Catholic parish opens Our Lady of Fatima shrine

THE Catholic faithful of the St Simon and St Peter parish in Roma, Maprik, East Sepik gathered on Sunday,Sept 12, to witness the opening of a shrine that will house the statue of the Lady of Fatima.
The shrine was opened and blessed by Catholic Diocese of Wewak Bishop Jozef Roszinsky during a mass.
The shrine is a sacred or holy place that will allow special devotion and will be frequented by the church’s faithful as pilgrims.
In the Roman Catholic Code of Canon Law, canons 1230 and 1231 read: “The term shrine means a church or other sacred place which, with the approval of the local Ordinary, is by reason of special devotion frequented by the faithful as pilgrims.”
Leading to this opening, the believers had set up camp near the area for over five days – giving reverence and observing legion or prayer and acknowledgement to Christ and the Lady Mary, Mother of Christ.
The statue of the Lady of Fatima is one of the symbols that marks the belief and faith of Catholic followers.
During the mass, Roszinsky said the place was now holy, referring to the shrine and what it represented in the church.
He said it was an honour for Roma to host one of the most important symbols in the faith.