Montevideo, Uruguay (Friday, 05-15-2015, Gaudium Press) On the occasion of the 98th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal, to three shepherds, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta, which took place in 1917, the Heralds of Gospel organized a solemn Mass in the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, locally known as Church of Cordon, in Uruguay’s capital.

The Eucharist was presided by the Archbishop of Montevideo, His Eminence Cardinal Daniel Sturla SDB, who was named archbishop of Montevideo by Pope Francisco in February 2014. He was created cardinal in the consistory of February 14, 2015, the first Uruguayan to be named cardinal after the late Cardinal Antonio Maria Barbieri.

Among the concelebrants were Rev. Father Alberto Arcos Perez, regional superior of the Heralds of the Gospel, the Rev. Father Ernesto Diano, pastor of the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Rev. Father Genaro Lusararian pastor of the Armenian Catholic Church of Montevideo.

The Mass was accompanied by the choir of the Heralds of the Gospel under the direction of Br. Juan Jose Almeida, and had a note of great joy. The faithful felt very encouraged to have a growing confidence in the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary and were comforted by the warm words of the Cardinal in his homily.

The ceremony ended with the crowning of the pilgrim image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Fatima whose crown was brought in procession by a group of young people from a suburb of Montevideo formed by Br. Raúl de Corral Castels. (DIAC AH)

Photos Dario Iallorenzi Gaudium Press