WAF England and Wales Visitations

The World Apostolate of Fatima, England and Wales, offers Visitations of the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue and Relics of Saints Jacinta and Francisco to Cathedrals, parish churches and other groups.


These comprise a short talk and DVD on the message of Fatima, as seen through the lives of the two shepherd children, Saints Francisco and Jacinta, and a PowerPoint presentation explaining how the Rosary and the Five First Saturdays devotion can revitalise personal faith and authentic spirituality in the life of the parish or group, together with beautiful colour photos of holy events and places in Fatima. Books, booklets, prayer cards, leaflets and DVDs about Fatima are available for sale. 


This year, 2025, is the Centenary Year of the Five First Saturdays devotion, and as during the very successful Visitation programme in the Centenary year, 2017, so from May 2025 to October 2026, Fatima Statues and Relics will be visiting various Cathedrals and churches in England and Wales.

The Centenary celebrates the occasion when the Blessed Virgin appeared to Lucia, the oldest of the Fatima seers, on the 10th December 1925, after she had joined the Dorothean Convent at Pontevedra, Spain. Our Lady appeared with the Child Jesus and requested the adoption of the Five First Saturdays devotion by Catholics.


The National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady, like many of those which have been sent around the world, was blessed by Pope Paul VI at Fatima in May 1967, and then given to this country by the Bishop of Fatima in 1968. It was also blessed by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Britain in 1982.


The Centenary Pilgrim Virgin Statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, is focused on the Five First Saturdays devotion. 


Booking for the visitations through the custodians can made here


The purpose of the NPVS and CPVSIHM Statue visitations is to spread the message of Fatima throughout England & Wales, and to encourage the local faithful to respond to Our Lady of Fatima’s requests to offer prayer and reparation for the conversion of sinners as a condition for peace and the spiritual health of our country. 


Also, the Visitations promote the cause of the canonisation of the Servant of God Sr. Lucia, the First Saturdays Devotion of Reparation, and the daily recitation of the Holy Rosary. If we do these effectively, many souls will respond and be willing to help spread the message to parishes throughout the diocese.

Below are some testimonies from the Bishops of England and Wales on the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue Visitations to their dioceses and cathedrals.

  • Homily of Cardinal Nichols, Westminster Cathedral, 18th Feb 2017

    I pray that the pilgrimage of this statue of Our Lady of Fatima, on its journey round the cathedrals of England and Wales, will be a time of grace for many, as they honour Our Lady of Fatima in this centenary year.

  • Letter from Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark

    [The Visitation of the National Pilgrim Virgin] was indeed a wonderful occasion … a very dignified celebration. I was delighted to see so many in the Cathedral and the atmosphere was one of deep devotion and I think it uplifted all of us who attended.

  • Letter from Archbishop Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool

     thought the visit to Liverpool was a wonderful occasion and I have heard words of gratitude for the opportunity to visit the Cathedral and to venerate the relics of the newly canonised saints Francisco and Jacinta.

  • Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham

    Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham received our committee in audience before the Mass on the occasion of the Visitation, heard a 10 minute address outlining our work in the Church, and then invited us to send him a report on the Visitations of the National Pilgrim Virgin to the Cathedrals of England & Wales, which he subsequently presented to the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelisation.

  • Message from Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth, to the Staff and Students of St. George’s College, Southampton

    The Bishop has asked that his thanks be passed on to all the members of the committee of the World Apostolate of Fatima. The visit of the Pilgrim Statue brought great blessings to the Cathedral and the Diocese.

    Letter from Bishop Peter Doyle, Bishop of Northampton

  • Letter from Bishop Peter Doyle, Bishop of Northampton

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  • Letter from Bishop Alan Hopes of East Anglia

    I am delighted that you are pleased with the visitation of the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima to the Cathedral of East Anglia.


    We were all invigorated by the weekend and thrilled that so many people had the opportunity to celebrate the Centenary and venerate the relics of the two new saints.

A Visitation to a Cathedral or church involves the celebration of Holy Mass, presided over, if possible, by the bishop, or the local priest, together with a procession of the Pilgrim Virgin Statue, and veneration of the relics of Saints Francisco and Jacinta. 


To foster a greater participation in the devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, we now have two visitation teams, one covering the South of England and Wales and one to the North as shown on the map.


The Southern team uses the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue (NPVS) of Our Lady of Fatima, whilst the northern team uses the Centenary Pilgrim Virgin Statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CPVSIHM).


The Northern Dioceses cover: Hexham & Newcastle, Lancaster, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Salford, Liverpool, Hallam, Shrewsbury, Nottingham, and Wrexham. 


The Southern Dioceses cover: Plymouth, Clifton, Portsmouth, Arundel & Brighton, Southwark, Brentwood, Westminster, Northampton, East Anglia, Birmingham, Cardiff-Menevia.


During a Visitation, time is set aside for the Rosary (dedicated to world peace), a Presentation and video about Fatima, and for Investiture and Enrolment in the Brown Scapular, plus Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 


Visitations also have a book table where Fatima books, booklets and leaflets can be seen and purchased, as well as prayer cards, rosaries, and devotional items. And there is also the opportunity to present prayer petitions to Our Lady and to join the Apostolate through signing the WAF Pledge.

Jane Faber, New York

“I would highly commend having a Fatima presentation in your parish, we at St Mary’s and St Paul’s in Nottingham found it to be very informative and inspiring.” 


Fr David Palmer, St Paul’s church, Lenton, Nottingham”