72 Years of Blessings: The Enduring Devotion to Our Lady of Fatima

Every year, the faithful gather to celebrate the fiesta, a joyous festival that combines spiritual devotion and cultural richness. The feast, which has been held for more than seven decades, commemorates the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Our Lady of Fatima. This year’s celebration, which marked the 72nd anniversary, was especially meaningful since it reflected not only on the historical significance of the apparition but also on the community’s deep devotion to this tradition over time.

The center of the fiesta celebration is the Holy Eucharist strengthened by the faith and devotion of the people. This year’s 72nd celebration of Our Lady of Fatima featured several religious activities that brought the community together in prayer and worship. Holy Masses were held throughout the day as it fell on a Sunday, and these masses offered a time for reflection on Fatima’s message of peace, repentance, and hope.

One of the highlights of the religious observance was the “Awit Halad Kang Maria: Offering Songs and Flowers to Our Blessed Virgin Mary” that happened on Saturday dawn a day before the 13th of October. It was a solemn and reflective yearly activity in Our Lady of Fatima that combines the offering of songs and flowers to the Blessed Virgin Mary. During the “Awit Halad Kang Maria,” the people offered flowers, combined with the melodies of Marian hymns that created a spiritually uplifting atmosphere. It fostered a sense of peace, gratitude, and closeness to the Blessed Virgin.

On the bisperas of the fiesta, the liturgy committee organized a procession, where a statue of Our Lady of Fatima was carried through the streets, accompanied by the singing of Marian hymns and the recitation of the rosary. In this beautiful display of faith, hundreds of parishioners lit the candles and walked through the streets while reciting the rosary, symbolizing their trust in the intercession of the Blessed Virgin and their hope for peace.

For the parishioners and devotees, Our Lady of Fatima’s fiesta is a time for spiritual renewal rather than merely an annual celebration. The Our Lady’s messages during her apparitions are just as relevant now as they were over a century ago, appealing for prayer, peace, and penance.

This year’s 72nd celebration was particularly moving, with the community reflecting on how devotion to Our Lady has shaped their faith as well as family life. (Novie Jade Ramos – Parish SoCCom | Photos by Roy Baltazar Halasan & Novie Ramos)