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Thousands celebrate 100th anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima apparitions
April 18, 2019
More than 1,000 people came to St. Isidore Church in Columbus May 29 for Mass and other prayers celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Virgin Mary’s apparitions in Fatima, Portugal.
And more than 2,000 came to similar celebrations May 30 at St. Gerald Church in Omaha – two of six stops for the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima in the Archdiocese of Omaha.
Becky Tometich, a member of St. Gerald Parish and planning committee chair for the activities at that church, said in a tradition held for years as part of the statue’s visits, people at the church waved white handkerchiefs as a goodbye during the closing procession (photo below).
"In a world that's full of chaos, it was a safe harbor for the day," said Tometich of the prayer-filled day. Tometich said she worked with about nine other people on the committee, and reached out to other parish groups for help, including the Knights of Columbus honor guard.
Other stops for the statute also were in Omaha: May 25 at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, May 26 at St. Bridget-St. Rose, May 27 at St. Joan of Arc and May 28 at St. Stephen the Martyr.
People wave white handkerchiefs as a goodbye during the final procession of the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue May 30 at St. Gerald Church in Omaha.