January Newsletter

 SHRINE NEWS: 
I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year, as we put 2020 in the rear view mirror.   We do start the year with some sad news, Monica Pinto the beloved wife of Clement passed away on December 22nd after spending some time in the hospital.  She will truly be missed. She was a board member of the Crusaders of Fatima and a great Devotee of the Shrine.  A holy woman who dedicated her life to God and the church with over thirty year involvement with the shrine.  She was a prayerful person always praying for those she came in contact with.  Her persistent intention was to pray for priests and vocations to the priesthood. I don’t remember a time when greeting Monica that she didn’t inquire about one’s family members and would end by stating that she would pray for them, and I always knew she would and did.  She would often lead the Rosary at the shrine and was a regular at all the services especially the Sunday Rosary for Peace.  A funeral Mass was held on Christmas Eve at 9:00am at St. Columbskill. We ask prayers for her and her family during this time with confidence that she is now in heaven with our Lord and his blessed Mother.
There is much to look forward to in 2021, with vaccines on the horizon that may finally rid us of the pandemic so we could get back to normal. I know this is on the top of my prayer list.
Another item is the Holy Father Pope Francis has declared this year, starting on the feast of the Immaculate Conception December 8th, 2020 until December 8th, 2021;  A year dedicated to St. Joseph Patron Saint of the Universal Church.  We will be considering ways to honor this great saint during the year at the shrine. God knows that the world as well as the church needs prayers. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support throughout the year. We accomplish a lot under the circumstance,  just keeping our doors open and continuing our services and devotions at the shrine wasn’t easy during the ongoing pandemic.
The shrine has recently had the drawing of the “Miracle of the Sun” restored and is now hanging back in the shrine. The artist who drew that sketch was a world famous sculptor of which his most popular piece is the statue of our Lady of Fatima that presides in the Cova de Iria in Caplina at Fatima.  The picture that hangs in the shrine was inspired by Sr. Lucia, the seer of Fatima who described the vision of October 13, 1917 to the artist. The sketch was to serve as an idea for a backdrop in the shrine when it was first opened. The request was made by the Crusaders of Fatima and the local Portugese American community back in the 1960’s. I will be posting more on this in the future, meanwhile if you stop by the shrine please be sure to have a look.

SUNDAY ROSARY:
The Sunday Rosary for peace continues with a small number who have been meeting at the shrine to pray for all those affected by this virus, for all your intentions, and for Peace at 2:00 PM.  Please feel free to join us.

FIRST SATURDAY:
On January 2nd, we will celebrate First Saturday Mass and devotion at the Shrine.  We asked that you use your own judgement and stay home if you are sick or feel compromised because of a pre-existing condition in any way.  We asked that you wear face masks and keep a healthy social distance from each other while at the shrine.  We will have hand sanitizer on hand.  Mass will begin at 9am;  Rev. Anthony Michalik, C.Ss.R., will celebrate the mass.

REMINDER:   A Pro-Life Rosary for our nation continues being offered at the Shrine daily around noon all are welcomed. You are invited to help support the shrine with a donation by using the mailing address below, every little bit helps.