Bishop Stephen crowns the statue of Our Lady at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Dundee
During Rosary and Benediction at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Dundee, Bishop Stephen Robson blessed four Pilgrim Statues of Our Lady of Fatima which will be taken to deaneries across the diocese where they will be received into the homes of families, who will keep them for a week, inviting others to prayer the Rosary with them, before moving onto another home.
The service opened with a Procession and Crowning of the Statue of Our Lady, followed by an Act of Consecration to Our Blessed Lady.
Flowers were carried in the procession by children from the parishes of St Fillan’s, Newport, St Fillan’s, Crieff and SS Peter and Paul’s, Dundee together with the Religious Sisters in the diocese. Bishop Stephen was assisted by Deacons Harry Schnitker and Krzysztof Jablonski. The organist was the Cathedral’s Adminstrator, Canon Kevin Golden. The occasion came at the close of events marking the 100th Anniversary year of the apparitions of Our Lady in Fatima.
Among those present was Mr Jim Murphy (Glasgow) and Mrs Pat Dowey (Dundee), both are members of the Family Messengers of Mary Immaculate Queen (Scotland) who are helping to promote devotions to Our Lady in people’s homes.
Each deanery is committed to aid families in responding to the requests made by the Blessed Mary during her apparitions at Fatima. The essence of her requests is threefold: Returning to God – turning away from sin and obey the ten Commandments; Making reparation for sins – by practicing some form of penance and sacrifice in atonement for our own sins and the sins of others; and Praying the Rosary for Peace.
The commitment required of those families desiring to welcome Mary into their homes is threefold.
- Make a special effort to avoid sin during her presence.
- Perform some form of penance or sacrifice during the week of her visit in reparation for sin.
- Pray the Rosary as a family in the presence of her statue each day, or at least whatever part of a Rosary can be accomplished.