Fatima & Welwyn: where the rubber meets the road

As we get closer to the year 2017 and the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the three children in Fatima Portugal, one cannot help but be moved by the prophetic nature of the message of Our Lady, when we see so clearly before us, the consequences of our failure to fulfil her requests.

Promoting the message of Fatima

The Society of St. Pius X under the direction of the superior general, Bishop Bernard Fellay and in keeping with the vision and example of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre has made every effort to promote the message of Fatima. It would certainly seem that Divine Providence, through recent events is clearly pointing to this anniversary in 2017 as a pivotal moment in the battle for tradition within the church and we are given a renewed hope and confidence in the goodness and mercy of God, the Motherly care and protection of the Queen of heaven for the Church, and in the leadership and guidance of the Society of St. Pius X who have managed to navigate these troubled waters in the Archbishop's little “life boat”.

Remaining faithful to Tradition

Following the example of the three children of Fatima, it is often small groups of faithful Catholics who have weathered the storm and gathered together under the direction of SSPX priests and remained faithful to the traditional teachings of the church in the face of opposition, ridicule and outright persecution, that have been “paying the price” as St. Louis De Montfort would say, for the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary that we all so eagerly anticipate.

Many have struggled and made huge sacrifices to raise their families, often moving many miles to traditional centres with traditional schools or to rural areas, and home schooling their children or sending them to SSPX boarding schools such as Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in New Hamburg Ontario.

To some this may seem extreme but an increasing number of Catholics see it as absolutely necessary to protect their children from the aggressive and perverse influence of modern society, and to give their children a solid Catholic education in preparation for life in a world that is anything but sympathetic to Catholic morality.

Welwyn Pilgrimage

In a little town called Welwyn in Saskatchewan, located in central Canada, just such a group of people get together on the September long weekend which usually includes the feast of St. Pius X Sept. 3rd or the Birthday of Our Lady Sept 8th for a two day, 32 kilometer pilgrimage in honour of Our Lady of Fatima.

I had the good fortune to be able to participate in the pilgrimage this year and I have to say it was a most edifying and spiritually uplifting experience to be with people who were not just talking the talk, but literally walking the walk.

This pilgrimage has been taking place every year for the last 14 years with people coming from eastern Saskatchewan, Manitoba and some driving eight hours from Dryden Ontario. Our Lady of Fatima church in Welwyn SK is a mission of the SSPX priory in Winnipeg and is currently under the care of Father Gerspacher, prior and Father Lillis his assistant.

Details of the Pilgrimage

The event runs from Friday evening with First Friday mass and exposition followed by a potluck supper. Saturday and Sunday start with First Saturday Mass and devotions and Sunday High Mass followed by breakfast and then 16 kilometers of walking, chanting the Rosary in English and Latin, (alternating ladies and men) interspersed with hymns and periods of silence for personal prayer and reflection.

Every four kilometers the group stops and rests and Father gives a short spiritual talk, usually something to do with the message of Fatima, the spirit of prayer and sacrifice or telling stories of great pilgrimages in the past like the pilgrimages to Rome, Santiago de Compostela or the Holy Land and the Crusades. The first twelve kilometers on Saturday are hiking through the beautiful and picturesque Scissors Valley and the rest of the walking is on open country roads and through lush prairie farmland.

The pilgrimage ends at an outdoor shrine across the road from the church with statues of Our Lady and the three children of Fatima and Father gives the pilgrims a special blessing and then off to the church for Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in thanksgiving for all the graces and blessings that have been received.

A spiritually uplifting experience

It is truly wonderful to see all these people, young and old, tired from all that walking and yet so full of joy and happiness and ready to help out in any way they can with what ever needs to be done. This is the real Catholic spirit, simple and beautiful and for a precious moment one can get the sense that perhaps, the restoration of Catholic life and culture is not only possible, but is actually beginning to take place, right before our very eyes.

After another potluck dinner in the evening (it is actually quite amazing how they pull all this together) it’s bonfire/hootenanny time, with singing and guitars, laughing and just a really enjoyable time for all.

Finally after a much needed sleep, things wind up on Monday Morning with Mass and brunch before everyone heads home, maybe a little tired and sore, but realising that one is not alone in this world, and with peace in the soul, and a strengthened resolve, ready to press on, faithful to the duties of our state in life, and truly living the message of Fatima.

This is really where “the rubber meets the road”.

Putting our trust in Our Lady

The situation in the church and in the world is very grave, but with the Rosary Crusade and the one hundredth anniversary of Fatima coming up we must put our trust and confidence in Our Lady to put an end to this “Diabolic Disorientation” and bring about the triumph of her Immaculate Heart. Whatever happens, God willing, I know where I want to be next September long weekend.