Quest 15

Quest 15 - Latest Edition

From Cathedral to Cathedral in honour of Our Lady
by Norman Fulkerson - 18 July 2007

Over 100 people walk all night on foot through Sydney commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions

When Our Lady appeared at Fatima she asked for prayer and penance and that is exactly what a large group of Australians gave Her on the night of 13 July 2007. Under the leadership of Australia Needs Fatima, over 145 people gathered at St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta to walk a 25-kilometres pilgrimage, which ended at St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney on the morning of the 14th.

With the blessings of Fr Wym – Dean of St Patrick's – and Fr. Terrence Naughtin they departed, full of enthusiasm, at 11:00 PM, a long column snaking out the cathedral gates and along Victoria Road: clergy, nuns in beautiful habits, and lay people.

One lady, when asked why she came, simply said, "When I heard about the walk I figured it was something I needed to do". Another one commented that when she heard about the pilgrimage her reaction was, "I can do that", as if to challenge herself to do what our Lady asked at Fatima.

There was a very large and animated youth group from the Sydney Maronite community. They ranged in age from late teens to early twenties and their youthful enthusiasm was something to behold. It was edifying to see these kids on a Friday night – when most young people are out partying – doing an all night pilgrimage.

Most people found out about the walk at their local parishes where news was printed in many parish bulletins. One lady, from a city two hours south of Sydney, photocopied the information and handed them out in her parish and was joined by a friend. Although both of them were in their late sixties they persevered to the end.

Others found out about the walk on the Australia Needs Fatima website. Khush, a young lady of Indian descent, stumbled upon the event while doing, of all things, a Google search. Before converting to Catholicism this past Easter she was a member of the Zoroastrian religion. She explained that it was a religion practiced by one of the three Magi Kings before he met our Lord. He later converted, but the religion which entails the worship of fire, remained active.

Her conversion process began one day as she was walking along one of the beautiful Australian beaches. She happened to see a Catholic Church some distance away with the doors opened. She entered, sat down and immediately felt a supernatural presence, which she could only describe as Divine. She would later understand it as the True Presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. After becoming Catholic she quickly developed a devotion to our Lady and was happy to participate in this commemoration of the 90th Anniversary of our Lady's apparition at Fatima.

Jessie and Evelyn did not walk in the pilgrimage, but provided a much appreciated snack along the way. They are a Philippino couple we met during the planning stages, when we happened to stop in front of their home to jot down notes. When they found out about the pilgrimage, Evelyn became enthusiastic and offered to serve hot refreshments for the pilgrims when they passed her home.

We arrived at their home at 4:00 in the morning, quite exhausted, thirsty and hungry. What we saw left everyone extremely touched. They had prepared a delicious chicken soup with rice that tasted like manna from heaven and was more than sufficient to serve everyone present. It not only warmed us, but gave us sufficient energy to continue our pilgrimage. They also provided chairs for us to sit down along with hot tea, chocolate and biscuits.

When we finally arrived in Sydney's central business district the sun was rising. Following a custom of pilgrims walking to Chartres Cathedral in France, the whole group knelt when St. Mary's Cathedral hove into view, lit magnificently by the early morning sun. Fr Terence Naughtin led a prayer of thanks giving for arriving safely at journey's end.

One by one the pilgrims made their way into the church for benediction. I intentionally sat in the back so as to absorb the whole scene. The sun shone through a magnificent stain glass window in the nave as tired pilgrims sat motionless in their pews. A statue of our Lady of Fatima, placed in front of the communion rail, seemed to smile down upon those who had taken Her appeal for prayer and penance so seriously that night.

One of the pilgrims entered the pew next to me and I could see the pain discreetly registered on his face as he knelt to greet Our Lord. He did not allow this to deter him, however, and maintained a dignified posture. He simply gritted his teeth and bore the suffering like a man. As an American, observing his profile I could not help but see that he was characteristically what I imagined an Aussie to be, with his manly features reflecting a toughness capable of enduring whatever life has to offer.

What this man and so many others offered on this night was what Our Lady of Fatima asked for: Prayer and Penance. Their collective aches, pains and blisters were like a fragrant perfume before the throne of God who, as Our Lady said, "is much offended" by the sins of the world. During the Benediction a lady fainted from exhaustion. When she came to again, those around her offered a bit of food to revive her. As I approached to see how she was doing, I saw a smile on her face.

I will never forget the peace I felt in St. Mary's Cathedral that morning. This was the peace that Our Lady promised at Fatima to those who listen to Her requests. This peace is much more than the superficial definition of peace held by so many in the world today, namely a mere absence of armed conflict. Rather, it was the serenity that comes from doing God's holy will.

The participants in the pilgrimage commemorating the 90th Anniversary of Fatima truly did listen to Our Lady's request and were rewarded by the Mother of God with true peace.

>>> Read what pilgrims have to say.

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