Fatima All Day . . .

We started the day with Mass at the Chapel of the Angel of Peace. 

After breakfast, we went to the Church of the Holy Trinity, the other large basilica in the Fatima complex.

In front of the basilica is a large statue of Pope St. John Paul II and behind him a giant wooden crucifix!

We were able to go into the basilica, which was built in a more modernist style and dedicated in 2009. It is a huge round building with 12 doors, each dedicated to one of the 12 apostles. 

While we walked around the shrine complex, it was obvious that workers were preparing for the Pope's visit on May 13 for the canonization of Jacinta and Francisco, two of the three children Our Lady appeared to in Fatima.

We then went to the Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima and saw where Jacinta, Lucia, and Francisco are buried. We also went to the cemetery where Francisco and Jacinta were originally buried. We saw the church where Lucia was baptized, and we saw the houses where the two families lived -- Lucia's family and the family of Francisco & Jacinta (the Marto family).

We went on a walk that passed by the apparition sites of the Angel of Peace in 1916 and the apparition site of Mary when she appeared to the children in August 1917. Along this path, we saw plenty of "cork" trees. Portugal is known for cork and using it to make just about anything. It used to be cork was only used in wine bottles. Not any more! There are cork shoes, cork purses, etc.

Finally -- we attended the nightly rosary and procession of the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima at the Chapel of the Apparitions. This was amazing -- people with candles everywhere! The rosary for the day (Glorious) was prayed in different languages. Fr. Chris was up in front with the other priests -- and the priests led the procession after the rosary!

All in all, it was a very full day. I'm still having trouble sharing photos, but I have plenty of them.

I will share the photos eventually . . . Never fear. But for now, I can just give you the play by play. More later. Thursday, we're off to Salamanca, Spain!

Greetings from Fatima!

Greetings from Fatima!

We made it to Fatima yesterday (Tuesday) late in the afternoon after traveling from Cedar Rapids to Detroit to Amsterdam to Lisbon, Portugal! We were blessed to have Mass at the Chapel of the Angel of Peace -- and then we were able to stroll around the shrine area before dinner. Some of us attended the nightly rosary procession at the Chapel of the Apparition that evening at 9:30 a.m., which was beautiful (cold, but beautiful)!

We spend the full day in Fatima today -- more later! Thanks for your prayers!

Photos later.

Fatima/Lourdes Pilgrimage Starts in Four Days!

Greetings everyone!

In about four days (April 24), 33 pilgrims (including Fr. Chris Podhajsky) will leave Cedar Rapids and begin our Marian Pilgrimage!  

We will arrive in Lisbon, Portugal on Tuesday, April 25. From there, we will go directly to Fatima. As you may know, this is the 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions, so we are especially excited to go there!

Bookmark the link to this blog so that you can follow our journey!

Please keep us in your prayers!