By Wilma McCormack
A large assembly of pilgrims from across the Diocese of Sandhurst, including groups from as far as Shepparton, Albury and Myrtleford, as well as from Melbourne and Ballarat, gathered for the 49th annual Marian Festival celebrated at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo on 15 October.
Beautiful flowers and the amber light from the stained-glass windows highlighted the special shrine to Our Lady of Fatima. Ringing of the Cathedral bells welcomed visitors as they were handed a very attractive festival booklet for the day’s proceedings.
Bishop Leslie Tomlinson, seminarians from Corpus Christi College Melbourne together with altar servers from Bendigo and Shepparton, entered the Cathedral processing with the choir, statue of Our Lady of Fatima, banners, the Cathedral Cross and incense bearers.
Bishop Leslie Tomlinson was the Presider and guest speaker for the Mass and Festival. A sung Mass conducted by organist and director of music, Dr Paul Taylor; the Sacred Heart Cathedral Choir sang the Missa de Angelis Mass by Don Marini, Panis Angelicus by Cesar Frank, Ave Verum by Mozart and Salve Regina. Joanne Bonazza was the Cantor for both Mass and Festival, singing two Ave Marias by Saint Seans and Schubert.
After the garden luncheon and scapular enrolment at 1.00 p.m., the bells rang again to assemble for the outside procession. Led by the Apostolate of Fatima’s Spiritual Director Fr Stephen Bolling, pilgrims processed around the Cathedral while reciting the Rosary.
Bishop Leslie Tomlinson crowned Our Lady’s statue, and the Mysteries of the Rosary were led by representatives from the Melbourne Apostolate of Fatima, Altona parish, Indian Community, Shepparton parish and the Melbourne Legion of Mary.
Bishop Leslie Tomlinson then gave his well-researched address on the history of Our Lady’s Apparitions throughout the centuries. Extracts from his address:
“This October Marian Festival 2023 is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
“It was not until the Apparitions in Paris at Rue du Bac, concerning the ‘Miraculous Medal’ made to Catherine Labouré in 1830, and the establishment of a society dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, at the Church of Victories in Paris in 1836, that this particular devotion became really well known.
Since then, devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, has gradually grown more widespread in the church, particularly since the apparitions at Fatima.
In fact, the Immaculate Heart of Mary is the mystery most central to the Message of Fatima. Our Lady specifically came in 1917 because the Blessed Trinity wanted to establish devotion to her Immaculate Heart throughout the world.”
“We know well the story of Fatima but let us refresh our memories: Appearing six times to the three shepherd children: Lucia, Francesco, and Jacinta near the town of Fatima, Portugal, between 13 May and 13 October, 1917, the Blessed Virgin told them, that she had been sent by God with a message for every man, woman and child. Coming at a time when civilisation was torn asunder by war and violence, she promised that God would grant peace to the entire world, if her requests for prayer, reparation and consecration were heard and obeyed.”
“And so, we pray: Mother of God and our Mother, to your Immaculate Heart we solemnly entrust and consecrate ourselves to you. We trust that through your heart, peace will dawn once more. To you we pray for the future of the whole human family, the needs and expectations of every people, the anxieties and hopes of the world. You once trod the streets of the world; lead us now on the paths of peace. Amen. “
Adoration and Benediction concluded a day of peace and joy for all those who attended. Grateful thanks to all those Apostolate members and special friends who made possible such a wonderful day of devotion, prayer, and hospitality in Bendigo.
Wilma McCormack
President, Bendigo Apostolate of Fatima
