To mark the 100th Anniversary of the Apparitions at Fatima 42 parishioners from St Columba’s, Cupar, including a few outsiders, set off on Pilgrimage on 29th September.
The group stayed in a lovely hotel in Tomar called Hotel Dos Templarios, which reflected the close connection between the town and the Templars over many years. A large Castle on the hill overlooking Tomar has been a Templar Settlement since the 12th century.
Canon Pat McInally reports, “we enjoyed a full week of uplifting liturgies, and various sightseeing expeditions, including a trip to the coast on Sunday afternoon 29th October to a delightful village called Nazare, noted for its expansive beaches, cliff-top views and a shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary.”
“We enjoyed a full week of uplifting liturgies, and various sightseeing expeditions, including a trip to the coast on Sunday afternoon 29th October to a delightful village called Nazare, noted for its expansive beaches, cliff-top views and a shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary.”
On our last day there was a concelebrated Mass at the Chapel of the Apparitions, accompanied by a group of pilgrims from US led by their Bishop, and also a group of pilgrims from Motherwell Diocese led by Bishop Joseph Toal. It demonstrated very forcibly the unity of the Church and the strength of the faith that we share together.
The Pilgrimage concluded with an inspiring and emotional way of the Cross, led by pilgrims themselves, which followed the route the three shepherd children took from their home in Valhinos to the Cova de Iria where the Apparitions took place. Along the way there is a shrine to the Angel of Peace who appeared to the children three times during 1916 to prepare them for the Apparitions the following year.
Sys Canon Pat, “as a result of the Fatima experience we are organising a Pilgrimage to Krakow in June next year and it is already fully subscribed.”