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The National Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima will visit the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Better Living Subdivision, Parañaque City from September 18 to 20, 2016.
The visitation of the image is in preparation for the Centennial of the Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima which will be held next year. The visit of the miraculous image and a novena of nine months will prepare Marian devotees from different localities for the celebration to give them a chance to be spiritually united with the National Shrine of Fatima. It will also be an opportunity to promote the message of Our Lady of Fatima.
Last month, the image started its tour by visiting the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City from August 21 to 23. Fr. Eric Castro (Rector and Parish Priest), the parishioners, and Marian devotees of the Shrine welcomed the image and held rosary and novena vigils. In his homily during the Eucharistic Celebration on the arrival of the image, Fr. Castro explained how responding to the message of Our Lady of Fatima is similar with entering the “narrow door” which was the focus of the Gospel. The World Apostolate of Fatima of the Philippines, the only Fatima organization recognized by the Holy See, gave a talk about the Fatima message and devotion during the second night of the visit.
The pilgrim image is set to visit the following Churches: Cathedral and Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Manila Cathedral) in Intramuros, Manila from October 7 to 9; the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Retiro, Quezon City on November 13; and the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary La Naval de Manila (Santo Domingo Church) in Quezon City, National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Muntinlupa City, and the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Cavite next year.
The NPI is one of the original statues blessed by Pope Paul VI and was later brought to the Philippines by the late Jaime Cardinal Sin from a parish church in New Jersey, USA. It was crowned as the National Pilgrim Image during the launching of the National Marian Year on December 8, 1984. It was the image of Our Lady of Fatima that was brought in the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986 where Our Lady, through the statue, showed her maternal protection to our people. In 1999, the image which is considered as the Queen of Peace was permanently enshrined at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Valenzuela City.
Our Lady of Fatima was also declared as the Patroness of Valenzuela City in celebration of the Golden Anniversary of the Parish in 2011.
