Fatima message center of Days of Recollection

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Posted March 27, 2002

In an effort to focus on Our Lady of Fatima's message of hope during this year of the rosary, Days of Recollection are planned for April 11-12 at Trinity Heights in Sioux City.

The prayerful event is sponsored by local members of the World Apostolate of Fatima, formerly known as the Blue Army.

Mary Ann Wente, a parishioner at Cathedral in Sioux City and vice president of the local apostolate, said the Days of Recollection would include talks by guest speaker Father Victor Ramaeker as well as Father John McGuirk, the apostolate's spiritual director. Father Raymond Wieling will also be on hand.

"It is the message of Fatima that we would like to instill in people. Mary told the children at Fatima if they would pray the rosary everyday, we would have peace. It is so simple," she explained.

The local apostolate held their first Days of Recollection last year as the nation was healing in the aftermath of Sept. 11.

"And now, here we are planning this one and we are in war," she said. "We feel that Mary wants this."

The session on April 11 will run from 7 to 9 p.m. and will feature a talk by Father Ramaeker on the message of Fatima. The evening session will also include the rosary, adoration and confessions.

The day will begin at 8:45 a.m. and conclude at 2 p.m. on April 12. Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Father Ramaeker presentation that day will address the Eucharistic presence of Jesus. Father McGuirk will offer an afternoon presentation on the rosary. Other activities on April 12 include rosary, intercessory prayers and a slide presentation.

Wente pointed out that the Blue Army was started in the 1940s by a New Jersey priest, Father Harold V. Colgan. One morning he told his congregation that they could combat the atheists Red Army with an army of their own. He encouraged his people to wear blue as they concentrated their prayer efforts on peace. The priest told them, "We will be the Blue Army of Our Lady against the Red Army of atheism."

With the group's message centered on the message of Our Lady of Fatima, the name eventually changed. Today the apostolate has millions of members. Sioux City has several prayer groups or cells affiliated with the apostolate and there are numerous others throughout the diocese.

Anyone is invited to attend. There is no pre-registration required. Participants should arrive at 6:30 p.m. Friday to register and 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. People can attend both days or just one. If they plan to attend the entire day on Saturday, they are asked to bring a sack lunch. Dessert and coffee will be provided.

For more information contact Wente at (712) 255-8883 or Mary Margaret Sudbeck at (712) 239-9031.