Procession in honour of Our Lady of Fatima

During the months of May and October, the months dedicated to Mary our Mother, my parish has the rosary before each weekday and weekend Mass. The rosary is led by the various ministries in the Church during the weekend Masses such as the various cell groups, catechetics, lectors, etc.

The servers at the rosary in May

If the weather permits, Mass is also said at the Shrine of Our Lady on the 13th of each month.

On the 13th of October, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, to whom our Shrine is dedicated, we normally have a mini procession within the Church grounds. A much grander procession outside is reserved for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the patronal feast of our parish.

But because the 13th falls on a Monday where the priests are having their weeklong meeting, the Mass and procession was moved to Sunday, the 12th.

The processional image was on the sanctuary during the Mass.

Note that's it's an image of Our Lady of Lourdes instead of Our Lady of Fatima. Perhaps some people think, hey, as long as it's Our Lady.

If you might recall, this is not the same as the nice new Gothic processional canopy we used last year with the image of Our Lady of Fatima. There's a reason for that. Evil people.

If the Evil One does not frustrate us, perhaps it will be used again for the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Anyway, after the normal Mass, the procession made it's way out of the Church. Several of the canopy bearers were young people who have decided to do God's will by carrying Our Lady despite the heaviness of the canopy. Others wish their way and complain of the weight, denying Our Lady honour, but still insist on having their way and a lighter canopy. Do they think this half hearted 'my will and my way' offering is acceptable?

The procession was preceded by the cross bearer and the servers, flower girls and the processional image of Our Lady.

The priest and people followed bearing lighted candles.

I know the bearers were not standardly dressed. I point out that they were last year and that we were not in charge of this procession.

The procession slowly made it's way around the Church as several Marian hymns were sung (at subsonic keys) and the litany of Loreto was chanted.

The procession then made it's way back into the Church.

Exposition and Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament then followed.

In other places of the world, people bring flowers for Our Lady. Here, we take them away. =) After Benediction the people rushed to despoil Our Lady of the roses and flowers which decorated her image. This is a custom in our parish, to spread the blessings of Our Lady to all homes.

Many left their candles at the Shrine of Our Lady after the Mass.

Some photos courtesy of the photographic talents of Angela.