Procession of the Fatima Pilgrim Virgin Statue opened event at St Chad's Cathedral

Visitation of the National Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima and the Relics of Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto to St Chad's Cathedral on 28 June 2025

By Jerry Rivera
Regional Coordinator, Western Europe
World Apostolate of Fatima (International)

Ave Maria!

The National Pilgrim Virgin Statue (NPVS) of Our Lady of Fatima and the Relics of Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto visited the Metropolitan Cathedral and Basilica of St Chad in Birmingham on Saturday, 28 June 2025. This is part of the tour of the NPVS during this Centenary Year of the Pontevedra Apparition. St Chad's has been the fourth Cathedral visited - St Joseph Co-Cathedral (Cardiff-Menevia), St Mary and St Boniface Cathedral (Plymouth), and Metropolitan Cathedral of St George (Southwark) were visited in May 2025. 

In 1967, the Golden Jubilee year of the apparitions, the Bishop of Fatima commissioned and blessed 25 Pilgrim Statues as memorials of that year and during the visit of Pope Paul VI on the 13th of May. The NPVS was given by the Bishop of Fatima at the closing year of the Jubilee in 1968 as the Pilgrim Statue for Great Britain. In 1982, it was received at the Apostolic Nunciature in Wimbledon and was blessed by Pope John Paul II during his visit. A specially commissioned Icon was also part of the tour. The Icon depicts the message of the Five First Saturdays Devotion which the Child Jesus and Our Lady requested the world on 10 December 1925, through Sister Lucia, at Pontevedra, Spain. 

Reparation is at the heart of this devotion on 5 consecutive first Saturdays with the requirements of: confession, receiving Holy Communion, reciting 5 decades of the Rosary, and keeping Our Lady company for 15 minutes while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary. All of these are done with the intention of making reparation to her Immaculate Heart. 

Archbishop Bernard Longley received, crowned, and blessed the NPVS, the Relics, and the Centenary Icon before a congregation of 300 (estimated number) in the Cathedral. His Grace also consecrated the Archdiocese of Birmingham to the Immaculate Heart of Mary during the Mass. He was joined by Canon Brian McGinley, Cathedral Dean and Administrator; Rev Fr Cecil Rogerson, WAF Diocesan Spiritual Director; and Canon Dominic Cosslett, Archbishop Secretary. His Grace was the first one to venerate the Relics of Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto - the youngest, non-martyred saints of the Church - after the Mass. The late Pope Francis said that these two became saints not because they have seen Our Lady, but it is due to their fidelity in responding to the requests of Our Lady. 

The book table which was located inside St Edward's chapel provided a rich source of Fatima literature and merchandise. The congregation was able to purchase books and gifts for their beloved ones. Fr Cecil Rogerson also fulfilled the enrolment and investiture of brown scapulars to those who were present around the book table area. 

The docu-film on Fatima: Message for the World was well attended, as the talk on the Message of Fatima straight after. People who came were given more insights into the requests of Our Lady - prayer, penance, consecration, and reparation - including the young brothers William and Edward who carried (in the morning) the Relics and the Centenary Crown. Several of those who joined the talk signed the Pledge to Our Lady of Fatima and promised to try to live her requests in their daily lives. They also became members of the World Apostolate of Fatima (WAF) in England & Wales. 

The WAF is a Public Association of the Faithful of Pontifical Right. In England and Wales, it is duly recognised by the Catholic Bishops Conference, with Archbishop Mark O’Toole as the Bishop Patron. It is also a duly recognised CIO by the Charity Commission. The WAF has gifted the Cathedral with a statue of Our Lady which is designated to be the Home Pilgrim Statue to visit the residences of its parishioners and stay with them for a week to encourage them to pray the Rosary daily and consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

May Our Lady's Immaculate Heart be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God. 

More information on the WAF and its work