WAF England and Wales

Visitation to St Joseph’s Cathedral

Saturday 3rd May, 2025

The Centenary of the Fatima Five First Saturdays devotion takes place this year, 2025, and as part of the celebrations, the World Apostolate of Fatima in England and Wales is arranging for the two National Statues of Our Lady of Fatima to visit the Cathedrals of England and Wales between May 2025 and October 2026.

The Pilgrim Virgin Statue and Relics of Saints Jacinta and Francisco are due to visit St Joseph’s Cathedral in Swansea, on Saturday 3 May 2025, when Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Mark. This Visitation is a particular remembrance of the apparition to Sr. Lucia, the oldest Fatima seer, which took place in December 1925 when she was a postulant with the Sisters of St Dorothy at Pontevedra in Spain.

The Blessed Virgin appeared with the Child Jesus and gave more details of the devotion of reparation which she had mentioned to the shepherd children during the July 1917 apparition. You can see more details about this Five First Saturdays devotion here:
https://worldfatima-englandwales.org.uk.

This devotion is connected with the conversion of Russia and ultimately with world peace, and this is why the World Apostolate of Fatima in England & Wales is promoting it so strongly during the centenary year, given that our world is so much in need of peace. And
it is also providential that this celebration coincidences with the larger celebration of the Church’s Jubilee year, which has the theme of “Pilgrims of Hope.”

The Visitation will include:

  • Procession of the Fatima Pilgrim Virgin Statue.
  • Enthronement and Crowning of the Fatima statue.
  • Mass celebrated by the Archbishop will follow the enthronement.
  • Attendees will have the opportunity to venerate the relics of Saints Jacinta and Francisco.
  • The Rosary will be prayed with the intention of world peace.
  • During breaks, a book table will be available for browsing and purchases.
  • Informative talks and videos about Fatima will be presented.
  • Participants can enrol in the Brown Scapular devotion.

We need people to join our organisation to promote the Fatima ideal and also to promote
the teachings of the Church generally. Please visit our website at: https://worldfatima-
englandwales.org.uk/ for more details.

Also, please make a note of the Visitation in your diary, and be sure to tell your friends and fellow parishioners about this important event. If you can help with the Visitation programme at St Joseph’s Cathedral in any way, or more generally, please email: membership@waf-ew.org.uk

Donal Anthony Foley, WAF England & Wales Committee

Last Visitation to St. Joseph’s Cathedral Swansea in May 2017