October 14, 2017

Outdoor Mass marks the closing of the centennial year of Fatima apparitions

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Julie Beaulieu

 

LUDLOW – More than 150 people gathered for an outdoor Mass outside the chapel on the grounds of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Ludlow, Friday evening, Oct. 13. The day marked the last of six apparitions of the Blessed Mother in 1917 to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal.

“That Miracle of the Sun told everyone, that at that humble place, something magnificent and spectacular had happened. As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the final appearance of Mary at Fatima, we do so as a people who know that her words on that day are just as powerful today to each one of us,” said Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski during his homily at the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine.

Concelebrants were Father Vitor Manuel Dinis Olivera, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish; Father Matthew Alcombright, pastor of Mary Mother of Hope Parish in Springfield; and Father Gary M. Dailey, director of the Newman Catholic Center in Amherst.

From May to October 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children: Lucia dos Santos, 10, and her two cousins, Jacinta, 7, and Francisco Marto, 9. She told the children to pray the rosary daily for peace and to offer up their suffering for the conversion of souls.

The Miracle of the Sun occurred on Oct. 13, the last of the apparitions. Although others could not see the Virgin Mary, hundreds gathered to pray and witnessed a spinning of the sun in the sky.

Bishop Rozanski spoke about Mary being the intercessor between heaven and earth, in order to bring people closer to her son, Jesus and God the father.

“Mary’s message, indeed, transcends the ages,” said Bishop Rozanski.

“It brings that spark of divinity to our fallen humanity. And, we see our fallen humanity evident in so many ways, particularly in the threats of war, in terrorism, and so many ways that the face of Christ is marred because of the sins of this world,” said Bishop Rozanski, who visited Fatima this past summer on a Catholic Communications pilgrimage with parishioners from the Diocese of Springfield.

“When we went on our pilgrimage this summer to Fatima, it was so edifying to see not only our pilgrims from the Springfield Diocese, but people from all over the world. So many languages were spoken there, but we all united in our procession and in our prayers, asking for Our Lady’s intercession,” added Bishop Rozanski.

Three other locals had also visited Fatima, Portugal, this past summer, including Brianna Ribeiro and Gabriella and Christian Fialho. For Friday’s festivities, they were chosen to portray the three shepherd children.

Riberio, who portrayed Jacinta, said visiting the shrine in Portugal was, “good, because sometimes other kids don’t get to do that stuff like we did. I learned more about it (the secrets of Our Lady of Fatima) when I went to that church. We got to read all of the things and drop candles.”

Lucia was portrayed by Gabriella Fialho, who said she had a feeling of “excitement and joy” while visiting the shrine in Fatima.

The evening concluded with a candle-lit procession of the Our Lady of Fatima Statue around the local shrine and parish grounds. The parish choir sang a farewell to Our Lady of Fatima as participants waved candles and white handkerchiefs in her honor.

 A video version of this story will be featured on an upcoming edition of the Springfield Diocese’s weekly newsmagazine, “Real to Reel,” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 on WWLP-22NEWS.