2017 is the 100th Anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima in Portugal. During the course of the year, the National Statue is visiting all the Cathedrals of England and Wales as well as other pilgrimage centres and Religious houses. The year has been made extra-special by the canonisation of two of the shepherd children, St Francisco and St Jacinta. By Pope Francis on his visit to Fatima in May. Both died as young people but the third visionary, Sr Lucia, only died in recent years. It was a privilege to have the relics of these two new saints in the Diocese.
Mass was celebrated by Bishop Mark, who before the blessing consecrated the Diocese to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This was followed by veneration of the relics, the recitation of the rosary and other devotions. There was also a talk on Fatima and a showing of the film which tells the story of the apparitions.