World Apostolate of Fatima to hold Days of Recollection
Conference to focus on the Year of the Eucharist

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
April 21, 2005

The World Apostolate of Fatima is sponsoring two days of recollection this year on April 29 and 30.

The days of recollection will focus on the Year of the Eucharist and the message of Our Lady of Fatima.

"I really think that people don't remember Fatima like they should," said Mary Ann Wente, vice-president of the Sioux City Diocese Chapter of the World Apostolate of Fatima. "I think that when Our Lady appeared at Fatima, that message was good for all time. I just think that we have become very negligent about what she told us there. I think this is such a wonderful reminder when we have these days of recollection to get focused in on Our Lady's plans for us and what she meant and the way she wanted us to live."

On April 29, services will be held at St. Joseph Church, 8th and Iowa, Sioux City with registration beginning at 6:30 p.m. Father David Hemann, pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Ida Grove and Our Lady of Good Counsel in Holstein, will give a talk on the Eucharist.

Father Hemann will also present a musical concert followed by eucharistic adoration led by Father John McGuirk, the spiritual advisor of the World Apostolate of Fatima and pastor at St. Martin Church in Odebolt and St. Joseph Church in Wall Lake.

On April 30, the program will be held at Trinity Heights, Marian Center, 33rd and Floyd Blvd., Sioux City. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. followed by a talk by Father Raymond Wieling titled, "The Angel of Peace/Eucharist." The video, "I am the Living Bread," will also be shown. Mass will be held at 11:15 a.m. with Father McGuirk giving the homily.

"I hope people attending will gain a better understanding of Our Lady of Fatima," said Wente. "What she told us there is important today as it was when she told it to us. I just hope that they will really go away living her message."

Those planning on attending the conference are asked to bring a sack lunch and drinks and desserts will be provided.

Weather permitting there will be a rosary procession outside at 12:45 p.m. The closing of the day at Trinity Heights will be at 2 p.m.

"We invite everyone to come, everyone is welcome," said Wente. "We are especially extending an invitation to the youth of the community. We would love to get the youth involved."

According to Wente, the late Holy Father, John Paul II, was a great promoter of the Fatima message.

"Fatima is a call for us to respond to our Lord in faith, hope and love," said the pope. "It is a call to loyalty to the church, to its teachings and to eucharistic reparation. Fatima begins and ends with the holy Eucharist. Mary's message to the three children at Fatima in 1917 remains ever relevant. It is more urgent now than ever."

Wente concluded that if someone has never been to the days of recollection before, they should "come and get refreshed. It is really a great way of getting back into focus. When we hear Our Lady's peace plan, I think that hearing it like this we will really want to live it."