Wednesday, September 13 was a wet and gloomy day. It was, however, the day for our Fatima commemoration. We usually assemble before the grotto to recite Our Lady’s Rosary but that day we congregated inside the church. There was no possibility of opening our devotions outside.

Undaunted, the devotees of Mary came out despite the inclement weather. We were also encouraged by the fact that our chief celebrant would be our former parish priest Fr Thomas Lawson OP. At the start of our celebration, the Church of the Nativity basic community group began the recitation of the glorious mysteries. After this our parish priest Fr Leo Donovan led the congregation in an Act of Consecration to our Blessed Lady.

At the end of the opening ceremony our faithful traditional choir began the Hymn to Our Lady of Fatima. As usual their enthusiastic singing inspired us throughout the Mass.

In his motivating homily Fr Tom reminded us that our Blessed Mother requested us to pray the Rosary for peace in the world. The Fatima apparitions were during the First World War and her appearance was a great incentive.

Today, too, we are experiencing war in certain parts of the world. We have, as well, violence and intimidation in our own country. Father said praying the Rosary for Peace, at this time, was equally necessary.

Our Lady asked that we pray, repent and convert. We are all in need of conversion and should strive for this daily.  The Rosary reflects on the life of our Lord and when we meditate on the Rosary we are in communion with scripture. The Rosary is a most powerful prayer. We should make daily use of the Rosary both for intercession and intimacy with God.

Fr Leo thanked Fr Tom at the end of Holy Mass. After Mass, as icing on the cake, Fr Tom made available for distribution chaplets prepared by the St Finbar’s Rosary group. These chaplets were free and had already been blessed.  Needless to say the participants were delighted to receive them.