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May 1, 2017
UPDATED: Local parishes to mark 100th anniversary of Fatima apparitions
REGIONAL
By Sharon Roulier
Pictured is the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine at St. Mary Parish in Hampden. (IObserve photo courtesy of St. Mary Parish)
SPRINGFIELD – Several parishes in the Diocese of Springfield will host special events marking the 100th anniversary of the appearance of Mary to three young visionaries in the town of Fatima, Portugal.
The celebrations begin today, May 1, and will continue through at least the middle of October.
The message of Fatima is just as relevant today as it was 100 years ago, according to Father Gary M. Dailey, director of the Newman Catholic Center at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Father Dailey, along with Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, will be leading a diocesan pilgrimage to Fatima in July.
“Our Blessed Mother spoke of the importance of the rosary and devotion to her Immaculate Heart with a spirit of penance and prayer. It is through the rosary she indicated that we would see peace and indeed peace our world needs with all the threats that we face each and every day around the world,” said Father Dailey.
Bishop Rozanski will begin the Catholic Communications-sponsored pilgrimage July 17 in Fatima and end it July 28 in Lourdes.
“The bishop’s spiritual leadership for this trip will lead many to Our Lady, witnessed through our pilgrims and through our diocesan media outlets spreading the important message of our Blessed Mother and the significant events surrounding the 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparition,” said Father Dailey.
- A nine-day Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima novena begins today at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in the Assumption Church, Chicopee. The novena will be held each night through May 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the church at 104 Springfield St.
- Mary Parish in Hampden, which has a shrine dedicated to the Fatima apparitions, will hold a series of 10 events that will begin on Friday, May 5 at 7 p.m. with a prayer, an informational video and presentations by speakers. Additional events will be held on May 6 and 13, June 13, July 13, Aug. 13 and 19, Sept. 13, Oct. 13 and 14.
- In Ludlow, Our Lady of Fatima Parish will hold commemorations of the anniversary, beginning with a May 4-13 novena. Other events will include a May 12 candlelight procession; May 13 rosary, Sacrament of the Sick and Mass celebrated by Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski; and celebrations on the 12th and 13th of June, July, August, September and October. During the parish’s annual Festa on Labor Day weekend, Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley will celebrate a 7 p.m. Mass on Sept. 3, to be followed by a candlelight procession through the streets of Ludlow.
- St. Elizabeth Parish in Ludlow will host “Our Lady of Fatima – 2017,” a presentation by Conventual Franciscan Father James McCurry at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 8.
- St. Peter Parish in Great Barrington and Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Sheffield will sponsor a public Rosary Rally at noon on May 13 in front of the Great Barrington Town Hall.
- The 15th annual diocesan wide Eucharistic Rosary Procession will honor the 100th anniversary of the apparitions during a Sunday June 11 event. The celebration will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 99 King St., Northampton from 1-4 p.m. Guest speaker will be Marian Father Anthony Gramlich, rector of the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge. The day will also feature a rosary procession, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, adoration, Benediction and a reception.