Bishop Serafim from Fatima Visits Ave Maria This Week
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Published on Sunday, 06 December 2009 18:11
The bishop who led the diocese in which Fatima is located is going to be spending the better part of the coming week in Ave Maria and Naples. Bishop Serafim de Sousa Ferreira e Silva, Bishop Emeritus of the diocese of Leiria/Fatima, will celebrate Mass in the oratory each day, meet with student and faculty groups, and address the Ave Maria Naples Founders Club Tuesday.
Bishop Serafim is in the United States through the efforts of Ave Maria residents Jean and Jim Dudek (left, with Bishop Serafim in Fatima), who got to know him through their frequent pilgrimages to Fatima. "He's a wonderful person who was always warm and welcoming to the many visitors to Fatima, and we are delighted he was able to come here," Mr. Dudek said.
The bishop led the diocese from 1993-2006 and regularly saw Sister Lucia, one of the three seers of the Marian apparitions at Fatima. He will be accompanied by a translator, Armando Mendes, who has extensive knowledge of Fatima and whose family has deep roots in the area. Mr. Mendes's grandparents witnessed the "Miracle of the Sun" in 1917.
In addition to celebrating Mass each day in the oratory, the bishop also will spend Thursday with students at the Rhodora Donahue Academy and will celebrate a Mass there at 10 a.m. for students at the school as well as parents, home-schooled students, and non school-aged children. All Masses will be be Novus Ordo in Latin, and the bishop's comments and homilies will be translated by Mr. Mendes.
Monday, Dec. 7th: 5:00 PM Mass in Novus Ordo Latin in the Oratory
Tuesday, Dec. 8th: 12:00 Noon Mass in Novus Ordo Latin in the Oratory for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Wednesday, Dec. 9th: 12 Noon Mass in Novus Ordo Latin in the Oratory
Thursday, Dec. 10th: 10:00 AM Mass in Novus Ordo Latin at the Rhodora J. Donahue Academy in Ave Maria;
5:00 PM Mass in Novus Ordo Latin in the Oratory
After every Mass in the Oratory, the Bishop will meet and greet the Ave Maria Community outside the Oratory.
Click here for an earlier Ave Herald story on the Dudeks' frequent pilgrimages to Fatima.
