as was possible and departed to find shelter. News got to him on Easter Sunday that the Church was ablaze. He immediately proceeded back to the Church. On arrival he noticed that the ancient statue of Our Lady of Europe was about to catch fire. He was able to rescue the statue with some help. On arriving to the place of shelter, Windmill Hill, the people saw that Our Lady of Europe had been rescued and what followed were hails, clapping and joyful hymns.

The war ended in 1782 and the statue returned to the Principal Church.