International Pilgrim Virgin Statue in San Antonio diocese
IPVS NEWS, 4th Issue
The Official Newsletter of the International Pilgrim Virgin Sttue of Our Lady of Fatima
In August, 2009, the Carmelite Sisters invited the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue to visit the San Antonio Archdiocese.
Once permission was received I was asked to coordinate a schedule for the 21-day tour.
The plan was for Our Lady of Fatima to visit 21 parishes during this time.
At first it seemed to be an easy task, but as the weeks went by, I was worried that we would not fill these dates as easily as I had hoped.
On January 3, 2010 the date of the first visit, the media came to take photos for the newspaper, the local newscasts and news web sites.
The word was out......
Our Lady of Fatima Statue was in San Antonio!! Suddenly, I could have easily filled 21 more days.
She was welcomed with music and singing and thousands lined up to see her.
The Rosary, the Litany and Divine Mercy were prayed over and over at every parish.
People of all ages waited patiently for their turn to get close to her.
Our Lady of Fatima was calling her children and we answered.
She was beautiful!!
At every parish she visited she was encircled with fresh flowers of all colors and fragrances. Many shed tears of joy and faith which was apparent in the people who looked into her eyes.
I will never forget the elderly woman who let go of her walker to kneel down before her and the mother who, after 18 years, still thanked God for the birth of her daughter who was handicapped.
I saw another mother who had to hold the hand of her young son to help him make the sign of the cross because he was too weak to do it himself.
I was filled with emotion and at that moment I knew that the Queen of Heaven, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Mother, was touching and blessing all those who stood or knelt before her.
Faith had come alive!!
She was answering prayers and fulfilling intercessions and Her message to us was always the same; conversion, prayer and penance.
For me, the opportunity to see the statue almost every day during these 21 days was more than I ever expected.
The stories and testimonies I heard will forever stay in my mind and especially in my heart.
I met very special people along the way; people that I can now call friends.
I saw many of them follow Our Lady day by day.
They allowed me to share in their faith experience, and I am a better person for having met them.
I thank the Carmelite Sisters, D.C.J., for allowing me to be part of Our Lady of Fatima tour in San Antonio.
Also, very special thanks to the Custodians for bringing Our Lady of Fatima to us.
I feel profoundly blessed to have shared in an experience I will never forget.
Dolores Marks
San Antonio, Texas
This poem is written by Sr. Mary Katherine, DCJ (phote above with Our Lady) shortly after the phenomenal tour of Our Lady of Fatima statue in the diocese of San Antonio, Texas. She is an active Carmelite nun belonging to the Carmelites of the Divine Heart of Jesus.
Sr. Mary Katherine first saw the International Pilgrim Statue when she was in San Diego, California. She was then re-assigned to San Antonio, Texas where she arranged for the visit in the diocese with Mother Faustina’s help and guidance as her superior, together with Mrs. Dolores Marks. The pilgrimage of the beautiful statue in San Antonio proved to be a big success in many ways.
Active & Auxiliary Members and Friends of The Legion of Mary - Nativity of Mary Praesidium in Del Rio, Texas were privileged to attend on the last day of the visit on Sunday, January 24, 2010 at the Shrine of the Little Flower.
The Official Newsletter of the International Pilgrim Virgin Sttue of Our Lady of Fatima
Once permission was received I was asked to coordinate a schedule for the 21-day tour.
The plan was for Our Lady of Fatima to visit 21 parishes during this time.
At first it seemed to be an easy task, but as the weeks went by, I was worried that we would not fill these dates as easily as I had hoped.
On January 3, 2010 the date of the first visit, the media came to take photos for the newspaper, the local newscasts and news web sites.
The word was out......
Our Lady of Fatima Statue was in San Antonio!! Suddenly, I could have easily filled 21 more days.
INTERNATIONAL PILGRIM VIRGIN STATUE OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA VISITS ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXASJANUARY 3 thru JANUARY 24, 2010
Jan. 3 - Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Jan. 4 - Church of the Holy Spirit
Jan. 5 - Open date
Jan. 6 - San Juan de los Lagos
Jan. 7 - Our Lady of Guadalupe
Jan. 8 - Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Jan. 9 - Immaculate Conception
Jan. 10 - St. Cecilia
Jan. 11 - St. Matthews
Jan. 12 – St. Margaret Mary
Antonion College Prep High School
Jan. 15 - St. Mary Cathedral, Austin, TX
Jan. 16 - Vietnamese Martyrs
Jan. 17 - St. Jerome
Jan. 18 - Carmelite Sisters
Jan. 19 - St. Anthony
Jan. 20 - St. John Berchman
Sacred Heart, Floresville, TX
Jan. 21 - St. Agnes
Jan. 22 - Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Jan. 23 - Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Sacred Heart, Uvalde, TX
Jan. 24 - Shrine of the Little Flower
For further information please email Dolores at dpmarks13@gmail.com or call 210-789-7691
The photos that appeared in print, on television and on the web showed Our Lady of Fatima at different parishes, led in procession by the Knights of Columbus.
She was welcomed with music and singing and thousands lined up to see her.
The Rosary, the Litany and Divine Mercy were prayed over and over at every parish.
People of all ages waited patiently for their turn to get close to her.
Our Lady of Fatima was calling her children and we answered.
She was beautiful!!
At every parish she visited she was encircled with fresh flowers of all colors and fragrances. Many shed tears of joy and faith which was apparent in the people who looked into her eyes.
I will never forget the elderly woman who let go of her walker to kneel down before her and the mother who, after 18 years, still thanked God for the birth of her daughter who was handicapped.
I saw another mother who had to hold the hand of her young son to help him make the sign of the cross because he was too weak to do it himself.
I was filled with emotion and at that moment I knew that the Queen of Heaven, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Mother, was touching and blessing all those who stood or knelt before her.
Faith had come alive!!
She was answering prayers and fulfilling intercessions and Her message to us was always the same; conversion, prayer and penance.
For me, the opportunity to see the statue almost every day during these 21 days was more than I ever expected.
The stories and testimonies I heard will forever stay in my mind and especially in my heart.
I met very special people along the way; people that I can now call friends.
I saw many of them follow Our Lady day by day.
They allowed me to share in their faith experience, and I am a better person for having met them.
I thank the Carmelite Sisters, D.C.J., for allowing me to be part of Our Lady of Fatima tour in San Antonio.
Also, very special thanks to the Custodians for bringing Our Lady of Fatima to us.
I feel profoundly blessed to have shared in an experience I will never forget.
Dolores Marks
San Antonio, Texas
Sr. Mary Katherine first saw the International Pilgrim Statue when she was in San Diego, California. She was then re-assigned to San Antonio, Texas where she arranged for the visit in the diocese with Mother Faustina’s help and guidance as her superior, together with Mrs. Dolores Marks. The pilgrimage of the beautiful statue in San Antonio proved to be a big success in many ways.
Active & Auxiliary Members and Friends of The Legion of Mary - Nativity of Mary Praesidium in Del Rio, Texas were privileged to attend on the last day of the visit on Sunday, January 24, 2010 at the Shrine of the Little Flower.
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.