The faithful of Ireland are invited to Knock Shrine this Sunday 9 July to celebrate the centenary of the Fatima Apparitions. Archbishop Eamon Martin, who is the National Patron for the World Apostolate of Fatima, will be chief celebrant at the Mass in Knock Basilica at 3.00pm.
This special pilgrimage, organised by the World Apostolate of Fatima in Ireland, will offer a time of prayer and reflection to coincide with the centenary of the apparitions and also to celebrate the canonisation of two of the visionaries of the Marian apparitions at Fatima, Saints Jacinta and Francisco Marto.
Prior to the celebrations on Sunday, a seminar on the Fatima centenary will take place in the Knock House Hotel tomorrow Saturday 8 July. The seminar will be facilitated by Mr Eamon Henry, National President of the World Apostolate of Fatima in Ireland and chaired by spiritual director Father Desmond Farran.
Archbishop Martin will lead the celebration of Mass in the Knock Basilica on Sunday at 3.00pm. The Mass will be concelebrated by Father Richard Gibbons, parish priest of Knock and rector of Knock Shrine, along with bishops and other clergy. Cardinal Seán Brady will also preside at the Mass.
President of the World Apostolate of Fatima International, Professor Américo Pablo López Ortiz will join the celebrations at Knock on Sunday. The International Pilgrim Statue from Fatima will also be brought to Knock for the occasion.
Following the Rosary procession, Archbishop Martin will renew the Prayer of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary which was undertaken at Knock Shrine by the Irish Bishops in August 2014. The National Patron will also bless a new crown for the National Pilgrim Statue Our Lady of Fatima, which was gifted to Ireland in 1951.
2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. Between 13 May and 13 October of 1917 three shepherd children, Lucia Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto, reported visions of the Virgin Mary. Pope Francis travelled to Fatima on the Feast day of Our Lady of Fatima in May where he canonised the young shepherds Jacinta and Francisco Marto.
All are welcome to attend the celebrations at Knock Shrine. For more information see www.knockshrine.ie.