This is the Statue of Our Lady surrounded by Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco Marto, in our Conventual Franciscan Parish, St. Paul the Apostle in Pismo Beach, CA. I was blessed to visit and hear Fr. Allen Ramirez OFM Conv. preach on the Sunday following the 100th Anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima on May 13, 2017. Fr. Allen encouraged all to seek the intercession of our youngest non-Martyred Saints in the Catholic Church; Jacinta and Francisco Marto. Jacinta died at age 9, and Francisco at 10 years old.
Also, please know that during this Year of the 100th anniversary of the apparition, Pope Francis has declared the grace of a plenary indulgence for all who satisfy the following conditions, as described in the following memo from the Office of Bishop Barbour in Oakland, CA.
100th ANNIVERSARY OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA
Plenary Indulgence
Diocese of Oakland
His Holiness Pope Francis has granted a plenary indulgence opportunity for the 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions throughout the centennial year, which will end on November 26, 2017.
There are three ways to obtain the indulgence, detailed in a statement from the Fatima Shrine in Portugal (see below).
To obtain the plenary indulgence, the faithful must also fulfill the ordinary conditions: go to Confession and Communion, be interiorly detached from sin, and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.
- Make a pilgrimage to the Shrine in Fatima, Portugal
To the faithful who make a pilgrimage to the Fatima Shrine in Portugal and participate in a celebration of prayer dedicated to the Virgin. In addition, the faithful must pray the Our Father, recite the Creed and invoke the Mother of God.
- Pray before any statue of Our Lady of Fatima
To the faithful who visit with devotion a statue of Our Lady of Fatima solemnly exposed for public veneration in any church, oratory or proper place during the days of the anniversary of the apparitions, the 13th of each month from May to October 2017, and there devoutly participate in some celebration or prayer in honor of the Virgin Mary. In addition, the faithful must pray the Our Father, recite the Creed and invoke Our Lady of Fatima.
In the Diocese of Oakland, Bishop Barber has designated Saint Joseph the Worker Parish in Berkeley as the Pilgrim Shrine for our Diocese. The Parish has prepared a series of celebrations in honor of our Lady, including a special Masses every month, and a celebration with Bishop Barber on October 13.
- The elderly and infirm
To the faithful who, because of age, illness or other serious cause, are unable to get around, may pray in front of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima and must spiritually unite themselves to the jubilee celebrations on the days of the apparitions, the 13th of each month, between May and October 2017. They must also “offer to merciful God with confidence, through Mary, their prayers and sufferings or the sacrifices they make in their own lives.”(1)
May the Lord, through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima, strengthen our faith, sustain our hope and ignite our charity.
(1)From World Apostolate of Fatima website: https://wafusa.org/pope-francis-grants-plenary-indulgence-for-jubileeyear-of-fatima/
Thank you for your attention, Sincerely yours in Christ,