CTK Marks Fatima Centennial with Pilgrimage to Fatima Shrine & Candlelight Procession
This May 13 marks the 100th year anniversary, or centennial, of the 8irst of several Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, in Fatima, Portugal. In May 1917, in the midst of World War I, Pope Benedict XV, after repeated but forlorn appeals for world peace, made a direct appeal to Mary to intercede for peace in the world. The response was Mary’s first appearance at Fatima just a week later, on May 13, to the three shepherd children – Lucia dos Santos, Francisco Marto, and Jacinto Marto. The appearances would continue every 13th of the month until October 13th.
To celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime occasion, Christ the King Parish mounted several events. First was the Novena in honor of Our Lady of Fatima that ended on May 12, or the eve of the anniversary.
For May 13th, the parish organized the pilgrimage to National Shrine of Our The pilgrimage was announced starting April 28 and invited all interested CTK parishioners to sign up. The visit included a viewing of the Fatima Museum, praying of the rosary, then at the main church after the 9:30 am mass, the recitation of the Jubilee prayers in honor of Our Lady of Fatima.
In the afternoon, at 3 pm of the same day, parish organizers had scheduled the screening of the movie The 13th Day, the dramatic retelling of the apparitions in Fatima, held at the Parish Social Hall. As an added treat, parishioners who signed up for seats beforehand were given free popcorn.
Finally, the May 13 evening was capped by a candlelight procession with the carroza carrying the Our Lady of Fatima image traveling from the CTK main church, going inside the Acropoli s Greenmeadows gate , circling the block bounded by Acropolis Drive, Adonis, Andromeda, and Calypso Avenue before going out the same gate and back to Christ the King.
The procession was led by Fr. Bong Tupino and PPC Lay Coordinator Couple Bert and Marie Anne Santos. It included the marching band, the altar servers , and ove r a hundred Fatima devotees. Once back at the main church, Fr. Bong Tupino incensed and blessed the statue of Our Lady of Fatima before thanking all the parishioners who participated in the candlelight procession.
