Portuguese catholic communities gather for pilgrimage to Our Lady of Fatima

During these days, many Portuguese Catholic communities gathered for the annual pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Blue Army in Washing-ton, NJ.

The Sanctuary was built in 1978 with the mission of spreading the Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

It recalls the events of Fátima where, in different places, pilgrims have moments of prayer and encounter with God.

This pilgrimage was lived with great emotion by the pilgrims who, this year, could contemplate the  pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fátima, coming from the Sanctuary of Cova da Iria, in Portugal. 

Celebrations began with the recitation of the rosary and a procession towards the altar in the Sanctuary, and were followed by the Eucharist and the blessing of the sick, were presided over by the Chaplain of the Sanctuary of Fátima, Father Francisco Pereira. 

In his homily, Fr. Francisco referred to the importance of the Message of Fatima and showed his emotion at meeting so many pilgrims who came to the Meeting of the Mother of Heaven, the Lady Dressed in White who promised in Fatima to always be with us and attentive to the suffering and needs of each one of her children.

There were also different groups that came on foot pilgrimage, for a few days, to this Sanctuary, to fulfill their promises of devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. 

They traveled long paths, but with a single objective: to find relief for their pain and in an act of thanksgiving to the Mother of Heaven.

The celebration ended with the traditional farewell procession, and the emotion of these hours lived so intensely was visible on the faces of so many people. May the Lady Brighter than the Sun continue to bless our land and shower her children with many graces and blessings.