An historic day!

Fr. Boniface and Fr. Jean-Patrice in the Centenary Procession

Today we celebrated the Centenary of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary to the Three Little Shepherds, Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia, at the Cova da Iria in Fatima. The very place is marked by a small Chapel known as the Capelhina, or Chapel of the Apparitions, now located within the Sanctuary. We will celebrate our own Mass there, very early tomorrow morning.

Repentant pilgrims on their knees go to the Capelhina. You can
see some of the 500 priests in the Procession behind them

As you would expect at such an historic occassion, the special Mass today was exceptionally moving and beautiful. There were over 500 priests, and 20 Bishops in attendance, and I could not count how many people were there.

Fr. Boniface and Fr. Jean-Patrice

Fr. Dominic Findley sheltering under his brolly!
It was 32 degrees C today, and Mass lasted 3.5 hours!

The Bishops walk in front of the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima

The Statue looked  very heavy!

We ended the day with a special concert in the Basilica, where the Westminster Boys Choir, together with a local girls Choir, combined to treat us to a wonderful selection of music.

Our two Priests were  sheltering under these
white umbrellas during the Mass

The traditional waving of the white tissues

The graves of Jacinta and Lucia

...and of Francisco

All of the Little Shepherds are buried within the Basilica, and I am sure that they enjoyed the concert too!