Dear Parishioners,
Our parish mission statement calls us as a parishioner to LOVE GOD + MAKE DISCIPLES + THROUGH MARY.
The Blessed Mother of Fatima is our patroness for Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. It is through her that we LOVE GOD AND MAKE DISCIPLES! As I learn more and more about our patroness, I am reminded about her appearance in Fatima, Portugal to three children in the early nineteen hundreds (1917).
The three children’s names were Lucy, Francisco, and Jacinta. Mary asked the children to love prayer and doing little sacrifices and if they would be faithful to these things she would take them to heaven.
Lucy answered the Blessed Mother positively about doing these things and requested that Mary take her to heaven. The Blessed Mother answered Lucy back by saying YES she would take Francisco and Jacinta to heaven soon, but Lucy would have to remain on earth to make her known and establish devotion to her
IMMACULATE HEART.
Francisco was born in 1908, died in 1919. Jacinta was born in 1910, died in 1920. Lucy was born in 1907 and died in 2005!
In this day and age there are many kinds of spirituality that helps develop within us a better version of ourselves. Perhaps you may find solace in this kind of devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, our parish patroness. Here is the prayer to assist your devotion.
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
Our Lady of Fatima,
Queen of Heaven and earth,
I consecrate myself to Thy Immaculate Heart.
To Thee I consecrate my heart, my soul, my family, and all that I have.
I renew today the promises of my Baptism; and promise to live as a good Christian,
Faithful to God, by always believing and living the Catholic faith.
I resolve to pray the Rosary every day, to receive in a worthy manner the Holy Eucharist, to participate in the First Saturdays of the month, and offer sacrifices for the conversion of sinners.
O Most Holy Virgin, I pray that devotion may spread to Thy Immaculate Heart so that all souls may be truly consecrated to Thee, and that through Thy own intercession, the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ in this world may be hastened.
Accept this dear Mother and bless me and my family.
Amen.
Many blessings,
Father Jim