- adunsy
Fatima
After the WYD program had concluded in Lisbon many of the pilgrims ventured up to Fatima for a few days to take in the famous apparition site and ceremonies.
Giant crucifix at the rear of the square.
The apparitions chapel is the spot where all the apparitions of our lady to the 3 children occurred. The Australians celebrated mass with archbishop Fisher celebrating, our own Fr Hau joining him in as a co-celebrant.
A popular devotion in Fatima was the kneeling path of prayer and pennance, especially with young. It streatches the length of the square (about) 200 metres with a lap around the apparitions chapel.
I decided this was a must do for me while in Fatima, inspired by the youth, and here is the aftermath. Very sore knees.
Plenty of room in the new bassilica at the rear of the square can hold up to 3000 people indoors.
The evening rosary and procession were always well attended especially with the big numbers is Fatima.
The candle lights filled the square.
A roundabout in town with statues of the three children , Lucy, Francesco and Jacinta walking up the hill to meet Our Lady (not depicted).
On one of the afternoons the Salvatorian youth and myself completed the stations of the cross which made its way up a hill on the outskirts of town.
Site of one of the apparitions when the children were not able to attend the original site Our Lady met them on the way back from the neighbouring town, on the path of the stations of the cross.
One afternoon we attended a Cenacelo community to here stories of their conversions and as the sign on the back wall reads in Potuguess "from darkness into light", and also shared their joy they have experienced with some high energy dancing. Cenacelo communities help people who's lives have been affected by addiction to break the attachment using only prayer, hard work and community living. Plenty of early mornings working on their small farm property, rosary, adoration and frequent confession and mass with a local preist.
For anyone who has not been to Fatima it is defenetly one to put on your bucket list as there are still many graces flowing here as a recent youth from the WYD can attest after attending a mass and praying a novena she received here site back.
