Celebrations abound in the city of Sydney to mark 100 years since Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal.
Bishop Richard Umbers is encouraging people to share their prayer experiences on social media, using the hashtag #LetsPraySydney (See his Facebook page for more details.)
Here are three of the biggest events (click on the place name for Google Maps link):
Sydney Central
‘Thank Her’ with Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP
13 May, St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney
11.30am: Procession and entrance of the statue
12.10pm: Mass, principal celebrant: Archbishop Fisher
Parramatta
Procession to mark 100 years of Fatima (with BBQ lunch)
13 May, Our Lady of Lebanon in Harris Park, (40 Alice St, Harris Park NSW), to St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta, (1 Marist Pl, Parramatta NSW 2150)
9am: Liturgy of Our Lady of Lebanon
9.30am: Procession to St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta, begins
11am: Mass and Consecration to the Immaculate Heart, St Patrick’s
12pm: BBQ lunch
Penrose Park
Feast of Our Lady of Fatima – Anniversary of the First Apparition, with Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green OSPPE
May 13, Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy – Penrose Park, 120 Hanging Rock Road Sutton Forest, NSW
10am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
11am: Mass
1.30pm: Procession and devotions at Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Principal Celebrant: Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green OSPPE, Bishop of Wilcannia/Forbes
Details of Plenary Indulgence
Pope Francis has granted the opportunity to obtain a plenary indulgence throughout the entire anniversary year, which began November 27, 2016, and will end November 26, 2017.
Three Ways to Obtain an Indulgence
1. Make a pilgrimage to the shrine. The faithful can make a pilgrimage to the Fatima Shrine in Portugal and participate in a celebration of prayer dedicated to the Virgin. In addition, the faithful must pray the Our Father, recite the Creed and invoke the Mother of God.
2. Pray before any statue of Our Lady of Fatima. The faithful, with devotion, can visit a statue of Our Lady of Fatima solemnly exposed for public veneration in any church, oratory or proper place place of prayer during the days of the anniversary of the apparitions, the 13th of each month from May to October 2017, and there devoutly participate in some celebration or prayer in honour of the Virgin Mary. In addition, the faithful must pray the Our Father, recite the Creed and invoke Our Lady of Fatima.
3. The elderly and infirm. The faithful who, because of age, illness or other serious causes, are unable to get around, may pray in front of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima and must spiritually unite themselves to the jubilee celebrations on the days of the apparitions, the 13th of each month, between May and October 2017. They must also “offer to merciful God with confidence, through Mary, their prayers and sufferings or the sacrifices they make in their own lives.”
To obtain the plenary indulgence, the faithful must also fulfill the ordinary conditions:
— go to Confession and Communion
— be detached from all sin and any desire to commit sin
— pray for the intentions of the Holy Father
Pope’s Prayer Intentions
MAY
Christians in Africa.
That Christians in Africa, in imitation of the Merciful Jesus, may give prophetic witness to reconciliation, justice, and peace.
JUNE
National Leaders.
That national leaders may firmly commit themselves to ending the arms trade, which victimizes so many innocent people.
JULY
Lapsed Christians.
That our brothers and sisters who have strayed from the faith, through our prayer and witness to the Gospel, may rediscover the merciful closeness of the Lord and the beauty of the Christian life.
AUGUST
Artists.
That artists of our time, through their ingenuity, may help everyone discover the beauty of creation.
SEPTEMBER
Parishes.
That our parishes, animated by a missionary spirit, may be places where faith is communicated and charity is seen.
OCTOBER
Workers and the Unemployed.
That all workers may receive respect and protection of their rights, and that the unemployed may receive the opportunity to contribute to the common good.