As part of their meeting on Thursday, March 9, Latin School CROSS members participated in a prayer service that marked the blessing of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima. This inaugurated a new component of Latin School CROSS: the opportunity for members to take part in a pilgrim statue program.
The program is being initiated in order to mark the centenary anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady to three children (Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco) in May of 1917 in Portugal. The message of Our Lady to these children was that all people should pray (and, in particular, pray the Rosary) and do penance in order to save souls.
A large photograph of the three Portuguese children was displayed in the Maria Regina chapel during the prayer service, which concluded with the blessing of the statue by Fr. Tom. Students submit a form if they wish to bring the statue to their home (for approximately a week at a time) and will begin doing so this week.
The purpose of the “pilgrim” statue is to allow families to gain an increased awareness of praying together and to encourage devotion to Jesus through Mary. The program will continue throughout the year and CROSS members may apply to participate in the program at any time by obtaining paperwork in the Latin School Office.