Friday, 7 July 2017

ORATORIAN COMMUNITY IN FORMATION: CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA 2017


This year's celebrations of our Lady of Fatima, being the centenary of the apparitions, were carried out in great style by the Portuguese community of the Cathedral, though this is a feast in which the entire community participates. There were the familiar prayer events of Mass and rosary processions. The tent with its array of food and dancing was, as always, on the hockey field. This year saw some extra features, some of which are presented in the photographs below.

The sanctuary decorated for the feast.


The Fatima statue being carried in procession.

A rosary made up of helium-filled balloons, released at the end of the celebrations.

The giant rosary that hangs from the Cathedral tower. Made up of blue and white LED lights, it can be seen halfway across Bloemfontein at night. It will remain in place until October.

Fr Phillip concelebrates Mass in Portuguese with Fr Geraldo, the visiting priest for the celebrations, on Sunday 13th May.

The Portuguese youth of the parish perform traditional dances at the festivities in the tent.

Fr Johnson joins the Knights of Da Gama for the concluding ceremony on Sunday.

Fr Geraldo blesses the bearers of the Fatima statue before the procession.

Special centenary handkerchiefs are distributed to the community for the farewell ceremony.

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