Featured this month:The Miracle of the Sun & Victory
Dear Readers,
As we journey through October, the month of the Holy Rosary, we place ourselves once again under the loving mantle of Our Lady of Fatima. More than a century after the Miracle of the Sun, her call to prayer, repentance and conversion remains profoundly relevant in a world longing for peace, hope and healing.
May Mother Mary lead us closer to her Son, Jesus, and teach us to trust that, even amid the uncertainties and struggles of our times, God’s grace will have the final victory.
In this edition, “The Miracle of the Sun and Victory,” let us pause and renew our confidence in God, asking Our Lady to intercede for our families, our Church and our troubled world. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us and lead us always to the Heart of Jesus.
REFLECTIONS FROM OUR NATIONAL SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR
This month, I found myself thinking again about the extraordinary events at Fatima on 13 October 1917, when more than 70,000 people witnessed the Miracle of the Sun. What does this remarkable event have to say to us today, in a world of uncertainty and rapid change? Above all, it reminds us of the greatness and love of God, and of Mary’s promise that “in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.”
The message of Fatima cascades from generation to generation. A message that highlights Mary's Immaculate Heart is given by God as a secure refuge and a direct pathway leading souls to salvation and closer union with Jesus Christ.
On the 13th of October 1917 apparition, Our Lady revealed that she is the Lady of the Rosary and requested:
I want a chapel to be built in my honour.
Pray the Rosary every day.
Do not offend the Lord Our God anymore, because He is already so much offended.
As an Apostolate, we continue to keep the Fatima message alive by visiting Cathedral and Parishes around the Country and explaining Heaven’s peace plan. The culmination of the Cathedral Tour (2025-2026*) will shortly be completed when we visit Westminster Cathedral at the end of October. For full details of all remaining visits please see details in the below notices. We hope you can join us as we continue our pilgrimage of Hope.
Notices
1. Monthly on-line Rosary
Held on the first Sunday of the month at 7pm. Next online rosary will be on the 4th October 2026 (link)
2. Promoters – Online Formation
Held third Monday of the month, every two months – next meeting 19 October 2026 at 7pm. The Lives and Spirituality of Ss Francisco and Jacinta Marto by Fr Graham Ricketts, WAF Spiritual Director for Diocese of Arundel & Brighton. (link)
3. National Fatima Pilgrimage (10–17 September 2027)
We are now oversubscribed with pilgrims and have created a reserve list. Pilgrims will shortly be contacted to confirm their interest so that the next phase of planning can commence. At present no one should make a flight booking until accommodation is confirmed and flight schedules are released so we can coordinate times of arrival etc. We are also in discussion with the Hotel to see if further rooms can be obtained.
4. WAF-E&W AGM (20 November 2026)
This year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held at Belmont Abbey. Members will also have a wonderful opportunity to meet Sister Angela de Fátima Coelho. Reservations can be made by scanning the QR code on the poster: [Link to Poster/Registration]
5. First Saturdays Symposium – Guest Speakers: Sr. Angela de Fátima Coelho and Fr. Lawrence Lew OP
Bookings are now open. You can register by scanning the QR Code on the respective posters below:
For dates of up-coming cathedral and parish visitations see (link)
Yours devotedly in Christ and in the Immaculate Heart of Mary,โฏ
Patrick Cunninghamโฏ
National President – WAF-E&Wโฏ
*All planned 2025-2026 cathedral visitations will be completed except for Salford Cathedral which has been postponed to 2027 due to the maintenance works.
The Miracle of the Sun at Fatima offers a powerful reminder that Our Lady’s message was not simply about witnessing a great sign, but about prayer, penance, conversion and drawing closer to Christ. With the promise that “in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph,” we are invited to trust in God’s victory while faithfully playing our part through the small, often unseen acts of prayer, sacrifice and love that fill our daily lives.
Read the full article
by Fr Alex Pumphrey, MIC. Fr Alex is a Marian Father from the Divine Mercy Apostolate in London.
My Soul Magnifies the Lord: October Dedicated to The Rosary and the Victory of Christ
As we reflect this month onโฏThe Miracle of the Sun and Victory, we are invited to rediscover the Rosary as a prayer of trust in God’s triumph. In this deeply personal reflection, the journey from a child’s simple faith to a daily surrender at the feet of Christ reveals the enduring message of Fatima: through Mary, we are drawn closer to Jesus, learning to say our own “yes” and to hope confidently in His victory.
Russia and Portugal: Two Spiritual Symbols In The Message of Fatima
Russia and Portugal are more than geographical locations in the story of Fatima; they can be understood as icons of two possible responses to God. One arises from the pride of self-sufficiency and leads towards a civilisation without God, while the other is born from Mary’s Fiat, a humble surrender to divine truth, opening the human heart and society to the transforming power of Divine Mercy.
Fatima reveals a path from the logic of autonomy to the logic of surrender, reminding us that the ultimate victory belongs to God.
Read the full article here
from our Deputy National Spiritual Director Fr Marcin Budzinski.
3rd October – Reflection for the First Saturday Devotion
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.
Fatima to be Highlighted at International Marian Conference in Rome
๏ปฟin October 2026
An important international Marian conference,De Maria numquam satis –“Of Mary, one can never say enough”, will take place in Rome on 7 and 8 October 2026. The conference will bring together distinguished cardinals, theologians, professors and scholars to reflect upon the Blessed Virgin Mary and her place at the heart of the Church’s life, faith and devotion.
The conference will be opened by Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke and will include contributions from a number of eminent Catholic scholars. Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller will participate in the second day and in the concluding round-table discussion. The programme will consider the Blessed Virgin Mary in Catholic doctrine, worship and devotion, with the aim of encouraging a deeper and more authentic Marian life within the Church.
Of particular interest to the World Apostolate of Fatima is the participation of Timothy Tindal-Robertson, who has served as National President of the World Apostolate of Fatima in England and Wales and has devoted many years to promoting the authentic message of Fatima. He is also the author of several works on Fatima and has written extensively on the message of Our Lady and its importance for the Church and the world.
Timothy has been invited to take part in the concluding round-table discussion, where he will be one of three speakers addressing the subject of Fatima. This provides a valuable opportunity for the message entrusted by Our Lady at Fatima to be presented within an international gathering devoted to a deeper understanding of Mary and her mission.
We ask Our Lady of Fatima to accompany Timothy and all the participants in this important conference, that their discussions may help to renew authentic Marian devotion and lead many hearts closer to her Immaculate Heart and, through her, to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!
THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
IN DOGMA AND WORSHIP
Theological and Historical Contributions
International Conference
7-8 OCTOBER 2026
Augustinian Patristic Institute
(Via Paolo VI, 25 – 00193 Rome RM)
October – Month of the Holy Rosary: A Month of Prayer, Renewal and Mission
As we enter the month of October, traditionally dedicated to the Holy Rosary, we warmly invite all WAF Leaders and members throughout the world to unite in prayer and apostolic action.
October is a particularly meaningful month for the World Apostolate of Fatima. It gives us the opportunity to deepen our love for the Holy Rosary, make the Message of Fatima more known and lived, and renew our commitment to the mission entrusted to us through the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The Message of Fatima continues to remind us of the importance of prayer, conversion, penance, sacrifice and reparation, particularly through the daily praying of the Holy Rosary.
October 1st to 7th: One Million Children Praying the Rosary for Peace
From 1–7 October, Aid to the Church in Need invites one million children around the world to pray the Rosary for peace and unity, with parishes, schools, families and communities encouraged to choose the day most suitable for them. The week begins on 1 October with children joining Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican Gardens and culminates on 7 October, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, with the Rosary prayed at the Chapel of the Apparitions in Fatima. Families, schools and parishes can register their pledge to pray and download prayer materials at https://acninternational.org/millionchildrenpraying/.
The 28th edition of the Worldwide Children’s Holy Hour is taking place on October 13, anniversary of the last apparition of Our Lady in Fatima.
The members of the World Apostolate of Fatima promote the Children’s Holy Hour program throughout the entire year, as part of our mission of evangelization.
The spirit of Fatima was alive at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Cramlington as the parish community gathered in the presence of the Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima to complete the First Five Saturdays Devotion.
Running monthly from May through September, the devotions were shared among parish clergy: Parish Priest Fr. Manoj, Canon Stephen Watson, and Dean Fr. Shaun O’Neill. The series reached its joyful conclusion on September 5th with a principal Mass celebrated by Fr. O’Neill and concelebrated by Fr. Manoj.
WAF Visits Our Lady and St Michael's RC Church in Abergavenny
On this first Saturday of September, Our Lady of Fàtima and the Relics of Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto have visited the Priory Church of Our Lady and St Michael in Abergavenny, Wales.
World Apostolate of Fatima England & Wales at Brentwood Cathedral
The Diocese of Brentwood marked a profoundly graceโfilled moment on 12 September 2026, the Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary, as Bishop Alan Williams, SM, solemnly received, crowned, and blessed the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fàtima together with the Relics of Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto. The celebration formed part of the continuing Fatima Centenary evangelisation mission across England and Wales, drawing the faithful into renewed devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
๏ปฟWorld Apostolate of Fatima England & Wales at Saint Helen's Westcliff
“Edifying.”
This was the word chosen by Rev. Fr. Viktor Aurellana, RCJ, parish priest of Our Lady Help of Christians and St Helen, Westcliff, to describe the graceโfilled weekend of 19–20 September 2026, when the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fàtima and the Relics of Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto visited the parish.
Oct. 10-11 Metropolitan Cathedral of St. David, Cardiff (Cardiff-Menevia Diocese)
Oct. 17-18 Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Norwich (East Anglia Diocese)
Oct. 24-25 St. Mary, West Croydon (Southwark Diocese)
Oct. 31 Metropolitan Cathedral of the Most Precious Blood, London (Westminster Diocese)
Nov. 7-8 St. Joseph, New Malden (Southwark Diocese)
Nov. 7 The Oratory, Birmingham (CPVS, TBC)
Nov. 14-15 St. Augustine, Hammersmith (Westminster Diocese)
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