Visitation of the Fatima Pilgrim Virgin statue
Thursday 31st January 2019Visitation of the Fatima Pilgrim Virgin statue to Salford Cathedral from 23rd to 24th February 2018
If we look back at the Centenary Year of Our Lady’s apparitions at Fatima in 1917, the highlight was the canonisation at Fatima on 13th May 2017, by Pope Francis, of Francisco and Jacinta, who thus became the youngest non-martyr saints in the history of the Church. Their universal feast day is 20th February, and 2019 is the centenary year of the death of St Francisco, who died on 4 April 1919.
To honour Our Lady, the World Apostolate of Fatima (WAF) organised Visitations of the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue to the Cathedrals of England and Wales, together with relics of Saints Francisco and Jacinta, for veneration. This series of Visitations began on Saturday 18 February 2017, when Cardinal Nichols received, blessed and crowned the Statue in Westminster Cathedral with nearly 3,000 people in attendance. Following this, the majority of the other dioceses in England and Wales received Visitations during the course of the rest of that year, and thousands of people turned out to welcome the Statue and Relics.
In his homily Cardinal Nichols said that devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, so central to her message, “is a way for us to say ‘yes’ [like she did] from the depths of our hearts … which is why today we consecrate afresh ourselves, our lives, our country, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, so that we can always be saying ‘Yes’ to the Lord, with all our heart, with all our will, from the centre of our being. And only Mary can teach us how to do this.”
He also emphasised the importance of the Rosary and of praying it in the family, which he recalled doing as a child.
And so now, following the refurbishment work, it is Salford’s turn, and on 23rd and 24th February 2019, the Statue and Relics will be visiting the Cathedral. Sunday Mass will be preceded by the enthronement & crowning of the National Fatima Statue, and followed by veneration of the Relics of Saints Jacinta & Francisco, and enrolment & investiture of the Brown Scapular. There will also be Fatima Talks and devotions over the weekend, including the Rosary. The full programme is listed below.
Please make a note of the Visitation in your diary, and be sure to tell your friends and fellow parishioners about this important forthcoming event.
If you can help with the Visitation programme in any way, please email: info@worldfatima-englandwales.org.uk or tel. 07786 487557.
Donal Anthony Foley
Donal Anthony Foley is a Board Member of the WAF England and Wales Committee.
Saturday 23rd February
10.20am: Procession, Enthronement and Crowning of the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima by Rt. Rev John Arnold, Bishop of Salford
10.30am: Holy Mass celebrated by Rt. Rev John Arnold, Bishop of Salford
11.30 – 12.00: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Opportunity for Sacrament of Reconciliation
Benediction
Angelus
13.00: Recitation and Meditation of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
13.30: Talk on the Message of Fatima in the Cathedral House Assembly Room.
13.45: Fatima Film (The Little Shepherds) in the Cathedral House Assembly Room. Talk on the importance of enrolment and wearing of the Brown Scapular
15.00: Mass for the Portuguese speaking Catholic Community Celebrated by Fr. Carlos Gabriel, Chaplain to the Catholic Portuguese speaking community in the UK.
16.00: Recitation and meditation of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary and opportunity to venerate the Relics of Saints Jacinta and Francisco.
17.30: Cathedral Vigil Mass for Sunday
19.00 – 20.30 Evening Vigil of Prayer
Sunday 24th Sunday
09.00: Recitation and Meditation of the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary
09.30: Talk on the importance of enrolment and wearing of the Brown Scapular
09.50: Enrolment and Investiture of the Brown Scapular
10.30: Time of Silent prayer and preparation for Holy Mass in the presence of Our Lady of Fatima.
11.00: Holy Mass: Celebrated by Fr. Michael Jones – Cathedral Dean
At end of Mass, opportunity for Veneration of Relics of Ss Jacinta & Francisco with Litany to the saints during veneration.
12.30: Angelus and then Fatima Farewell
Tagged | Catholic Church
