Our Lady of Fatima

On Monday, September 27th, St. Mary’s will be privileged to host the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima.  This statue has been making its way through a number of parishes throughout the Archdiocese over the past month and we are grateful to have it with us for a day of prayer and devotion.
 
The Pilgrim Statue itself was designed in 1947, a smaller version of the same statue erected in Fatima, Portugal that year.  The image reflects the precise instructions of Sister Lucia (the surviving seer at Fatima). Her desire was that the pilgrim image represent Our Lady’s position when she revealed herself as the Immaculate Heart to the shepherds in 1917. Many miracles and conversions have been attributed to the veneration of this statue and, in New Orleans, during a tour there in 1972, the statue famously shed tears.  The then Archbishop of New Orleans had the moisture analyzed and it was confirmed that the moisture was that of human tears. 
 
The statue will be here at St. Mary’s for most of the day on Monday the 27th – there will be opportunities for prayer, to learn more about the statue and its remarkable history and the message of Our Lady of Fatima, and also time for visits over the course of the day. 
 
Here is the schedule for the day:
· 8:00am – Day begins with Mass for the school children (please note while everyone is invited to attend, space will be limited)
· 9:00am – Statue Custodian talk to school children
· 9:30am – 5:30pm – Church open for private veneration and prayer
· 12:00pm – Public recitation of the Angelus, the Rosary and the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
· 5:30pm – Statue Custodian talk to the general public
· 6:00pm – Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
· 7:00pm – Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Benediction
 
I hope you can make some time in the day to make a visit to church and may it truly be a day of graces, flowing from the hands of the Blessed Mother, for ourselves as individuals and as a parish.
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