Our Lady of Fatima image in Phl

MANILA, Philippines - Catholic groups started yesterday bringing the Our Lady of Fatima statue to various churches in Luzon and Metro Manila for a month-long visit.

This image has been brought to more than 100 countries since it was blessed by the Bishop of Fatima in 1947 and entrusted to John Haffert, co-Founder of the Blue Army, according to Fr. Melvin Castro, founder and head of the Confraternity of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace.

The statue is legally referred to as the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue and is under the legal jurisdiction of the foundation carrying the same name. Since the death of Haffert in 2001, the IPVS is now under the legal protection of the IPVS Foundation based in the United States.

“Many testimonies tell us Her visit is an occasion of tremendous outpouring of grace for the faithful. Countless miracles do happen during Her visit – conversion and renewal, the most important among these,” Castro said.

“Our Lady’s requests at Fatima of prayer, penance, reparation, true devotion and consecration to Her Immaculate Heart, remain as timely as ever,” he added.

Castro said this particular image is also referred to as the “Weeping Madonna,” since it was recorded to have shed tears a number of times in the past.

The image made its first stop yesterday at the St. Jude National Shrine in Manila and will stay there until today. From there, it will be transferred to the Christ the King Parish Church in Quezon City where it will stay until Friday.

The following are the scheduled visits of the image to other parishes: St. Sebastian Cathedral and Our Lady of Peace College Seminary in Tarlac (Jan. 6); dawn procession at the St. Sebastian Cathedral Mater Carmeli in Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac (Jan. 7 to 8); Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan (Jan. 8 to 10); Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Urdaneta, Pangasinan (Jan. 10 to 11); Sanctuario de la Inmaculada Concepcion  in Concepcion, Tarlac (Jan. 12 to 13); Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando  in Pampanga (Jan. 13 to 14); Diocese of Antipolo (Jan. 14 to 15); Diocese of Bacolod (Jan. 15 to 17); Archdiocese of Cebu (Jan. 17 to 19); St. James the Great Parish in Ayala Alabang (Jan. 19 to 20); Don Bosco Makati (Jan. 20 to 21); Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord at the SM Megamall chapel (Jan. 21); Sanctuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati City (Jan. 22 to 23) Mary Help of Christians National Shrine in Parañaque (Jan. 23 to 24) and a farewell Mass will be held at the Manila Cathedral (Jan. 24 to 25).