Dear
Brothers and Sisters in Christ;
I would
like to take this opportunity to present to you for your consideration a
proposal for an international youth program in Fatima for 2017 (or even 2016 if
possible as a for runner) and as part of this proposal, a Consecration Day for
all the Young People of the World, those present at Fatima and those
participating in Dioceses and other Shrines around the world, to the Immaculate
Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Fatima has
always had a special place in my heart. My parents were married on October
13th, my father having a strong devotion. It was reading a book on the story of
Fatima that at the age of 24, I began a journey of conversion back to the
Faith. That journey passed through Medjugorje, where I founded the International
Youth Gathering which takes place each summer drawing 70,000 young people for a
week long program.
I visited Fatima after the World Youth Day at
Santiago De Compostella in 1989 to pray
about the
call of John Paul II for a New Evangelization to all the young people. It was
during a period of prayer inside the Adoration Chapel that the inspiration and
vision for Youth 2000 came. A spiritual initiative to draw young people through
Mary to the Heart of her son Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Since the last 25
years, many hundreds of thousands of young people around the world have
attended Youth 2000 retreats, conducted in the presence of the Blessed
Sacrament, exposed in the centre of the
gatherings.
I myself was also for a period of time at a Monastery in Fatima discerning a
vocation to the priesthood.
The plan is
for the Shrine of Fatima take up this
very special program for young people that honors the Immaculate Heart of Mary
and is a sign for the Church and the World. A gathering that unlocks the gift of
Mary’s Immaculate Heart and allows the Light of Fatima to shine forth to young
people in a new way.
I have
shared this proposal with Fr.Carlos, Rector of the Fatima Shrine, who has
welcomed the initiative. I look forward to hearing your opinions on the
proposal in the enclosed “Two Hearts 2017” document and the opportunity to talk with you about supporting its
realization both in Fatima and in the Universal Church.
With every
blessing in Christ through the Heart of Mary;
Ernest Williams
Magnificent Magnify
Clothed with the Sun
International Youth Gathering
Fatima August 1st to 6th
Two Hearts
World Youth Consecration Day
August 6th
Fatima Centenary Celebration
2017
Executive Summary
Magnificent Clothed with the Sun
1. Mission Statement
To prepare young people, the future of the
Church, to receive anew in all fullness the gift of the Immaculate Heart of
Mary - the Grace of True Consecration to the Father, Jesus Christ His Son and
the Holy Spirit.
Through this proposed youth gathering at
Fatima, where the Blessed Virgin revealed the Father’s Will to establish devotion to her Immaculate Heart, and in
associated Shrines and Parishes around the world, to initiate working in a new
way and spirit for the evangelization and consecration of young people in
preparation for the triumph of Mary’s Heart and the reign of Jesus Christ Her
Son.
May the Gift of Fatima, the Heart of Mary,
be opened and the fire of the Holy Spirit fall anew upon young people, setting
there hearts ablaze with the Love of God.
2. International Youth
Program
Magnify the Lord (Luke 1,46-55)
In realization of the Mission Statement, an
international program for young people is proposed at the Fatima Shrine August
1st to 6th and in parallel at other participating locations around the world.
The program
has the following core components:
2.1 Structure
A multilingual spiritual retreat consisting
of the following key elements:
• Duration of 5 days in Fatima, finishing at sunrise Feast of
Transfiguration with a Mass of Consecration.
• Teaching centered on Scriptural Reflections about Mary’s life in
the Holy Family, her witness to Christ and His work of redemption, her role
together with St.Joseph in the spiritual life of a young person, in a language
meaningful and helpful.
• Workshops exploring these teachings and there relationship to
the spiritual journey of Faith for a believer, the call to evangelization and
the challenge to build a new civilization of truth and love
• Liturgy and Worship to throw light on the meaning of the gift
and mystery of Mary’s Immaculate Heart
2.2 Charism
The spirituality of the gathering should
have the following character:
• Spiritual teaching and worship to be conducted in the presence
of the Blessed Sacrament, centered in the midst of the gathering, in a joyful
spirit of meditation, praise and adoration.
• The young people to be prepared and led through prayer and
spiritual instruction, in a total consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
and the Holy Spirit.
• Consideration to be given to the design of a special monstrance
reflecting the mystery of Mary’s Immaculate Heart to be used throughout the
program
2.3 Mission of
Evangelization
The gathering is not intended to be a one
off event but the catalyst for a New Evangelization through the Heart of Mary.
To this end it is envisaged that the gathering will be a yearly international
event at the Fatima Shrine with the following mission goals:
• Foster gatherings for the total consecration of young people to
the Heart of Mary in Catholic Dioceses and Parishes around the world
• Creation of Young People’s Prayer Groups Consecrated to the
Heart of Mary and the distribution of rosaries to young people around the world
• Concretely working to
help young people fulfill of words of Jesus in Math 25, 35-36 and the
Commandment to Love in John 15,17.
3. Two Hearts - World
Youth Consecration Day
Clothed with the Sun (Rev 12,1-6)
Following the International Youth Program in
Fatima, a worldwide celebration of Mary’s Life in the Holy Family and Witness
to Christ in the Universal Church:
• All night vigil from evening of August 5th simultaneously in
Fatima, Marian Shrines and Dioceses around the world concluding with a World
Youth Consecration Day to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate
Heart of Mary during Holy Mass at sunrise on the Feast of the Transfiguration
August 6th.
• The Consecration Day to be commemorated with a Special Rosary of
the Triumph of the Two Hearts of Mary and Jesus, to be the catalyst of a new
mission of Evangelization to young people.
4. Ecumenical Dimension
Other Christian Denominations and Faiths
that honor the Virgin Mary are welcome to participate in the youth program at
Fatima or in there own communities.
5. Participation
Young people may participate in the
following locations:
• In the Shrine of Fatima, at the Official Gathering
• In participating Dioceses and Shrines in other countries
following the same program, linked to the Fatima Gathering through the Global
Communications Social Media and Internet
6. Organization
It is proposed that an organizational
committee be formed consisting of:
• Rector of the Fatima Shrine
• World Apostolate of Fatima
• Representatives of Catholic Dioceses and Marian Shrines around
the World
• Marian Movements and Religious and Lay Organizations in the
Church
• Ecumenical Marian Association representation
