October Month of the Rosary

We invite you to attend the Holy Rosary and Holy Mass followed by Marian Candlelight Procession for Our Lady of Fatima on Saturday 13th October 2018 to pray and make sacrifice for the reparation of sinners, salvation of souls and conversion of hearts.

EVENT OF PROGRAM – 13th October 2018 Celebration of OUR LADY OF FATIMA.

Miracle of the Sun was performed by Our Lady of Fatima to the three shepherd children and over 70,000 people on 13th October 1917.

6:30pm Holy Rosary followed by a short presentation about the Miracle of the Sun.

7:30pm Holy Mass followed by Marian Candlelight Procession around the Church of St Bernadette at the Parish property.

The candles for our procession will be distributed, however, if you wish to take it home after the procession, please bring your own candle with you.

After celebrating 100 years (1917 -2017), we as parishioners of St Bernadette’s Parish of Mt Wellington have continued praying the Holy Rosary followed by the Holy Mass and Marian Candlelight Procession every year from 13th May to 13th October joining our brothers and sisters from all over the world.

~~Sunday 13th May 2018 – Holy Rosary and Holy Mass~~
~~Wednesday 13th June 2018 – Holy Rosary and Holy Mass~~
~~Friday 13th July 2018 – Holy Rosary and Holy Mass~~
~~Monday 13th August 2018 – Holy Rosary and Holy Mass~~
~~Thursday 13th September 2018 – Holy Rosary and Holy Mass~~
Saturday 13th October 2018 – Holy Rosary, Holy Mass and Procession

HISTORY OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA APPARITIONS

On 13th May 1917, “Our Lady of Fatima” first appeared to three shepherd children Lucia (10 years old), Francesco (9 years old), and Jacinta (7 years old) in a small village in Fatima, Portugal. She appeared six times to the three visionaries on the 13th of every month at the same hour revealing that she was “Our Lady of the Rosary”.

Leading up to the “Miracle of the Sun” on 13th October 1917, around 70,000 people gathered to witness the sun move around the sky and making three circles moving in a zigzag motion leaving them believe in the apparitions.

Our Lady of Fatima appearing to the three shepherd children

What is the central meaning of the message of Fatima?

Nothing different from what the Church has always taught: “the exhortation to prayer as the path of “salvation for souls” and, likewise, the summons to penance and conversion.” – Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict the XVI.

“In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart; I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).

The message of Fatima invites us to trust in this promise.

An excerpt from Catholic News Agency’s website about “Our Lady of Fatima” celebrated on the Feast of 13th May every year. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/our-lady-of-fatima-485

REPENTANCE AND PRAYER

We are all called to repent, change our ways and pray more.

We can do this by making regular confession (Sacrament of Reconciliation), making time everyday to pray the rosary, attend daily mass (Sacrament of Holy Eucharist) and spend time in Eucharistic Adoration (Blessed Sacrament).

https://mtwellingtoncatholic.org.nz/sacraments/

CANONISATION OF CHILD SAINTS JACINTA AND FRANCISCO

On 13th May 2017 at 10:30am, Pope Francis canonised Jacinta and Francisco Marto as the first child saints who are not martyrs in the history of the Church. Both Jacinta and Francisco died at a very young age while Lucia lived to be 97 years old.

More information can be found here https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/05/13/pope-francis-makes-history-and-canonizes-jacinta-and-francisco-two-child-saints

WATCH “FATIMA THE MUSICAL: 2017 A CENTENNIAL PERFORMANCE” BY MICHAEL CYGAN

To watch and learn more about what happened during the Fatima apparitions, a highly recommended watch would be Michael Cygan’s “Fatima the Musical: 2017 A Centennial Performance”.

October, the month of the Holy Rosary is fast approaching.

“Rosary Aotearoa” invites you, as the People of God, to come together on Sunday 7 October 2018 to pray for ourselves, our Parish of St Bernadette’s of Mt Wellington and our nation of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Our Parish of St Bernadette’s of Mt Wellington will be taking part of this movement “Rosary Aotearoa”.

We invite everyone to gather together in the Church of St Bernadette to pray the Holy Rosary.

PROGRAM OF EVENT “ROSARY AOTEAROA” IN OUR PARISH

2:00pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

3:00pm Holy Rosary with Reflection of the Glorious Mysteries.

We will pray for the intentions provided by Most Reverend Bishop Patrick Dunn DD, Bishop of Auckland.

Followed by the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

Tea and coffee will be provided after the celebration. Please bring a plate to share.

For more information about this movement across New Zealand, please visit: http://rosarynewzealand.nz/

How did this initiative of praying the Holy Rosary begin?

On 7 October 2017, the Polish people prayed all over the borders of the country of Poland knowing very well how powerful the Holy Rosary can influence the fate of Poland, Europe and even the whole world. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the Queen of Poland who has been looking after Poland for well over six centuries.

Here is a snippet from the website of Rozaniec Do Granic (Rosary at the Borders).

Rosary is a powerful weapon in the fight against evil, so strong that it has been able to change the course of history many times, and thousands of testimonies and documented miracles prove its extraordinary effectiveness. Mary is the Queen of Poland, she has been looking after us for generations, she has always been with us in critical moments of history, and we have been with her. As a salvation for the world, Our Lady points to a rosary prayer.

Therefore, we believe that if the rosary is recited by about a million Poles on the borders of the country, it can not only change the course of events, but open the hearts of our countrymen to the grace of God.

A powerful prayer of the Rosary can influence the fate of Poland, Europe and even the whole world. Suffice it to say that Mary always addresses the request for frequent Rosary prayer, during almost every revelation.

For more information please visit http://rozaniecdogranic.pl