OFFICIAL NAME
World Apostolate of Fatima
AKRONYM
WAF
ESTABLISHED
1999
HISTORY
The World Apostolate of Fatima has its origin in the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima. The Blue Army was founded as a parish organisation in St. Mary’s Parish, Plainfield, New Jersey USA by the late Monsignor Harold Colgan, who devoted his priesthood to spreading the Message of Fatima. Together with Mr. John Haffert, an American publisher, he worked to make the Blue Army a national organisation in the USA and finally, with the collaboration of Dom Joao Venâncio Bishop of Leiria, Portugal, to spread it worldwide.
On the 7th October 2005, Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Pontifical Council for the Laity decreed the erection of the World Apostolate of Fatima as an international association of the faithful.
IDENTITY
The mission of the World Apostolate of Fatima is the new evangelization pursued through the promotion of the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church and the strict adherence to the tenets of the Gospel; the personal sanctificationof its members through faithful adherence to the message of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima, Portugal, in 1917, to three little shepherds, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta Marto and the promotion of the common good by the spreading of this same message.
Our Lady of Fatima asked for a deeper love and reverence for the Most Holy Trinity that leads to renewal in one’s life, for prayer and penance in reparation for sin and for the conversion of sinners, for a more genuine devotion to the Eucharist, devotion to the Holy Rosary prayed in meditation and for the consecration to her Immaculate Heart. The urgent need for a response to this message, and for its active promotion for the sake of the salvation of souls and of peace, is by God’s grace, the moving force behind the spread of the W.A.F. throughout the world.
ORGANISATION
The association is organised at the national level. Each member nation belongs to a region, forming in this way the worldwide association.
An International Council meets every four years and elects from its members a Board of Trustees consisting of nine members: President; Vice-President; Treasurer; Secretary; five Trustees. They serve until the next International Council.
The World Apostolate of Fatima has a permanent agent, appointed by the Board of Trustees and located at Domus Pacis, Fatima, Portugal, known as the International Secretariat.
WORKS
The great objectives of Our Lady of Fatima will be accomplished through the spiritual practices of the members. Cell prayer groups encourage reparation, the prayer of meditation and Eucharistic adoration, also with a specific Holy Hour program for children and young people before the Blessed Sacrament.
The World Apostolate of Fatima is devoted to the Christian formation of the faithful, especially families, through the Message of Fatima. The Apostolate also carries a program of visits with the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady around the world and offers a unique Pilgrimage Program to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, in Portugal, coordinated by its Secretariat.
Seminaries, spiritual retreats and congresses take place all over the world to prepare new leaders to make possible “the civilization of love”, the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary announced in Fatima. The World Apostolate of Fatima is also a facilitator providing to other Church groups, parishes, schools and associations, the spirituality of Fatima.
PUBLICATIONS
Messenger of the World Apostolate of Fatima, quarterly magazine. National and Regional magazines are also published.
WEB SITE
www.worldfatima.com
www.apostoladomundialdefatima.org
HEADQUARTERS
Apostolado Mundial de Fátima
Secretariado Internacional
Rua S. Vicente Paulo, 32
2495-438 Fátima
Portugal
Tel. [+351] 249 539 865 - Fax [+351] 249 539 864
E-mail: info@worldfatima.com
