Friday, August 12, 2011

Shrimp cocktail, chocolate mousse & Our Lady of Fatima!

We've arrived and are well on our way.  Our flights went quickly for those of us who slept.  We had an awesome dinner--shrimp cocktail, chicken and mashed potatoes and chocolate mousse for dessert!  After arriving in Lisbon we waited for our other group from California to join us.  The Lisbon airport is not large, but we met Bishop Holley and many OTHER pilgrims.  Our poor pilgrims from California's flight was delayed so we had to cut our tour of Lisbon very short, to just the airport.  But were not too disappointed when we arrived in Santarem where a Eucharistic Miracle took place in 1247!

Fr. Schultz celebrated Mass for us in this amazing Church in this small town.  We'll have to tell you the story of the Eucharistic Miracle at a later time.

Today, Friday, we have spent the whole day in Fatima and what a gift it has been!!  This morning we toured the "Sanctuary" where the two large Shrines for Our Lady.  Our Lady appeared in this area in 1917.  After visiting the Church we traveled to the birthplaces of Francisco & Jacinta and then to Lucia's birthplace.  We also saw where the Angel of Peace appeared to the children in 1916 and where Our Lady appeared to the children in August of 1917, after their release from prison.

We celebrated Mass today in the chapel of our hotel which is run by the Dominican sisters.  What a beautiful gift to have a chapel in our hotel!

Now, we are off to the Rosary procession down at the Shrine and can't wait to see what tomorrow has for us.  Off to the Rosary procession...and on to Sevilla tomorrow!

You are all in our prayers, we have them in our backpacks.

2 comments:

  1. Have been waiting for an update! So excited for all you're able to experience! Can't wait for pictures and more stories!

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  2. Love the updates! Looking forward to some pictures too!! You are in our prayers

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