Our Lady of Fatima Festival
October 2023

We had a candlelight procession on the Saturday night while praying the rosary around the church. On the Sunday we celebrated with Mass followed by a rosary procession around the church and lunch at the Portuguese Club. The story of Our Lady of Fatima began in 1917. From May through October, Our Lady appeared and spoke to three peasant children around the 13th of each month. News of these apparitions began to spread throughout the region and people came from all over to see what was happening. Many came asking God to cure them of illnesses. The Miracle of the Sun occurred on October 13, 1917. There were reports of over 70,000 people being in attendance. According to various witness accounts, the rainy sky cleared up, and the ground that was wet from the rain became dry. The sun appeared "dancing around" and "zig-zagging" in the sky giving it the name of the Miracle of the Sun which lasted for at least 10 minutes. Many were cured of illnesses that day and many hearts were converted. The main message of Fatima is what the church has already taught us: the importance of prayer, penance and conversion. Viva, Nossa Senhora de Fatima!