Between May 13 and October 13, 1917, three Portuguese shepherd children received apparitions of Our Lady near Fátima.  Francisco Marto was one of those children. At that time, Europe was involved in an extremely bloody
war. Portugal itself was in political turmoil, having overthrown its monarchy in 1910. The government disbanded religious organizations soon after.
 
At the first appearance, Mary asked the children to return to that spot on the thirteenth of each month for the next six months. She also asked them to learn to read and write and to pray the rosary “to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war.” They were to pray for sinners and for the conversion of Russia, which had recently overthrown Czar Nicholas II and was soon to
fall under communism. Up to 90,000 people gathered for Mary’s final apparition on October 13, 1917.
 
Less than two years later, Francisco died of influenza in his family home. He was buried in the parish cemetery and then re-buried in the Fátima basilica in 1952. Pope Francis canonized Francisco on his visit to Fátima to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first apparition–May 13, 2017. The shrine of Our Lady of Fátima is visited by up to 20 million people a year.

April 4, 2019 marks the 100 ^th anniversary of the death of St. Francisco Marto of Fátima. To commemorate this anniversary, Our Lady of the Rosary parish has accepted the invitation of the International Shrine of Our Lady of the
Rosary in Fátima to join them in prayer: “From Fátima for the World, Rosary for Peace," responding as faithful children to the constant petition of Our Lady of Fátima, during all Her apparitions to the shepherd children. In addition to praying for world peace, we will be praying for the conversion of poor
sinners; in reparation for insults, sacrileges, and indifferences towards the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist; the offenses against the Immaculate Heart of Mary; and for the salvation of the holy souls in purgatory.
 
All are invited to a Holy Hour for Peace at Our Lady of the Rosary on Thursday, April 4, 2019 with adoration beginning at 6:00 pm, the praying of the Rosary at 6:15 pm, and concluding at 7:00 pm with an Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Benediction. We will have priests available to hear confessions during the Holy Hour.
 
Please join us in asking St. Francisco to pray for us as we pray for peace.