Oct 13: Our Lady of Fatima Festa Hosted by Portuguese Community
Our Lady of Fatima Festa Celebration!
The Portuguese Community celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, October 13th, 2024 with a mass after daily rosary novena from October 7th – 12th. The celebration continued with a short procession and dinner after today’s mass at the Ryan O’Connell Hall.
The Feast of Our Lady of Fatima is celebrated to honor the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children—Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco—in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. The feast day is observed on May 13th, marking the anniversary of the first apparition.
The purpose of the feast is to remember the messages that the Virgin Mary gave during these apparitions, which emphasized:
1. Repentance and Conversion: Mary called for people to turn away from sin and live lives of holiness.
2. Praying the Rosary: Mary urged the faithful to pray the Rosary daily for world peace, the conversion of sinners, and an end to the war (World War I was ongoing at the time).
3. Devotion to Her Immaculate Heart: She asked for special devotion to her Immaculate Heart as a means of bringing people closer to God.
The Feast of Our Lady of Fatima is a day of prayer, reflection, and devotion, focusing on Mary’s call for repentance, peace, and faith. It holds special significance for Catholics worldwide, especially those with a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Our parish community came together for a beautiful evening of fellowship, food, and faith at the Our Lady of Fatima Festa.
The night was filled with joyous moments as we celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. We are so grateful to everyone who joined us and made this event a success.
Special thanks to all the volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure everything ran smoothly, from setting up to serving food and cleaning up afterward. Your dedication is truly appreciated! 
Let’s continue to carry the spirit of Our Lady of Fatima in our hearts and spread her message of peace and love. Stay tuned for more events and opportunities to come together as a community.
Blessings to all, and see you at our next parish gathering! 
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