The annual Procession of Our Lady of Fatima took place today afternoon in Macau, attracting large numbers of Catholic faithful from both Macau, Hong Kong and abroad.
This solemn celebration commemorates the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the three shepherd children, which occurred six times in the Portuguese village of Fatima in 1917.
First organised in Macau in 1929, the procession has since been held annually on 13 of May, the date on which Our Lady first appeared to the shepherd children at Fatima.
The celebration began at 5:00pm local time with a Solemn Bilingual Mass in Cantonese and Portuguese at St. Dominic’s Church. The Mass was presided over by Bishop Stephen Lee of Macau, together with Archbishop Savio Hon SDB, Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus to Libya and Malta; Monsignor José Luis Díaz-Mariblanca Sánchez, Head of the Holy See Study Mission in Hong Kong; numerous concelebrating priests; and faithful from Macau, Hong Kong, and abroad.
Following the Holy Mass, the procession commenced, led by three children dressed as the shepherd children of Fatima. The faithful followed in procession through the streets of Macau, singing Marian hymns and praying the Rosary in both Cantonese and Portuguese.
The procession passed through the busy streets of the city and proceeded to the Chapel of Our Lady of Penha, where Bishop Lee presided over Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by Benediction for the faithful gathered there and for the whole city of Macau. He then led the Prayer of Consecration to Our Lady. The celebration concluded with the singing of a Marian hymn.
One participant from Mainland China, speaking to local television, said he was deeply moved by Macau’s strong Catholic heritage and historic religious culture.
The Procession of Our Lady of Fatima was inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Macao in 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebration was suspended, though it made its long-awaited return three years ago.
May the Blessed Lady of Fatima, watch over and protect all her children in Macau, Hong Kong, China and all over the world.
Our Lady of Fatima, ora pro nobis!
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