September 2026 Newsletter

SEPTEMBER 2026 NEWSLETTER

IN THE SCHOOL OF MARY

Dear Readers,  


As September arrives and we return from the summer holidays to the familiar rhythm of school, work and family life, it is a wonderful opportunity to begin afresh and refocus on what truly matters. The message of Fatima gently reminds us of the simplicity and power of prayer, sacrifice and trust in God. 


As our homes and communities settle into new routines, may Our Lady of Fatima, walk with us, helping us to make time for prayer, especially the Rosary, and to keep her Son, Jesus, at the heart of our everyday lives.


Featured this month:  The Call to Prayer and Simplicity

The story of the three shepherd children reminds us that, amid the turmoil and distractions of life, we are called to deepen our relationship with God through prayer, especially the Rosary, which brings us closer to Jesus and Mary. Their example also teaches us to embrace simplicity, humility and childlike trust in God, offering our daily sacrifices and duties for the salvation of others. 


Read more here. 

SEPTEMBER – THE CALL TO PRAYER AND SIMPLICITY

Call to Prayer and Simplicity

by Sr. Mary Goncalves F.D.C.

The following article reminds us that prayer is God’s gift and invitation to enter into a deep relationship and communion with Him, calling us to pray with simplicity, humility, trust, and perseverance.  


Through Jesus and Mary, we learn to surrender ourselves to God, intercede for others, and remain faithful even in times of dryness, suffering, or distraction.  


The following article reminds us that ultimately, prayer does not change God but transforms us, drawing us closer to Him and enabling us to become instruments of His love and peace. 


Read more here.


 NEWSLETTER CONTENTS

Dear Members, 


Fatima is often remembered primarily for its miraculous signs, apocalyptic secrets, or specific devotions, yet its core call is simply grounded in everyday life.  


In the Catholic tradition, "daily duty" (or the duties of one's state in life) refers to the simple, daily obligations of a person's routine—whether as a parent, worker, student, or religious. By prioritizing this over external devotions, Sister Lúcia aligned the message with a classical spiritual principle: Extraordinary devotions mean very little if they cause someone to neglect their fundamental duties to God, family, and neighbour.  


Sister Lúcia later expanded on this, explaining that offering up the routine sacrifices, frustrations, and responsibilities of daily life acts as a continuous prayer of reparation. While Our Lady of Fatima certainly requested the daily Rosary and the practice of the First Saturdays, those prayers were meant to sanctify and support a faithful life, not replace the essential work of living virtuously in one's station.   


John Haffert, our co-founder went on to integrate this focus into the Pledge of the Blue Army (which later became the World Apostolate of Fatima), placing the faithful fulfilment of daily duty right alongside the First Saturday devotion, the Rosary and the Scapular.  


Notices  


1.  National Spiritual Director  

The Trustees and Spiritual Leads have selected from a pool of five candidates who offered their services to become the next Spiritual Director. We hope to announce the successful candidate as soon as formalities have been completed. Please continue to pray for all our spiritual directors who diligently serve the Apostolate.  


2.  National Fatima Pilgrimage (10–17 September 2027)  

To date we have 28 pilgrims who have expressed an interest in joining next year's National Fatima Pilgrimage. We are aiming for around 54 pilgrims, so we are well on the way to achieving this. If you are interested, please advise as soon as possible.  

  

See the poster for outline details and contact information for the pilgrimage organizer (Patrick Cunningham), whom you should contact to register your interest. [Link to Poster]


See guidance notes, including the itinerary and details of the optional day trip to Lisbon: [Link to Guidance Notes]  


3.  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]  

  

4.  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:  


Belmont Abbey: Saturday, 21 November 2026 [Link to Belmont Abbey Booking]  


London: Sunday, 22 November 2026 [Link to London Booking]  


5.  Cathedral / Parish Visitations  

For dates of up-coming cathedral and parish visitations see (link)  

 

Yours devotedly in Christ and in the Immaculate Heart of Mary,


Patrick Cunningham 

National President WAF-E&W 

Call to Prayer through the ‘We Believe’ Festival – Four days of Faith, Grace and Mission

by Suresh

The WeBelieve Festival at St Mary’s College, Oscott, brought together bishops, priests, religious communities, families and lay faithful for four days of Mass, prayer, Adoration, fellowship, teaching and mission, celebrating the richness and diversity of the Catholic Church. The festival encouraged everyone to remain open to the Holy Spirit, reflect on their vocation, deepen their relationship with Christ and recognise the Eucharist as the heart of the Church. Inspired by Mary’s faithful “yes” and St Paul’s words, “We believe, therefore we speak,” participants were sent home renewed in faith and ready to share the Gospel in their families, parishes and communities. 


Read more here.


Fatima begins with the Angel of Peace who calls to Prayer through reverence to God 

by Father Marcin Budzinski 

Fatima begins with the Angel of Peace who calls to Prayer through reverence to God 


The article explains that the message of Fatima begins with the Angel of Peace, who taught the three shepherd children that adoration of God and reverence for the Eucharist come before everything else. 


It emphasises that true peace begins with reconciliation with God, since peace in the world cannot exist without peace in the human heart. 


The article also connects the multiplication of the loaves to the Eucharist, describing the Eucharist as Christ’s greatest gift and the heart of the Church. 


It stresses that Mary’s role at Fatima is to lead people to Christ and, hence, to a deeper love of the Eucharist. Ultimately, it also reflects the modern world’s deepest crisis, which is a loss of the sense of reverence, loss of the sacred and a failure to recognise the importance of worship and adoration. 


Read more here.


Join the World Apostolate of Fatima (USA) in praying the

54-day Novena for Our Nations

August 15, feast of the Assumption - October 7, feast of Our Lady of the Rosary 


Our Lady’s Blue Army is inviting you to join with the Coalition of Eucharistic and Marian Apostolates and thousands of people across the nation in praying the 54-Day Rosary Novena for Our Nation, beginning on the feast of the Assumption to the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (Aug. 15 – Oct. 7). Please join us! 


Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. 

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.  


Link to download the special 54-day novena prayers:

https://www.bluearmy.com/54-day-rosary-novena/

5th September – 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.


Locations | Leaflets MeditationsEnquiries

KEEP ME COMPANY FOR 15 MINUTES”, said Our Lady to Sr. Lucia, on the 10th December 1925. 


For this First Saturday of the Month:


The Fifth Joyful Mystery 

The Losing and Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple 

Let us look for Jesus through Mary.


Read more here.

Upcoming Liturgical Feast Days & Events

08 September Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

11 September Most Holy Name of Mary

13 September 5th Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima

15 September Our Lady of Sorrows

23 September St Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

29 September  Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels 

20 November    WAF-E&W AGM, Belmont Abbey

21 November     Fatima Symposium, Belmont Abbey, Hereford

22 November     Fatima Symposium, London

Fatima Pilgrimage 10-17 Sept 2027


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. 



EVENTS / VISITATIONS

Cathedral and Parish Visitations

Please visit our webpages to find out when we shall be visiting a Cathedral near you. More information can be found here.

Sept. 5-6          Priory Church of Our Lady and St. Michael, Abergavenny (Cardiff-Menevia Diocese)

Sept. 12             Brentwood Cathedral, Brentwood Diocese

Sept. 12            St Bede's, South Shields, Hexham and Newcastle (CPVS, TBC)

Sept. 19-20      Our Lady and St. Helen, Westcliff (Brentwood Diocese)

Sept. 26-27      Cathedral Church of Sts. Peter and Paul, Bristol (Clifton Diocese)

Sept. 26           St Thomas Aquinas, Bletchley, Milton Keynes (CPVS)


Oct. 3-4            Holy Rood, Swindon (Clifton Diocese)

Oct. 3               Shrewsbury Cathedral (CPVS)

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)

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.

DONATIONS: PLEASE SUPPORT OUR WORK