Offering a flower to Our Lady. Photo: Supplied
WelCom August 2017: More than 100 people, including families and children, gathered at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Tawa, in May to honour Our Lady of Fatima for the 100th anniversary of her first apparition.
‘We wanted to honour our Blessed Mother and give glory to Her Son by marking the 100th anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady at Fatima, on 13 May 1917,’ said Patricia Sison, Director, Centre for Marriage and Family, which organised the event.
The history of the apparitions at Fatima dates back to 1917 when Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children to give a message for the world. ‘Mary asked for prayer and penance for the conversion of sinners that they may be brought back to God,’ said Mrs Sison.
The centenary was commemorated by parishioners at St Pius X Church in Titahi Bay and St Andrew’s Church in Newlands at Mass on Saturday 13 May, and by the parish community of Our Lady of Fatima Church and St Francis Xavier School students at Mass on Sunday 21 May.
The Centre for Marriage and Family has initiated several other activities to mark the centenary. Email info@marriageandfamily.org.nz for information.