On this 500th anniversary year of the Protestant Reformation, Roman Catholicism is once again demonstrating the key role it plays as the creator and maintainer of Mary worship.
One of six statues of Our Lady of Fatima, blessed by Pope Francis at the beginning of the year, is today concluding its tour of Northern Ireland.
The Irish News notes how, “In a celebration of 100 years since the Virgin Mary appeared to three children in the Portugese village, the three-foot-high statue started its journey in Armagh. A series of services will take place across Ireland to mark the jubilee year of the apparitions. It was brought to Ireland from Rome by the Alliance of the Holy Family International with the Alliance of the Two Hearts Ireland. Members of the public will be able to pray before the pilgrim statue in each of the churches it visits.”
The statue was welcomed by the Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, who crowned it in St Malachy's Church in Armagh on Friday [see photo above]. It then 'journeyed' to the Raphoe and Dromore dioceses before arriving at St Eugene's Cathedral, Londonderry at 12.30pm, then on to the Clogher diocese, before visiting 10 parishes in Down and Connor from Thursday until Sunday.
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