Ross Belle Santos-Balatbat
This year, the 104th year of the apparition of the Virgin Mary was celebrated on 13 May with the intention “For the peace of the world and for the end of COVID-19 Pandemic.”
The program consisted of a novena to Our Lady of Fatima from the 4th to 12th of May at S Domingos Church with Rosary and Mass in Chinese early morning and at 5:00 PM in Portuguese. There was an exposition and adoration last Wednesday, 12 May from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM.
On the 13th, various nationalities were represented in the church. Before the rosary started at 3 PM, there were only around 50 participants. It was prayed in Chinese.
As the second rosary in Portuguese started, the church was filled with almost 300 devotees who attended the Mass celebrated by His Excellency Most Reverend Bishop Bun-sang Stephen Lee with nine concelebrating priests.
In his homily, he pointed out that each one should not only believe the miracles, but in the true “secret” of the Fatima: prayer, penance and apostolate. He challenged everyone to cultivate a more authentic prayer life, to do more penance for the reparation of sins, and to do apostolate by spreading the word of God by expressing and manifesting it in our daily lives.
As the image of our Lady was driven to Penha Hill, some took the bus to follow it and those capable went on foot while observing proper distancing. Like in olden days, the feast day concluded with the adoration of and benediction with the Blessed Sacrament and consecration to our Lady of Fatima at the Penha Hill Church. (Photo: Ivan Leong)
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