More than 180,000 pilgrims attend a candlelight rosary Oct. 12 at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal. The rosary was prayed in Portuguese, Spanish, English and other languages.

Our Lady watches over the grounds from the Basilica of Our Lady of Rosary of Fatima.

Pilgrims kneel Oct. 12 by the tombs of St. Jacinta and Sister Lucia, two of the shepherd children who Mary appeared to in 1917.

Arkansas Catholic hosted the pilgrimage to Spain and Portugal with spiritual director Father Tony Robbins of Hot Springs (center). Pilgrims came from Conway, Pocahontas, Bella Vista, North Little Rock, Little Rock, Fayetteville, Mena, Paris and Morrilton.

Arkansas Catholic 2023 pilgrimage sees Spain, Portugal

34 Arkansas pilgrims experienced the festivities in Fátima, Portugal, Oct. 12-13

Published: October 27, 2023

By Malea Hargett
Editor

Malea Hargett

More than 180,000 pilgrims attend a candlelight rosary Oct. 12 at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal. The rosary was prayed in Portuguese, Spanish, English and other languages.

Malea Hargett

More than 180,000 pilgrims attend a candlelight rosary Oct. 12 at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal. The rosary was prayed in Portuguese, Spanish, English and other languages.

Thirty-four Arkansas pilgrims experienced the festivities in Fátima, Portugal, Oct. 12-13 for the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun. More than 180,000 people attended a candlelight rosary Oct. 12 and international Mass Oct. 13, praying for peace in the Holy Land and Ukraine.

Cardinal Américo Aguiar, bishop-elect of Setúbal, told the crowd Oct. 12, “When we talk about Fátima we talk about peace, and unfortunately this is a gift that is lacking: It is lacking in our beloved Ukraine and in our beloved Land of Jesus. Therefore, we want to ask our Mother for peace for these places and the world.”

During the last appearance of Mary to three shepherd children on Oct. 13, 1917, following a cold rain, the sun danced in the sky, witnessed by more than 70,000 people.

During the visit to Fatima, the pilgrims attended Mass at the shrine; toured the house of siblings Sts. Jacinta and Francisco, who died when they were children; and prayed the Stations of the Cross at one of the apparition sites.

Arkansas Catholic hosted the pilgrimage Oct. 4-15, starting in Barcelona, stopping at sites in Loyola and Montserrat associated with St. Ignatius, making a five-mile trek on the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) and ending in Lisbon, with a tour of the birthplace of St. Anthony of Padua.

Bishop Taylor wants you to know more about your faith and the Church: Sign up for Arkansas Catholic's free digital edition.