First Saturday Meditation: Apr 2026
The 5th sorrowful mystery- Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord
April 2026 Newsletter
World Apostolate of Fatima England and Wales
APRIL 2026 NEWSLETTER
Featured this month: The Angel of Peace & Adoration,
Divine Mercy Sunday, Message to Spiritual Directors on WAF Activities / St Mark's Feast and Events
Dear Readers,
๏ปฟThe Angel of Peace leads us into the quiet joy of Easter even as our world is shaken by war. In the midst of conflict, sorrow, and uncertainty, we are invited to lift our eyes in adoration to the Risen Christ, who restores hope where fear and violence have taken root. This season of New Life calls us to welcome His peace into our hearts, allowing the light of the Resurrection to break through the darkness of our times, renewing our faith and guiding our steps toward compassion, courage, and reconciliation.
APRIL - THE ANGEL OF PEACE & ADORATION
"Adoration, shown beautifully in the lives of the children of Fatima, is the worship owed to God alone and is fulfilled most perfectly in the Holy Eucharist, where we unite ourselves to Christ’s sacrifice and receive His transforming grace. Their example reminds us to adore Jesus with reverence, offer our daily sacrifices for sinners, and live our baptismal call as God’s priestly people", says Sr Mary Goncalves, from the congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity
Read more here...
NEWSLETTER CONTENTS
MESSAGE FROM OUR NATIONAL PRESIDENT
NEW / RECOMMENDED RESOURCES & FATIMA ARTICLES
FROM OUR NATIONAL SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR
FOCUS ON FIRST SATURDAYS!
IMPORTANT FEAST DAYS
FATIMA NOTICE BOARD
PLEDGE MEMBER TESTIMONY
FATIMA GLOBAL NEWS FEATURE
EVENTS / VISITATIONS- WAF E&W FORMATION CONFERENCE AND CONCERT
DONATIONS
Eastertide calls us to renew joy, prayer, and the message of Fatima, especially the call to peace and the First Five Saturdays Devotion. Upcoming WAF events continue this mission as we visit parishes across England and Wales.
Dear Membersโฏ,
As we move into Eastertide (Easter Sunday to Pentecost) we enter a period of 50 days of celebration, following Christ's resurrection. Eastertide is a time for joy, with Christ's victory over death and new life. The Paschal candle is lit and symbolises the presence of the Risen Christ. In this period, we also celebrate the feast of Divine Mercy Sunday, which is deeply intertwined with the Fatima message. This similarity is perhaps most strikingly noted in the Angel's prayer taught to the Fatima Seers during the Third Angel Apparitions in the summer of 1916 and 20 years later to the prayer taught to Sr Faustina Kowalska and forms part of the Divine Mercy Chaplet (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. 474-476). Please remember the Chaplet of Divine Mercy Novena starts on Good Friday.
The Fatima Seers witnessed the Apparition of the Angel of Peace as described by Sister Lucia in her fourth memoir written in 1941. Sister Lucia recounts, the angel spoke to them words of reassurance and authority: “Do not be afraid! I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me.”
As you know the Angel appeared in the Spring, Summer and Autumn of 1916 to prepare the Seers for their mission in which the hearts of Jesus and Mary would be attentive to the voice of their supplication.
The need for peace seems ever greater now, as once again nations turn to war, and we need to remind ourselves of the message of Fatima and how lasting peace can be obtained. We need to start with peace in our own hearts, and our families and the practice of the First Five Saturdays Devotion.
Please encourage this devotion within your parishes as we continue to celebrate the 100th anniversary of this request as we visit cathedrals and parishes around the counties of England and Wales. In the end Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart will triumph, and a period of peace will be granted to the world.
This month we visit the Cathedral Church of St Marie, in the diocese of Hallam. See Events / Visitations for Poster, as well as other parishes noted here.
Notices of Events coming up (see Notice Board & Events for details)
- 20 April 2026 On-Line Promoter Training – The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
- 23 May 2026 WAF-E&W Formation Conference
- 23 May 2026 Charity Concert (evening)
- 20 November 2026 WAF-E&W AGM, Belmont Abbey. *
- 21 November 2026 Fatima Symposium, Belmont Abbey, Hereford. *
- 22 November 2026 Fatima Symposium, London. *
*Details to be confirmed.
God Blessโฏ
Patrick Cunninghamโฏ
National PresidentโฏWAF-E&Wโฏ
NEW / RECOMMENDED RESOURCES and FATIMA ARTICLES
Useful Resources and Media๏ปฟ
Adoration of the Eucharist: A Guide to Encountering Jesus
By Fr. Robin Mampallithadathil CRM
The Eucharist is at the very heart of the Church’s life. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, it is “the source and summit of the Christian life” (CCC 1324). In the Blessed Sacrament, Jesus Christ is truly present—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity—offering Himself to us not only in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass but also in the quiet, profound mystery of Eucharistic Adoration.
In a world filled with noise, distraction, and restlessness, Eucharistic Adoration invites us into silence, into presence, and into love. It is here that we learn not merely to speak to God, but to be with Him. Read more here...
The Angel of Peace and Divine Mercy Sunday
By The Rev. Alexander D. Pumphrey, MIC; Interim Directorโฏ - Divine Mercy Apostolate
In 1916, the Angel of Peace appeared to the three seers of Fatima and implored for them to pray for sinners, especially for their conversion, using these words: “O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit… I offer You the most precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ…”.
To those of us who pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, these words sound strikingly familiar! “Eternal Father, I offer You, the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ…” Coincidence? I think not. Read more here...
FROM OUR NATIONAL SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR
Guidance message from Our National Spiritual Director
By Canon Jason Jones, National Spiritual Director
Subject: Saturday Fulfilment on Holy Saturday being 4th April
Dear WAF Family,
The Holy Season of Lent will be with us and the preparations for Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum.
You will note that in this centennial year of the First Saturday Devotion, as we try to promote and raise awareness of this essential but sadly neglected part of the Fatima Message, the 4th of April, a First Saturday of the month, is Holy Saturday.
Read more
here... and watch the video below.
FOCUS ON FIRST SATURDAYS
We hope you were able to participate in the Fatima Five First Saturdays devotion recently. Here are some useful resources to help you understand better this important devotion.
15 Minute Meditations with WAF England & Wales
IMPORTANT FEAST DAYS
Liturgical Feast Days & Events this month
04 April – First Saturday Devotion & Holy Saturday (See message from Canon Jason Jones)
05 April – Easter Sunday, Solemnity of the Resurrection of Our Lord
12 April – Sunday Feast of Divine Mercy (see below)
23 April – St George, Saint Patron of England
25 April – St Mark, the Evangelist – (see below)
26 April – Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel – (see below)
Divine Mercy Sunday 12th April: The Angel of Peace and the Heart of the Paschal Mystery
The first Sunday after Easter is Divine Mercy Sunday, a feast that is not an added devotion or a spiritual “extra,” but a profound continuation of the Paschal mystery.
It draws our attention to the heart of the Gospel: that the death and resurrection of Jesus reveal a God whose mercy is stronger than sin, fear, and even death itself. In a world overshadowed by conflict and uncertainty, this truth becomes a source of hope that cannot be shaken. Read more here...
Feast of St Mark, The Evangelist – Saturday the 25th of April
St Mark the Evangelist feast is celebrated on the 25th of April with the liturgical colour red, honouring him as both Evangelist and martyr. His 16chapter Gospel is the shortest, yet one of the most vivid, is usually read in Liturgical YearโฏB, which starts on the first Sunday of advent the 29th of November 2026. Read more here...
Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel – Sunday the 26th of April
On 25 April 1467, during festivities for the Feast of St Mark, townspeople reported hearing beautiful music and seeing a mysterious cloud descend upon an unfinished wall of the church. When the cloud lifted, a small fresco of Mary and the Christ Child appeared painted on a waferthin layer of plaster.
The Church honours Our Lady of Good Counsel on 26 April, recalling the mysterious appearance of the small fresco in the Augustinian church at Genazzano, Italy. The image, delicate and luminous, became a source of comfort and guidance for countless pilgrims, who turned to Mary for wisdom in times of uncertainty.
Tradition holds that the fresco came from Albania during a period of upheaval, symbolising Mary’s closeness to her people when they face difficult decisions or moments of change.
The tender pose of the image Mary and Jesus leaning their heads together, reminds us that true counsel begins in quiet trust and attentive listening.
This feast invites us to seek Mary’s intercession with renewed confidence, asking her to help us discern God’s will with clarity, peace, and courage.
Additional reading:
FATIMA NOTICE BOARD
05โฏAprilโฏ– Easter Sunday 7pm:โฏ WAF-E&W On-Line Rosary. Meeting ID: 86088111745, Passcode: 734012 or by clicking on the poster or scanning the QR code on the poster below
20 APRIL, Monday 19.00-21.00 hrs: MEMBER'S ONLINE FORMATION & TRAINING, MS Teams, meeting id: 346 856 902 920 16, passcode: eZ9sH6Ct or by clicking on the poster below. The talk, the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, will be given by Fr Lawrence Lew
PLEDGE MEMBER TESTIMONY
WAF Visitation to the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral: A Reflective Account
By Marie Yakeza Te-Mendoza
๏ปฟ
My journey towards the visitation of the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, together with the relics of Saints Francisco and Jacinta, to the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral began quietly on 7 March 2026. After the previous parish visitation, we brought the statue, her crown, the relics, and other essentials to the Cathedral. Entering through the back door, climbing up to the music room, and meeting Father Vitaly, I found myself filled with questions. There was a deep sense of anticipation—this was no ordinary visit. This would be the first time the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue would come to the Ukrainian Cathedral in London. Something historic was about to unfold, and I was both curious and expectant.
Read more here
Reflections, thoughts and insights from members
Do you have something to share? A story or an experience which helped with your journey of faith ... please let us know.
FATIMA GLOBAL NEWS
Fatima News highlights from around the World
Vatican Grants Pontevedra Jubilee Year
Vatican grants a Jubilee Year to the Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Pontevedra for the centenary of Our Lady’s Apparition to Sister Lucia.
The Vatican has granted the Convent-Shrine of Pontevedra, in Spain, the privilege of celebrating a Marian Jubilee Year from December 10, 2025 to December 10, 2026, on the occasion of the centenary of the apparition of Our Lady and the Child Jesus to Sister Lucia. It was during this apparition, on December 10, 1925, that the devotion of the First Five Saturdays of the month was requested by Our Lady. Read more.
๏ปฟ
800th anniversary of Saint Francis of Assisi Paschal Journey
Eastertide & the Franciscan Jubilee
In this joyful season of Easter, we continue to celebrate the Jubilee Year of 2026 and the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis of Assisi’s transitus. The light of the Resurrection reveals even more deeply how Francis allowed the Risen Christ to shape his life with simplicity, joy, and trust.
As part of this Jubilee, the faithful may receive a plenary indulgence by:
- Visiting a designated Franciscan or Jubilee church
- Praying or taking part in a devotion in honour of Saint Francis
- Receiving confession and Holy Communion within the usual time
- Praying for the Holy Father’s intentions
- Nurturing an interior detachment from all sin
May the peace of the Risen Lord, so dear to Saint Francis, fill our homes and parish community this Eastertide
EVENTS / VISITATIONS
Our Cathedral visitations resumes. This month, 25th-26th April, we will be at the St Theresa of the Child Jesus Church, Harrow HA3 6PU, UK. Please visit our webpages to find out when we shall be visiting a Cathedral near you. More information can be found here.
23rd May – WAF E&W Formation Conference
The World Apostolate of Fatima England and Wales warmly invites you to its first Formation Conference, taking place on 23 May 2026 at 8:00 AM at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Commonwealth Avenue, White City, W12 7QR.
This special gathering is open to all members of the Apostolate and marks a meaningful milestone in our shared mission. The conference aims to:
- Bring to life the insights gained from our online formation sessions through talks, group activities, and dynamic small-group discussions.
- Inspire members—especially promoters—to embrace a more active and committed role within the Apostolate.
- Foster fellowship and strengthen our bonds as spiritual comrades, united in learning, living, and spreading the Message of Our Lady of Fatima and reflecting on the witness of the three shepherd children.
Conference Theme
“Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as the Way to Salvation (‘Calls’ from the Message of Fatima)”
This theme draws inspiration from Our Lady’s words during the July 1917 apparition:
“To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart.”
The day will begin with the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, followed by a rich programme of inspiring talks, engaging workshops, and interactive activities designed to deepen both understanding and commitment.
We are honoured that the conference speakers will include some of the Apostolate’s Spiritual Director/s and the lead/s of our Spiritual Programmes, who will guide us through reflection, formation, and practical application.
Registration Details
- Fee: £15.00 (includes a simple lunch)
- Registration Deadline: 15 April 2026
- How to Register:
- Click this link: https://bit.ly/WAFConference
- Or scan the QR code on the poster below
We warmly and wholeheartedly encourage all members to take part in this landmark event. Let us come together in faith, unity, and renewed zeal to live, learn and spread the message of Our Lady of Fatima!
๏ปฟ23rd May - Fundraising Charity Concertโฏ
We warmly invite everyone to lend their generous support as weโฏseekโฏto raise funds forโฏourโฏApostolate’s mission.
AโฏCharity Concertโฏwill be held on the evening ofโฏ23 May 2026, following the WAF England & Wales Formation Conference, at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Commonwealth Avenue, White City, W12 7QR.
This special fundraising event is presented in collaboration with the SinagโฏHimigโฏChorale and will reflect the inspiring theme:โฏ“Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
Through music and prayerful reflection, the evening aims not only to uplift hearts but also to strengthen our shared commitment to the Apostolate’s sacred mission. Your presence and support willโฏgreatly contributeโฏto the continued work of spreading Our Lady’s message.
The concert will begin atโฏ7:30 PM, following the celebration of the Vigil Mass. Guests may look forward to an evening of beautiful sacred melodies, thoughtful reflection, and uplifting choral music,โฏrenderedโฏby this world-class ensemble.
Indeed, it promises to be both spiritually enriching and artistically inspiring, abundantly filled with grace and joy. This event is open to the public.
The purpose of the concert is to support the Apostolate’s mission—most especially the forthcoming Cathedral visitation of the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, together with the relics of Saints Francisco and Jacinta, onโฏ31 October 2026โฏat the Westminster Cathedral (Metropolitan Cathedral of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus).โฏ
Ticket Prices:โฏ
£15.00 – Adultโฏ
£10.00 – Childโฏ
For tickets and reservation kindly contact the official WAF (E&W) mobile number:โฏ07788473210โฏ
Mayโฏ Our Lady’sโฏImmaculate Heart be our refuge and the way that leads us to God!โฏAve Maria!
WAF VOLUNTEERS - URGENT APPEAL
- Volunteering for WAF England & Wales:
DONATE TO WAF ENGLAND & WALES
We sincerely appreciate your decision to support the mission of the World Apostolate of Fatima - England and Wales. You have the option to make a one-time or monthly donation by clicking the button below. We embrace various forms of assistance, whether it be financial contributions, heartfelt prayers, or volunteer efforts.
