Holy Relic Visitation: Our Lady of Fatima Prayer Group, 5/27/2017

"Therefore encourage one another and

build one another up, just as you are doing."

~ 1 Thessalonians, 5-11

Sacred Relics of the three Fatima
Seers & Bl. Alexandrina Maria Da
Costa grace the display altar.

Happy, Blessed Birthday to Our Lady of Fatima Prayer Group in Mililani!  Our meeting tonight marked a special milestone for us - the 5th Anniversary of our monthly rosary group.  Started back in May 2012 by my coworker and friend, Dre, we're still going strong, through the grace and goodness of our Lord and Blessed Mother.  So what a meaningful prayer night we had this evening...

Most of our core group were present and we reminisced over some of the blessings and special favors we've shared and witnessed as a "prayer family"... as well as some of the personal challenges that we helped each other to overcome.  It's amazing how five years passed so quickly.  It seems like it was just a year ago that we started coming together as a group in response to Our Lady of Fatima's 1917 request to pray the Holy Rosary for peace and for the conversion of sinners.

And speaking of Fatima, another reason for us to celebrate was because of the canonization of the two child-seers of these epic Marian apparitions - St. Francisco and St. Jacinta Marto. Being that Our Lady of Fatima is the patroness/namesake of our prayer group, her three visionaries have a special place in our hearts, along with Bl. Alexandrina Maria da Costa, the "fourth seer of Fatima".  We've been diligently praying a special prayer for their speedy canonizations - two down, two more to go (Sr. Lucia and Bl. Alexandrina have yet to be officially recognized as Saints).

So our meeting was accompanied by frequent goosebumps as we recited our usual line-up of prayers. There was definitely an extra-special presence of the divine in the room with us - a very real energy - and several commented about their "chicken skin" moments... perhaps it was due to the significance of the anniversary... or maybe because we had relics present from all three Fatima seers and Bl. Alexandrina Maria.  I personally felt that they were there, too -  praying for us and with us.

All in all, we couldn't have asked for a better anniversary celebration.  The company was great... the prayers were meaningful... the vibe from the Holy Spirit was awesome... and the potluck that followed was delicious!  God be willing, we look forward to celebrating the 6th Anniversary next May with continued gratitude for our loving spiritual ohana and for the blessings we'll receive until then.  Thank you Jesus and Blessed Mother Mary!

"For where two or three are gathered

in my name, there am I among them.”

~ Words of Jesus, Matthew 18:20