From the 12^th to the 16^th of November, the International Board of Trustees of the World Apostolate of Fatima met in Fatima, for their annual meeting. The Board is composed of nine members from nine different countries, assisted by the international Secretariat. This was the first time the Board of Directors met face to face since their election last October 2022. In the meantime, several online meetings had been conducted.

The meeting was presided by President Prof. Michael Ogunu and assisted by the international Secretariat. The program also included moments of prayer, with the recitation of the daily Rosary and Mass. On the last day, there was a beautiful Mass at the Chapel of the Apparitions offered for the intentions of the World Apostolate of Fatima.

During the meeting, the Board of Directors also welcomed Bishop José Ornelas, of the diocese of Leiria-Fatima and the WAF Episcopal Moderator. The same happened with the Rector of the Shrine of Fatima, Father Carlos Cabecinhas, who came to greet and address the Board. Among the various topics in the agenda, special attention was given to the WAF Strategic Plan for 2022-2027. Part of this entails the preparations for the Centennial of the Apparitions in Pontevedra, in 2025 and the campaign for promoting the First Saturday devotion.

It was a great blessing for all Board members and the Secretariat to reunite and spend time together to outline the priorities for the World Apostolate of Fatima.

In 1917, Our Lady came to Fatima, Portugal, as a mother, concerned for her children on earth. She asked the three little shepherds to pray the rosary every day for the conversion of sinners and to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war.

Today, this call is more urgent than ever. The world is in turmoil with wars and conflicts that cause death and destruction. We think of Ukraine, Gaza, Israel or Sudan, just to name a few. It is time to stop this wave of violence!

What can we do to promote peace? We will soon be celebrating Christmas, the birth of Christ, the Prince of Peace. Let us start with prayer. When we pray and meditate, we are building peace, in our heart, in our families and, consequently, also in the world.

The Pope has called for a day of fasting, prayer and penance on Friday, 27 October 2023, for peace, particularly for an end to the Israel – Hamas war. So, let us all join.

The 4^th Regional Congress of the World Apostolate of Fatima for Africa will take place in Mbeya, Tanzania, from the 5^th to the 9^th of October 2023. This is a meeting of leaders and members of the movement from African nations that meet to discuss and plan the work in the continent.

The venue hosted by Archbishop Gervas Nyaisonga, bishop of Mbeya diocese and President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Tanzania is to be held at the Catholic University College of Mbeya. The program of the congress, whose theme is “Preparing the Continent of Africa for the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” includes several talks, workshops and moments of prayer and Marian devotion.

Prof. Michael Ogunu, the WAF International President and coordinator for Africa region will attend the congress and shall offer two main talks; one on the role of the World Apostolate of Fatima in the evangelization of Africa and the other on the ways and means of effective promotion of the First Saturdays devotion in Africa. Nuno Prazeres, from the International Secretariat in Fatima, Portugal, is heading to Tanzania to participate and contribute with his experience in coordinating the affairs of the WAF.

Countries such as Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, and others have already registered members to participate in this meeting.

All over the world, children will be praying the rosary on the 18th of October 2023. This prayer initiative by the Foundation “Aid to the Church in need” aims to rekindle faith in the power of prayer. The worldwide campaign is an invitation to remember the words of Our Lady of Fatima that the childlike and trusting prayer of the rosary can truly change the world, defeat evil and bring peace.

The World Apostolate of Fatima, as in the past, is a partner to this initiative, helping to spread it and inviting its members, families, parishes, catechists, teachers to pray the rosary together with children, on the 18th of October, for peace and unity in the world. Register here your intention to join this initiative.

Praying the rosary together with children will strengthen unity in the Church and among peoples. We are all called to form one family across borders, united in prayer. Out of prayer grows love for God and neighbour. The rosary opens our hearts to concrete help for the persecuted, the needy and the poor in whom Christ himself suffers.

On this day, children will also recite the Rosary in the Chapel of the Apparitions, at Fatima, Portugal, in union with many other children in the world.

On the 2^nd of September 2023, the national center of the World Apostolate of Fatima in the Czech Republic is inaugurating an exact replica of the Little Chapel of the apparitions of Fatima, in Koclířov.  

The ceremony of the inauguration will be preceded by a two days theological-pastoral symposium, starting on the 31^st of August, with the participation of leading personalities from the Czech Republic and from abroad. Among these, there will the Rector of the Shrine of Fatima, from Portugal.

This replica of the chapel of Fatima is meant to reinforce the bonds with the Shrine of Fatima and help the faithful of eastern and central Europe, who visit this place, to grow in their Marian devotion, namely through the Rosary and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The program and further information can be found here: www.cm-fatima.cz and here www.capelinha.cz