THE “INTERNATIONAL PILGRIM VIRGIN STATUE OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA”
On May 9th, 2015, the precious miraculous statue of our lady was brought to St. Peter’s Church in Mackenzie, BC. Carrying lit candles and singing “Gentle Woman” we welcomed our Mother into our parish walking with her in procession. As we approached our pews our Lady was secured near the altar surrounded by flowers, candles and a large beautiful Rosary.

Father Ronald led us in a commitment prayer to our Mother. This was followed by the Fatima Message (see below) and history given by Patrick Sabat, our Lady’s custodian.

We prayed the Rosary and celebrated Mass. Fr. Ronald gave us a meaningful homily inviting us all to imbibe the virtues of our mother saying that if we want to live a holy life today, one of the best ways is to imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary. He said ‘Her ten evangelical virtues shine through the Holy Scriptures as a glorious way to salvation for each of us. We can reflect on Mary's virtues and invoke her powerful, maternal intercession by praying the Rosary daily in our families. We can find the ten evangelical virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary recorded in the Gospels. There, she is presented as the Most Holy Virgin Mary -- an evangelical model for the whole Church: Most Pure (Mt. 1:18, 20, 23; Lk 1:27,34) Most Prudent (Lk 2:19, 51) Most Humble (Lk 1:48) Most Faithful (Lk 1:45; Jn 2:5) Most Devout (Lk 1:46-7; Acts 1:14) Most Obedient (Lk 1:38; 2:21-2, 27) Most Poor (Lk 2:7) Most Patient (Jn 19:25) Most Merciful (Lk 1:39, 56) Most Sorrowful (Lk 2:35)

We were then invited downstairs for fellowship and refreshments. We were very blessed to have such a joyful event in the history of St. Peter’s Church. A good number of faithful came out to meet our Mother, to venerate and pray to her. We are all indeed blessed to have a wonderful priest in the person of Fr. Ronald.

“THE MESSAGE OF FATIMA”
The message of Fatima was delivered to the world through three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917 and confirmed by a spectacular miracle before 70,000 people, including newspaper reporters, on October 13, 1917. The message contains a warning of dire consequences for the world as a result of sin, a request for prayer and sacrifices as reparation for sin and for the conversion of sinners and a promise of peace on earth if Our Lady’s requests are fulfilled.

At Fatima Our Lady made five requests:
That we pray and offer sacrifices for sinners that they may be converted;
That we have a special devotion to Her Immaculate Heart;
That we pray the Holy Rosary daily;
That we fulfill the requirements of the Five First Saturday’s devotion;
That we spread the Message of Fatima to others.

Our Lady taught us that war and social discord are the result of sin, and the way to peace for our nation and the world is through prayer and sacrifices offered as reparation for sin and for the conversion of sinners.

Report committee.
Katherine & Glenn Hamblin.
St. Peter's Church - Mackenzie.