Bishop Patron of World Apostolate of Fatima England & Wales

On 13th May 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared for the first time to three young children and began to share with them a message which was not just for them, but for all of us. Our Lady spoke to the children about conversion from sin and about prayer: prayer for those who were far from God, and prayer for peace in the world. These encounters with Our Lady totally transformed the lives of the shepherd children through giving them an overwhelming experience of the love of God, as well as a deep desire to bring others to him.

The important work of spreading the message of Fatima is continued today particularly by the World Apostolate of Fatima (WAF) for “we would be mistaken to think that Fatima’s prophetic mission is complete” (Pope Benedict XVI). I am delighted that the Bishops Conference have appointed me as a Bishop Patron of The World apostolate of Fatima England and Wales I have been blessed personally through various pilgrimages to Fatima, and have already been pleased to support the work of the World Apostolate in the Dioceses of Cardiff and Menevia, and formerly in Plymouth, and I very much looking forward to working with members throughout England and Wales to help develop the mission of the WAF.

The Holy Year 2025 will also be the centenary of the apparition of Our Lady to Sister Lucia in which Our Lady revealed her desire for the Five First Saturday devotion in order to make reparation for sin and to obtain peace in the world. During this year, it is hoped that the pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be visiting each of our Cathedrals throughout England and Wales. 

One of the Fatima seers, Sister Lucia, said that the purpose of Our Lady’s apparitions “was to help people to grow more and more in faith, hope, and love.” The work of the WAF is focussed on this growth both through offering ongoing formation to help us develop our relationship with God and with Our Blessed Lady, as well as through efforts of evangelisation, in bringing the message of God’s love to those who have not yet experienced it. May Our Lady of Fatima, whose memorial we celebrate today, obtain for all of us abundant graces to help us respond ever more generously to her invitation and so become closer to her Son.

Archbishop Mark O’Toole

Archbishop of Cardiff and Bishop of Menevia