Pinoy delegates visit Fatima Shrine

FATIMA, Portugal, August 14, 2011—Delegates from the Philippines and other World Youth Day pilgrims visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal yesterday.

Pinoy pilgrims together with other delegates for the World Youth Day visited the famous shrine of Our Lady of Fatima where the Virgin Mary appeared to the three children namely: Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia.

Delegate Jhay Jamin from Tagbilaran diocese said that he enjoyed the experience of visiting the Shrine of Fatima where the Our Lady had an apparition.

“It’s my first time to be here, but, it has [been] my dream [ever since] to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima,” he said.

Jamin added that he was happy during the visit while participating in an international Mass for the WYD pilgrims.

“In fact, I cried during the mass for one reason, somehow it has touched my life. The experience was really significant,” Jamin said.

Experience of a lifetime

Fr. Nitodel Soriano from Bacolod diocese was one of the pilgrim priests who visited the house of the three blessed children.

Soriano said that he feel blessed because it was his first time to be in Portugal and much more in the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima.

“First time ko din nakapasok sa bahay ng tatlong bata na pinakitaan ng mahal na Birhen na kung saan, talagang napreserve pa din yun bahay for many years. Nakita ko na madaming pilgrims ang pumupunta dun pero napakatahimik pa din na kung saan the pilgrims really maximize the silence because they are praying intimately,” Soriano said.

He added that aside from the house of the blessed children, he also visited the place where an angel appeared to the three. In the said place, the tree where the children knelt is still standing.

“Nakakapanindig balahibo kasi yun experience, you can really experience how the apparition really happened. You can still feel the ambience, na mafeel mo yung presence ng Panginoon sa lugar na ‘yun. Other than that, maraming mga bata na pumunta doon, mga pilgrims ng WYD from different countries. It was an experience for young people from around the world to really see the place and to be touched by history and faith,” Soriano shared.

Francisco and Jacinta had been declared blessed on May 13, 2000 by Blessed John Paul II. Sister Lucia died on February13, 2005

Mayor’s visit to delegates

Meanwhile, delegates who are assigned in Malpartida were visited by the town’s mayor on August 12, who welcomed the pilgrims to his pueblo.

The mayor joined the delegates at Mass. After the Mass, the delegates went out for a swim and had some fun. (Jandel Posion)