World Apostolate of Fatima (England and Wales) Pilgrimage to Braga and Fatima 9th th – 15 th July 2026 Day one - Thursday 9 th July 2026 (London-Porto-Braga) Flight from UK to Porto. (LGW/Porto – Easyjet 1005 / 1300) Meet our coach and guide and transfer to our accommodation in Braga. Time to see Braga. Dinner is provided at the hotel. Day two – Friday 10 th July 2026 (Braga-Balazar) After breakfast we begin our visit to the city of Braga and the Shrine of Sameiro and Bom Jesus. We break for lunch. In the afternoon pilgrimage to Balazar to pray at Blessed Alexandrina’s tomb. Mass in the chapel. Dinner and overnight accommodation at our hotel. Day three – Saturday 11 th July 2026 (Porto-Aveiro-Coimbra-Fatima) After breakfast we check out of our hotel in Braga and travel by coach to Porto. Free time to tour the city in the morning and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon we travel towards Fatima, stopping en route in Aveiro. We travel on to Coimbra and visit the Museum of Sister Lucia and say Rosary at the Convent Chapel. Check in at Domus Pacis hotel in Fatima and dinner. Day four – Sunday 12 th July 2026 (Fatima) Breakfast in the hotel Holy Mass in Domus Pacis or Shrine. We then have free time to independently tour the Sanctuary. Free for lunch. Visit to the House of Candles for a guided tour. 7.30 pm - Dinner at the hotel 9.30 pm - Participation in the evening Vigil We return to our hotel for our overnight accommodation. Day five – Monday 13 th July 2026 (Fatima) After breakfast we join the congregation for the International Mass in the Piazza of the Shrine of Fatima. Free for lunch 2.30 pm – We meet for talk of Nuno and Ana at Domus Pacis Chapel. 4.00 pm - Visit to the museum of Fr Formigao. 6.00 pm Fatima Prayer Cell at the Library of Domus Pacis. 7.30 pm Dinner 9.30pm Rosary and Candlelight procession Day six – Tuesday 14 th July 2026 (Fatima) After breakfast we depart by coach walk the Stations of the Cross. We visit the site of the Apparition of the Angel and celebrate Mass at St Stephen’s chapel. We then walk into the village of Aljustrel where we break for lunch before visiting the homes of the children. We return by bus to St Anthony’s Church for a renewal of baptismal promises. Return to the hotel. 7.30 pm Dinner 9.30pm Rosary and Candlelight procession Dinner and overnight accommodation in Fatima. Day seven – Wednesday, 15 th July 2026 (Fatima-Lisbon) After breakfast we check out of our hotel and depart for Lisbon. En route we visit Santerem before moving on to the Shrine of St Anthony where we celebrate Mass. We also visit the Convent of the Poor Clares where Jacinta stayed whilst waiting for a hospital bed. We travel on to the airport for our return flight to the UK. (1720/1955 LIS/LGW)Day 1 – Thursday, 9 July (London–Porto–Braga) Flight from London Gatwick to Porto. Transfer to Braga with time to explore the city. Dinner at the hotel. Day 2 – Friday, 10 July (Braga–Balazar) Visit Braga’s religious sites: Shrine of Sameiro and Bom Jesus. Afternoon pilgrimage to Balazar to pray at Blessed Alexandrina’s tomb. Mass and dinner at the hotel. Day 3 – Saturday, 11 July (Porto–Aveiro–Coimbra–Fatima) Travel to Porto for sightseeing and lunch. Continue to Fatima via Aveiro and Coimbra. Visit Sister Lucia’s museum and pray the Rosary. Check-in and dinner at Domus Pacis hotel. Day 4 – Sunday, 12 July (Fatima) Mass at Domus Pacis or the Shrine. Free time to explore the Sanctuary. Guided tour of the House of Candles. Dinner and participation in the evening vigil. Day 5 – Monday, 13 July (Fatima) Attend the International Mass at the Shrine. Afternoon talks and visits: Domus Pacis Chapel, Fr Formigao Museum, and Fatima Prayer Cell. Evening Rosary and Candlelight procession. Day 6 – Tuesday, 14 July (Fatima) Stations of the Cross and Mass at St Stephen’s Chapel. Visit Aljustrel village and homes of the visionaries. Renewal of baptismal promises at St Anthony’s Church. Dinner and evening procession. Day 7 – Wednesday, 15 July (Fatima–Lisbon) Depart for Lisbon with stops at Santerem and the Shrine of St Anthony. Visit the Convent of the Poor Clares. Return flight to London Gatwick. Price: £1,370 per person sharing a twin/double room on a half board basis. Single rooms are available at a supplement of £190. Price includes return airfare including hold baggage, accommodation as detailed in the itinerary, all transport whilst in Portugal, and all entrance fees. Price does not include lunches, drinks or items of a personal nature. Please note that this itinerary is not suitable for the less able traveller. Deposit of £400 and completed booking form required by 15.12.2024 with balance and any single supplement due by 16.4.2026. Booking Ref: WAF02
The 8th Annual General Meeting of the World Apostolate of Fàtima England and Wales took place from 23-25 October 2025. This three-day event was a time of reflection, gratitude, planning, and prayer to strengthen the Apostolate’s mission of spreading Our Lady of Fàtima’s message across England and Wales. On Day 1, participants engaged in discussions focused on Promoters’ growth and contributions, Social Media and newsletters, and the Children of the Eucharist and Young Missionaries of Mary programs. Day 2 featured talks by two invited speakers: Antonia V Moffat on the connection between Consecration requests and the First Saturdays of Reparation, and Fr Lawrence Lew, OP, on the powerful theme of Redemptive Suffering in Fàtima’s message. The new Trustees elected were Ethel Lojo as National Treasurer and Anthony Hanley as a Board Member. ๏ปฟ Day 3 included an insightful session with Jerry Rivera about the Fàtima Prayer Cell program, which has been running for over four years. The event was led by National President Patrick Cunningham and Vice President Barbara Dixon, supported by National Secretary Kathleen Too, Aurea Ancheta Coloma, and Lucila Salonga Desbruslais. A special thanks was extended to Rev Fr Peter Sebastian, who celebrated the liturgies and hosted the AGM in his parish. The 9th Annual General Meeting will be held in November 2026, with details to be announced. May Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart be your refuge and guide you to God. Ave Maria.
On the first Saturday of October, the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue (NPVS ) of Our Lady of Fàtima and the Relics of Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto visited the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist in Portsmouth. Bishop Philip Egan welcomed, crowned, and blessed the statue, relics, and the Centenary Icon of the Pontevedra apparition during Mass, attended by about 200 faithful from across the diocese. In his homily, Bishop Philip emphasized the Immaculate Heart of Mary and her call for conversion and reparation. ๏ปฟ He also led a 15-minute meditation and the recitation of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. Canon James McAuley, Cathedral Dean and Vicar General, guided the veneration of the relics and welcomed the congregation. Fr Ryan Browne, the cathedral curate, presided over the enrollment and investiture of brown scapulars. May Our Lady's Immaculate Heart be your refuge and guide you to God.
How we can help the Holy Souls in November? November is the month of the Holy Souls and so this is an important time during which to remember our own loved ones, and more generally the souls in Purgatory. Regarding purgatory in the Catechism we find this passage: “The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the ... the tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire” (1031). Jesus certainly spoke about hell as a place of fire, of eternal punishment, (e.g. Mark 9: 43, 47; Luke 16:19-31), and the Church has traditionally seen purgatory as a lesser form of punishment—since unlike hell it will end—but still, according to some of the saints, an extremely painful experience, to the extent that the pains of purgatory surpass anything we could experience on earth. Thus, we should live our lives with the aim of entering heaven when we die. In any event, we can help the souls in purgatory particularly in November, but also at any time of the year, by visiting a cemetery and praying for particular souls, either vocally or mentally, so as to gain a partial indulgence on their behalf. And to go further, a Plenary Indulgence may be gained between 1st and 8th November, applicable to the Holy Souls only, by visiting a cemetery and praying there for the dead, even if the prayer is only mental, and then fulfilling the conditions required, which are Confession, (up to eight days before or afterwards), Holy Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Pope (one Our Father and one Hail Mary).
