Parish News

COMPENDIUM

A short summary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church has been published.  It gives the essentials of our Catholic faith in a very readable question and answer format.  Pope Benedict states..."I entrust this Compendium above all to the entire Church and, in particular, to every Christian, in order that it may awaken in the Church of the third millennium renewed zeal for every community in the Church and every Christian believer, regardless of age or nationality."  This book is available for purchase at:

     1.) Amazon.Com

     2.) United States Conference of Catholic Bishops at (800) 235-8722

     3.) Religious bookstores such as Patrick Baker in Fairfield. CT

 PILGRIM VIRGIN OF FATIMA

OLF Parish shares a special bond with Fatima, Portugal - site of the Blessed Mother's Apparition to the three children of Fatima.  During a recent trip to the Sanctuary at Fatima, Elaine and Phil Lauria of our parish acquired a replica of the statue which graces the Chapel of the Apparitions.  Their hope is that this statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be taken into the homes of our parish and will promote praying The Rosary. 

The basic idea of The Pilgrim Virgin is that since most people are unable to make a pilgrimage to Fatima, Our Lady, with characteristic humility and love, overcomes this difficulty by reversing the process.  She becomes the Pilgrim.  Instead of you making a pilgrimage to her home at Fatima, she makes a pilgrimage to  yours.  This practice originated at Fatima on the thirtieth anniversary (May 13, 1947) of Our Lady's first  Apparition there.  On that date, the Bishop of Leiria blessed two statues of Our Lady of Fatima and sent them out on distant pilgrimages - one to the Far East, and the other to the West.  Thus began the honored tradition of The Pilgrim Virgin.  This wonderful practice encourages devotion to Our Blessed Mother within your family and home.

Phil and Elaine Lauria invite parishioners to receive The Pilgrim Virgin into their homes.  You may learn more about The Pilgrim Virgin via flyers that are available at all of the entrances to our church, or by calling Phil or Elaine Lauria at 761-8859.