By TAMI QUIGLEY Staff writer
“The core or ultimate objective of the program is to assist participants – family members – in living the Gospel of Jesus Christ as presented to the world by Our Lady of Fatima in 1917,” said Deacon Bob Ellis, national coordinator, World Apostolate of Fatima, USA.
Deacon Ellis shared this thought as he presented a talk on the Pilgrim Virgin Statue Home Visitation Program of the World Apostolate of Fatima, USA April 25 at St. Nicholas, Walnutport.
The event was sponsored by the parish and Knights of Columbus Council 16656.
The evening began with praying the rosary, followed by the presentation and time for fellowship.
Deacon Ellis, of Rockland, Wisconsin, spends considerable time at the National Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Washington, New Jersey.
Deacon Ellis said the program “unites families for the purpose of praying together, and hopefully initiates the practice of daily family prayer, which will endure.”
He said it introduces the story and the message of Fatima to many who have never heard of Fatima, and especially little children; reignites lost interest; broadens awareness; and deepens understanding of Our Lady’s message to her children.
“The program is an instrument or tool of the new evangelization par excellence.”
Deacon Ellis explained the program provides opportunities for missionary disciples and, at the same time, recruits and conditions them for their work.
“It can unite families of the parish if a summertime pot-luck picnic is celebrated for those families who participated,” he said.
Deacon Ellis deemed the program “a pathway to Home Enthronement as well as total consecration to Jesus, through Mary.”
He said in the program people are introduced to and encouraged to pray the rosary every day.
Carl Niedzwiecki, lecturer at St. Nicholas Knights of Columbus 16656, said it is his job to bring in guest speakers.
“I had asked the group if they would be interested in sponsoring this program at little or no cost to the organization,” he said.
“The group is behind me and my wife, Catherine. I was the guest speaker at our last meeting and I talked about the shrine program. It had been approved at a previous meeting.”
Niedzwiecki said the home visitation program could go on indefinitely at St. Nicholas.
“My wife Catherine and I started the same program at Bishop Alfred Schlert’s home parish, St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Easton, back in 1987 with Charlie and Irene Katz,” said Niedzwiecki.
“The program at St. Jane is still going strong. That is 31 years that the program has been going on there. We already have three sign-ups before the program has even been started at St. Nicholas.”
Currently the statue of the Blessed Mother is booked until mid-July at St. Nicholas.
Monsignor Thomas Derzack is pastor of St. Nicholas.
