Script for the Pilgrimage

NARRATION:

“PILGRIMS ALL!” starts with God calling Abram to leave his home. 

 

Ever since Abraham was told to leave home and country, the history of salvation has been a story of Pilgrimage, the story of people on the move. From Egypt across the desert, the Israelites marched in search of the Promised Land; and even when settled there. Pilgrimage led by the prophets and in hope, ever closer to the realization of their dream of liberation through a Messiah. The Messiah did come—and on a Pilgrimage too—from the Father to the world, to the Cross, to Resurrection, and back to the Father. Thus, he said, should his followers be always on the go: to follow him, to announce his presence to all the world, and finally to join him in the Father’s Kingdom, their “true home.”

Christians of past centuries understood Pilgrimage in its two dimensions, geographical and spiritual—and so they went to Jerusalem, to Rome, to Compostela, etc. always seeking inspiration for their journey of inner conversion and renewal.

According to Catholicism, a long process precedes any hope for “salvation.” Required are a “proclamation of the Lord, acceptance of the Gospel entailing conversion, profession of faith, baptism itself, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and admission to Eucharistic communion” (CCC, 1229). Baptism is necessary because, according to Catholicism, “By baptism, all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sin” (CCC, 1263). To reach the final goal, the meeting place of all Pilgrims: the
House of the Father, takes a long process. Required are a “proclamation of the Lord, acceptance of the Gospel entailing conversion, profession of faith, baptism itself, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and admission to Eucharistic communion.
Today’s Christians follow their forebears’s example going to the same old places, and to new ones which have emerged as centers of faith. 

The Great Jubilee of 2000 was a Catholic celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ that took place from December 24, 1999 to January 6, 2001. We twins were brave to go on the pilgrimage amidst bombings in Jerusalem and we were blessed. We saw the birthplace of Jesus at Bethlehem.

We twins joyfully look forward our Pilgrimage for Jubilee Year 2025. This 66 day pilgrimage will bring us to Fatima, Portugal for the October 13 event. It was the Miracle of the Sun, that startled 70,000- plus people at the Cova da Iria on Oct. 13, 1917. Bishop José da Silva declared the miracle "worthy of belief" on 13 October 1930, permitting "officially the cult of Our Lady of Fatima" within the Catholic Church.

Pope Pius XII also approved the miracle in 1940. The logo also includes the motto "Pilgrims in hope" represented in green letters. The official logo was unveiled during a press conference at the Vatican. 

The crowd at Cova da Iria looking towards the Sun on 13 October, 1917.

Logo of the Jubilee 2025

Pope Pius XII also approved the miracle in 1940. 

On 13 May 2017, Pope Francis went on to officially recognize the Miracle of the Sun and solemnly canonized two of the children, Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto, on the centennial of the first Apparition of Our Lady of Fátima at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima, in Portugal.

Sr. Lucia, the cousin of Jacinta and Francisco Marto passed away in 2005. Sister Lucia was the last of three shepherd children who claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary in 1917. She died in 2005 at the age of 97.Sister Lucia was buried in her Carmelite convent in Coimbra for a year. Now, her remains are near the tomb of her cousins, Jacinta Marto at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima in Portugal. Now Venerable, she is being considered for possible beatification.

Sister Lúcia de Jesus Rosa dos Santos 

LUZ: It was a pleasant surprise to know that Lúcia was the youngest child of António dos Santos and Maria Rosa Ferreira (1869–1942), both from Aljustrel, who married on 19 November 1890. Our mother is Rosa Ubaldo married to Evaristo Ortega, the youngest of 14 children to Don Joaquin Ortega married to Dona Francisca Lacsamana. 

1. At the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima, we twins pray The Jubilee Prayer by Pope Francis followed by A Prayer for Pope Francis and a petition prayer for our website: 

Please God make our website with domain www.ocds-ortegatwins.com which opens May 13, 2025 bear fruit for your greater glory. We feel that you have called us to be missionaries, travelling around the world to give statuettes of God the Father and St. Teresa of Avila. Through our website we share our encounters with the divine and people; and the graces
received to our viewers. 

We will visit the tombs of Saints Francisco and Jacinta.

2.-3. St. Francisco and St. Jacinta Marto

Let us pray:
Dear Saint Francisco and Saint Jacinta, The children of the world would like to learn from you how to love more perfectly. Saint Jacinta, teach us how to love one another, especially sinners. Help us to pray and to make sacrifces for those who offend Our Lord so deeply. O Saint Francisco, teach us your great love for the Sacred Heart of JESUS in the Holy Eucharist, hurt by the ingratitude of so many. Little Shepherds of Fatima, help me, my family, and all the families of the world, to seek the safety of the Immaculate Heart of our Mother MARY, who always brings all of us and our families closer to Her Son JESUS. Saint Francisco and Saint Jacinta, pray for us, pray for all the children and families of the world! Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto, you saw Mary at Fatima and prayed for our conversion
pray for us.

Amen. 

4. Let us pray to Venerable Sr. Lucia

"Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I implore You, if it should be for Your greater glory and the good of our souls, to glorify in the sight of Your Holy Church, Sister Lucia the shepherdess of Fatima, granting to us through her intercession the grace which we implore.

Amen."

While at Fatima, We plan to visit the Our Lady of Fetal

Visionary: a shepherdess
Title: Our Lady of the Ferns (Nossa Senhora do Fetal) In the place called Reguengo do Fetal is located one of the most
renowned and ancient sanctuaries of the region: the Church of Our Lady of the Faith, or of the Ferns. The first apparition is clouded in mystery. It is not known when it took place or when the first chapel of Our Lady of the Ferns was built.

The legend goes like this:

In a time of great drought and hunger a shepherd girl was crying near her small flock of sheep. In the middle of a clump of ferns (uma feteira) there appeared a woman who asked her:

"-- Why are you crying, my little one?"
"-- I am hungry"
"-- Go and ask your mother for bread."
"-- I have already done so,"

but she has no bread to give to me.

"-- Go on, go home and ask your mother again; tell her it was a woman that told you that the ark has bread."

Obeying the Lady, the little girl went home and gave the message to her mother, who quickly went to the ark where she kept the bread. She found it full of bread that was so "good and beautiful that it seemed not to have been made on Earth".

Having eaten, the happy shepherd girl returned to the place of the apparition (where later the Little Chapel of the Remembrance was built), and again she saw the Lady, who spoke to her like this: "Go to the people of your village and tell them that I am the Mother of God and I want them to build me a chapel in this place where I will be worshipped ("louvada" in the original). The little girl gave the people in her village the Lady's orders. The villagers made their way to the site and found there a tiny and beautiful image of the Holy Virgin next to which was a miraculous spring. They erected a small chapel and with the water of the spring many miracles took place. It is also said that in May 1896, Dom José III Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, ordered public prayers of "AD PETENDAM PLUVIAM" which were joined by neighboring parishes, namely Fátima, obtaining from Heaven the much desired and necessary rain for the fields.

The Festival in Honor of Our Lady of Fetal takes place in October.

5. Let us pray to Our Lady of Fetal:
O God, in whom we live and move and have our being, grant us sufficient rain, so that, being supplied with what sustains us in this present life. Water our fields and gardens, fill the rivers, streams and lakes, and to bless our crops and livestock. Help us tolive close to Jesus and Mary, as you did, strong in faith and good works, caring for one another. MARY, under the title of Our Lady of Fetal, pray for us. Amen.

We follow the Norway route Lisbon, Portugal in visiting nine countries. In France, we pray to 6. St. Roch of Montpellier

_ Saint Roch was born in 1295 into a wealthy and noble family in Montpellier, France. He was born with a red cross birthmark on his chest. His parents prayed for a child and thanked God when he was born. When his parents died, he gave his inheritance to the poor and became a pilgrim. During the journey, he caught the plague while ministering to the sick in Italy. He was saved from starvation by a hunting dog that brought him bread. He is the patron saint of the sick and invalids.  

Let is pray: St. Roch, throughout your years of missionary work, you were met with many difficulties. Pray for us, that we may be as faithful as you were when we encounter difficulties in my lives. Pray that we may never allow hardship to deter us from serving God. Please be faithful in continuing to bring our petitions before God. Amen. 

7. St. Benedict Joseph Lobre

He was born in France in 1748 into a very poor family, he was rejected by many monasteries. Benedict joined the Third Order of St. Francis and deciding to become a “Vagabond for God” entered into a life of poverty, and pilgrimage. He headed to Rome on foot, sustaining himself by begging. Feeling weaker and weaker, Benedict still managed to visit most of the major shrines in Europe: Loreto, Assisi, Naples, Paray-le-Monial in France, and Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Once, he stayed at the farmhouse of Matthieu and Mari Vianney, who would become the parents of the Cure d’ Ars. He is
also known as the "Saint of the Forty Hours" because of his devotion to Eucharistic adoration. He died at the age of 35. His reputation as a holy man was such that thousands of people attended his funeral.

Let us pray: Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, you gave up honor, money, and home for love of Jesus. Help us to set our hearts on Jesus and not on the things of this world. You lived in obscurity among the poor in the streets. Enable us to see Jesus in our poor brothers and sisters and not judge by appearances. Amen. 

We visit St. Vincent Church at 7 Rue du Vieux Fort Hendaye, Aquitaine 64700 France
Phone: 05 59 48 82 80

8. St. Vincent de Paul

Born in Puy-en-Velay, France in 1581, St. Vincent de Paul was the son of a merchant and a farmer. He had a difficult childhood because his father died when he was young. He was a French Catholic priest renowned for his dedication to helping the poor. He is the founder of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) and the Daughters of Charity. After his death in 1660, his virtue of charity became an inspiration for many Catholic charity organizations. He is considered the “father of modern charity.” 

Let us pray:

“Lord, teach us to be generous;
To give without counting the cost;
To return good for evil;
To serve without expecting some reward;
To draw closer to those whom we find repulsive;
To do good to those who cannot reciprocate;
To love generously;
To work without being concerned about rest;
To be solely concerned about giving;
To give our whole self;
To give to those who need us,
Hoping to receive only You, Lord, as our reward. Amen.”

9. St Margaret Mary

She was born an only daughter. She made her First Communion at 9. Soon after, she was confined to bed due to severe rheumatic fever. Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque lost her father at eight years old and was sent to the Poor Clares School. Soon she was afflicted with rheumatic fever and became confined to her bed. At 15, she had a vision of the Mary, and was miraculously healed of her illness. She also received revelations from Jesus, taught about the observance of the Nine First Fridays, the Holy Hour. Patron Saint of devotees of the Sacred Heart and of Polio sufferers.

Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paray-le-Monial in Burgundy, France 

Let us pray:
O St Margaret Mary, through you, Jesus pours out His abundant graces to all mankind. Help us to put aside personal interests and abandon ourselves entirely and lovingly to His Adorable Heart. May our work, like yours, merit His special care and favour, through Jesus’ Holy Name. St Margaret Mary, we implore you, to whom the Sacred Heart of Jesus manifested His Divine treasures, to obtain the graces we seek from His Adorable Heart. With unlimited confidence, we ask: O Glorious St Margaret Mary, through your intercession, may the Divine Heart of Jesus continue to be glorified and loved.

… St Margaret Mary Alacoque, Pray for Us …

Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Montmarte, Paris The basilica is open every day from 6.30am to 10.30pm. At the basilica entrance, a Benedictine Sister or one of our volunteers is on duty at the Welcome Desk.

10. Sacred Heart of Jesus
Let us pray:
O most holy heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you, and with lively sorrow for my sins I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to your will. Grant, Good Jesus, that I may live in you and for you. Protect me in the midst of danger. Comfort me in my afflictions. Give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, your blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Amen. 

Eiffel Tower

Paris, France

The Eiffel Tower was built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, which was to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the French Revolution. Its construction in 2 years, 2 months and 5 days was a veritable technical and architectural achievement. "Utopia achieved", a symbol of technological prowess, at the end of the 19th Century it was a demonstration of French engineering, and a defining moment of the industrial era. As France’s symbol in the world, and the showcase of Paris, today it welcomes almost 7 million visitors a year, making it the most visited monument that you have to pay for in the world. We have been to Paris twice, but we have not climbed or get the elevator. Considering that we are in our 70’s, we just hope to take elevators to the first, second. Not to the summit floors, for me, Nila. I don’t know with my adventurous twin Luz. She might say it is an icon, I might try it and not regret having a view  from the top. 

Belgium

11. Saint Gertrude of Nivelles

She was born around the year 626 of noble origin. Her birthplace is present-day Belgium. She entered a convent, renouncing marriage to King Dagobert II of Austrasia, and became an abbess of the Abbey of Nivelles. The Patron Saint of pilgrims/travelers, gardeners, widows, recently deceased souls, souls in purgatory, rodents, and, most recently, cats. She greatly promoted.

Let us pray:
Eternal Father, I offer You the most precious Blood of Your Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my own home, and within my family. Amen.

12. Saint Sebaldus

Let us pray:

"Precious Saint Sebaldus, your divine acts resonate across centuries. May we embody your spirit of service, and let our actions reflect your kindness and love. Amen."

"Dear Lord, inspired by Saint Sebaldus, may we serve Your people with love and compassion. Guide us on the path of righteousness, as we aim to embody the benevolence of Saint Sebaldus. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Sebaldus was of royal lineage. He went on a pilgrimage to Rome. After that, this Danish prince broke off an engagement with a princess leaving behind a life of comfort and luxury. He embarked on a spiritual journey across Europe, spreading the teachings of Christ. Buried in Nuremberg, a city of which he is the patron, he is often depicted with a staff, a rosary, and the scallop shell. His tomb soon became a pilgrimage site. 

St. Peter's Cathedral in Hamburg , Germany

Facts about St. Peter _

Peter is known for denying Jesus three times. Peter was the first apostle to go see Jesus' empty tomb. Peter took on a leadership role in the early church, after Jesus' ascension into heaven. The biblical books 1 Peter and 2 Peter are attributed to Peter.

St. Peter's Cathedral in Hamburg was probably built in early 1189; it was first documented in 1195 as a market church or ecclesia forensis. About 1310 it was rebuilt in a Gothic style and was completed around 1418. The bronze lion-head door handles, the oldest work of art of Hamburg, date from the foundation of the tower in 1342.

13. St. Peter's Cathedral

Let us pray:

"Lord of all, as we kneel before this church, we ask for hearts open to Your presence. Fill us with Your Spirit and our souls with Your peace. Let every our words and thoughts glorify You and draw us closer in communion with You and each other.

14. Prayer to St. Peter for a Miracle

Glorious St. Peter, apostle and close friend of our Lord Jesus Christ, I humbly come before you seeking your intercession for a miracle in my life. By the grace of the Holy Spirit, I embrace a lively faith, firm hope, and burning love for our Almighty God. As Jesus Christ rewarded you with singular privileges, I ask that through your glorious merits, I too may be made worthy of everlasting happiness. Guide me in profound and sincere humility, and help me to live a life closely and sincerely
united to our eternal Shepherd of souls. Amen.

15. Saint Ansgar

Ansgar was born of a noble family near Amiens. He became Abbot of New Corbie, a first Archbishop of Hamburg about 831, and Pope Gregory IV appointed him Legate to the Scandinavian countries. He labored at his missionary works but saw all he had accomplished destroyed when invading pagan Northmen in 845 destroyed Hamburg and overran the Scandinavian countries, which lapsed into paganism.

He was appointed first Archbishop of Bremen about 848, and the See was united with that of Hamburg by Pope Nicholas I. Ansgar again returned to Denmark and Sweden in 854 and resumed his missionary activities, converting Erik, King of Jutland. Ansgar's success was due to his great preaching ability, the austerity and holiness of his life, and the miracles he is reputed to have performed. Though called "the Apostle of the North" and the first Christian missionary in Scandinavia, the whole area lapsed into paganism again after his death at Bremen on February 3rd. His name is also spelled Anskar.

Let us pray: Saint Ansgar, you heard God calling you and responded to that call with great fervor and courage. Through your labors, God brought about the conversion of many to the faith. Please pray for me, that I may imitate your fervor by laying my life down sacrificially for others. May I, like you, become a true martyr in spirit, carrying my cross to the very end. Saint Ansgar, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Nazi concentration camps in Norway _ concentration camps or prisons in Norway established or taken over by the Quisling regime and Nazi German authorities during the German occupation of Norway that began on 9 April 1940 and used for internment of persons by the Nazi authorities. 709 prison camps or concentration camps, *including some death
camps.

Stuttgart is the city is known as the "cradle of the automobile". As such, it is home to famous automobile museums like the Mercedes-Benz Museum and Porsche Museum, as well as numerous auto-enthusiast magazines, which contributes to Stuttgart's status as Germany's "Autohauptstadt" ("car capital city"/"capital of cars"). We visit Ludi, Luz daughter who is based at Stuttgart with husband Ruben Velez.

16. St. Eberhard Eberhard

was born to a noble family of Nuremberg, Germany; he became a Benedictine in 1125 at Pruffening, Germany. Later he was made Abbot of Biburg near Regensburg. In 1146 Pope Innocent II appointed him Archbishop of Salzburg.

He rose to fame as a mediator when Pope Alexander III was faced with the controversy surrounding the Papal election of 1159. He died in 1164, at the age of seventy-nine, returning from another peace keeping mission. Let us pray: O dearest St. Eberhard, known as mediator, in whose name, we glory, pray for us that peace be in our Ortega clan, Bolong and Argel families. Be our protector against the wickedness and snares of the devil. Let our plans of a Don Joaquin J. Ortega Museum and Ortega Twins Haven come into a reality soon

Sweden
Stockholm _ is the capital and most populous city of Sweden, as well as the largest urban area in the
Nordic countries.

17. Saint Bridget of Sweden

A Swedish mystic, patron saint of Sweden and co-patroness of Europe, she married and had eight children, but after becoming a widow, she devoted herself to the poor and needy, spending much time on pilgrimage to places hosting relics of saints, especially in Italy, and the Holy Land. She founded the Order of the Most Holy Savior and left many revelations received from Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and some saints.

Let us pray:
O Jesus, Son of God, you who were silent in the presence of your accusers, restrain my tongue until I find what I should say and how to say it. Show me the path and make me follow it. In delay there is danger, but in haste there is likewise peril. Therefore Lord, give ear to my petition and show me the way. Amen. 

NORWAY
Norway is a narrow country in northern Europe. It shares the Scandinavian Peninsula with Sweden and Finland. Norway's coastline is famous for its fjords. Narvik Artic Train See the beautiful northern lights dance in the sky and enjoy a wild and beautiful landscape along the Ofot Railway.

On board the Arctic Train, you follow the beautiful, blue fjord while enjoying a fantastic view of the mighty mountains. Pack warm clothes and a good dose of adventure and join us on an epic journey along the rails. Oslo is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The metropolitan area had an estimated population of 1,546,706 in 2021.

Northern Lights Many tourists coming to Norway hope to get a glimpse of the famous northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis. This phenomenon is best seen far north in the country (such as in Tromsø or Bodø), but most tourists are actually staying much farther south than that.

Polor Park 

Visit to Attractions

Fiords

Polar Park

18. Saint Hallvard of Oslo (c 1020-1043) Martyr

Saint Hallvard was a brave young man of faith--both faith in God and faith in innocence. One day Hallvard was preparing
to cross a fjord in a boat, when a woman falsely accused of theft ran up to him. Hallvard took her aboard the boat, but didn't have time to get underway before her pursuers rushed up and demanded that he return her to them. Hallvard refused because he believed the woman when she said she was innocent. For his belief he was killed with an arrow, the same arrow that killed the accused woman. Saint Hallvard became revered by the people as a martyr because he had died in defense of innocence. 

Italy

Pisa `

Pisa is a legendary city and one of the most famous in this region of Italy. Tourists often stop at Pisa en-route to Florence but it is a fantastic city to stay in and offers a great deal more sites than just it’s legendary leaning tower. Located on the western coast of Italy, Pisa is only 20 minutes from the Ligurian Sea and has great transport links to Florence, Livorno and La Spezia. With a population of just 91,000 it is one of the smaller cities in the Tuscany region of Italy, but has historically
been one of the most important and influential

19. Saint Bona of Pisa

_She is considered the patron saint of travellers, and specifically couriers, tour guides, pilgrims, flight attendants, and the city of Pisa. Saint. Bona of Pisa. She became an Augustinian tertiary at the age of ten. She went to the Holy Land at 14 and later had a vision, even in Santiago de Compostela. She dedicated her life to assisting pilgrims on their journeys, especially towards the Spanish sanctuary. She became an official guide of the Way of St. James (Santiago de Compostela) by the Knights of St. James. She made the Way of St. James nine times. Her remains are in the Church of San Martino in Pisa, Italy.

Let us pray:
"St. Bona, you traveled far and wide making pilgrimages to holy places. As I set out for (name place) help me to desire to grow in holiness". 

Holy Doors for the 2025 Jubilee in Rome will be located at: 20. St. Peter’s Basilica Prayers before entering the Holy Door in Rome may include:

"Open the gates of righteousness; I will enter and thank the Lord"
"Lord God, you open the doors of your mercy to all who come to you"
"Through your mercy, Lord, save your people"
"Most High, glorious and merciful God, enlighten the darkness of my heart"
"Open to me the gate of holiness, I will enter and give thanks to the Lord" 

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. 

21. Archbasilica of St. John Lateran:

The official ecclesiastical seat of the pope as bishop of Rome. All five Lateran Councils met there, and it was the location of the signing of the Lateran Treaty. Indeed, it is the mother church of Roman Catholicism worldwide. 

22. Basilica of St. Mary Major:

Mary Major is “the oldest Marian shrine not only in Rome, but in the whole West.” According to a legend, Mary is said to have appeared in 352 to Pope Liberius and to a wealthy man named John Patricius. She invited them to build a church on a spot where snow had fallen, although it was midsummer. 

23. Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls:

It is Rome’s largest patriarchal basilica after Saint Peter’s in the Vatican. Erected in 313, in the place where Saint Paul was buried, when Emperor Constantine promulgated the Edict of Milan that ended the persecution of Christians, allowed them freedom of worship.. 

24. Let us pray to St Peter

Raise us up, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by the apostolic assistance of blessed Peter, Thine Apostle; so that the weaker we are, the more mightily we may be helped by the power of his intercession; and that being perpetually defended by the same holy apostle, we may never yield to sin nor be overwhelmed by adversity. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

25.Let us pray to St Paul the Apostle

O Glorious Saint Paul, after persecuting the Church you became by God’s grace its most zealous Apostle. To carry the knowledge of Jesus, our Divine Savior, to the uttermost parts of the earth, you joyfully endured prison, scourging, stoning, and shipwreck, as well as all manner of persecutions culminating in the shedding of the last drop of your blood for our Lord Jesus Christ. Obtain for us the grace to labor strenuously to bring the faith to others and to accept any trials and tribulations that may come our way. Help us to be inspired by your Epistles and to partake of your indomitable love for Jesus, so that after we have finished our course we may join you in praising Him in Heaven for all eternity. Amen.

26. Prayer for Pope Francis

"We thank you for your continued guidance of our Most Holy Church, and we pray you continue to extend your blessings to our Church Fathers and all your faithful".

We ask that you be with PopeFrancis on his advanced age, as he continues shepherding, stewarding, and renewing the flock. Amen.

27. We see the statue of St. Teresa inside the St. Peter’s Basllica and visit the Church of St. Teresa beside the Carmelite General House.

Let us pray to St. Teresa:

"O most loving Heavenly Father! We thank you for the great gift you gave us through your beloved St. Teresa of Avila". Holy Mother St. Teresa, we ask that your watchful intercession assist us during the rest of our lives. May you guide us that we persevere in faithfulness to the Lord and in our love for you, so that we can be united with you in eternal thanksgiving to Jesus, who lives and reigns forever. Amen. Discalced Carmelites General House

(Casa Generalizia) It is a Roman Catholic religious community. It is where the Father General and the Definitors of the Order are based in Rome. It is also where the General Chapter of the Discalced Carmelites is held. 

The General Chapter is an important event for the Order that marks the resumption of activities and the welcoming of guests from around the world. The Discalced Carmelites were established as a separate province of the Carmelite Order in 1580. During the 92nd General Chapter, Fr. Miguel Miguel Márquez Calle, OCD was elected Superior General.

30 Aug to 14 Sep 2021 the 92nd General Chapter of Discalced Carmelite Fathers

28. Let us pray: For Carmelite Father General Miguel Márquez Calle. Guide him to straighten the pathways of the Carmelite
Order. Inspire all members of the Carmelite family_ friars, nuns and laity to be better listeners and bridge builders that we may be vessels of healing for our world. We ask: Lord, hear your people’s prayer.

Malta

is known for being St. Paul’s birthplace, along with several ancient temples. According to the Bible, the apostle Paul was carried to the island of Malta by a storm, where he was shipwrecked while being transported to Rome as a prisoner, and it is considered that God's intervention allowed him to reach the island and spread the message of eternal life there; essentially, the storm was seen as God's hand guiding him to Malta.

Significance of Malta: The islanders were initially wary of Paul but later became receptive to his message after he miraculously survived a snakebite.

St. John’s Co-Cathedral

St John's Co-Cathedral is a Catholic co cathedral in Valletta, Malta, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. The church was built in the late 1500s, and its interior walls feature stunning hand-painted statues and frescoes by some of the best artists at the time. It is also home to a world-famous painting called The Beheading of St. John by Caravaggio The apostle Paul is carried to this Island of Malta to offer eternal life but it was not just the storm that did it, it was the hand of God. 

29. Let is pray:

Heavenly Father, As I stand before the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, I ask for Your grace and blessing. Fill my heart with reverence and humility as I enter this sacred space. Guide my thoughts and intentions, that they may be pure and aligned with Your will.

Grant me the wisdom to discern Your presence in every corner of this holy place. May my spirit be uplifted, my faith strengthened, and my soul renewed. Bless all those who gather here, seeking solace, guidance, and Your divine love. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

St. John the Evangelist

 

Fr Paul Fenech was born at Mtarfa, Malta on the 13th September 1955. He was baptised in the Catholic Church dedicated to St Cajetan Thiene of Hamrun, where later Providence called him to serve for ten years as parish priest.

In November 2008, the Archbishop of Malta entrusted him with the work of helping in the co-ordination of Religious Councellors in School, together with the work of formation of lay people and the work in the new evangelisation. He served as the national promoter for the Parish Cell System of Evangelisation. 26th June 1977 is the day when Paul, still a Seminarian, went through a striking spiritual experience that changed his life and illuminated him with a specific and particular call.

fenechpl@disciplesofjesus.org.mt 

In the Fatima 100 Pilgrimage, upon setting foot at the colonnade, Luz received a personal revelation from
God.

Narrator: There were people moving towards my direction. Someone was pointing at me with a joyous greeting saying – “I knew that lady is somebody special…I took a portrait of her.” Then there were flashes of cameras.” This memorable encounter at Fatima is a manifestation of what Luz claims that since 2002 or 15 years ago, she looks like Sr. Lucia.

Coincidentally, at the airport in Greece, a copassenger sketched Luz’ face and later gave the portrait to her before embarking for Turkey. It is a great gift which Luz treasures a lot.

Saint George Preca

was a Maltese Catholic priest, the founder of the Society of Christian Doctrine and a Third Order Carmelite.*1+ Pope John Paul II dubbed him "Malta’s second father in faith".*2+ His activism earned him praise and in 1952, Pope Pius XII nominated him as a papal privy chamberlain and awarded the rank of Monsignor.

He was canonized as a saint in 2007.

30. Let us pray:

O GOD, who didst grant to St. George strength and constancy in the various torments which he sustained for our holy faith; we beseech Thee to preserve, through his intercession, our faith from wavering and doubt, so that we may serve Thee with a sincere heart faithfully unto death. Through Christ our Lord. He assumed the religious name of "Franco" after becoming a Third Order Carmelite. He was a popular figure among some groups, and his pastoral care and religious teaching earned recognition. However, his activities raised suspicions of heresy from senior clergy. He was ordered to close down his teaching centres for a time while they could be investigated; they were subsequently re-opened. 

Spain

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela St. James the Great—the Apostle, Patron of pilgrim travellers James was born into a family of Jewish fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. His parents were Zebedee and Salome.

The Synoptic Gospels state that James and John were preparing to fish with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to follow him. James walked with Jesus after being called by the Lord to become one of the Twelve
Apostles.

James, along with his brother John, and Peter, formed an informal triumvirate among the Twelve Apostles. Jesus allowed them to be the only apostles present at three particular occasions during his public ministry, the raising of Jairus' daughter, transfiguration of Jesus and agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

According to the New Testament, he was the second of the apostles to die (after Judas Iscariot), and the first to be martyred. Saint James is the patron saint of Spain and, according to tradition, what are believed to be his remains are
held in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia.

He is also known as James, son of Zebedee, Saint James the Great, Saint James the Greater, Saint James the Elder, or Saint
Jacob, James the Apostle or Santiago.

31. Let us pray:
Saint James the Apostle, pray for us, that we may follow Christ with the same fervour and commitment that you exemplified. may your witness inspire us to be bold in our faith and unwavering in our love for the Lord. Amen.

Tuy

St. Lucia’s Vision of the
Holy Trinity, Pontevedra
First Saturday Devotion
Departs for Philippines after December 10
Activity

Sister Lucia describes this great Vision of the Holy Trinity:

Being alone one night, I knelt near the rails in the middle of the chapel and, prostrate, I prayed the prayers of the Angel. Feeling tried, I then stood up and continued to say the prayers with my arms in the form of a cross.

The only light was that of the sanctuary lamp. Suddenly the whole chapel was illumined by supernatural light, and above the alter appeared a cross of light, reaching to the ceiling. In a brighter light at the upper part of the cross, could be seen the face of a Man and his body as far as the waist; upon his breast was dove of light; nailed to the cross was the body of another man. A little below the waist, I could see a chalice and a large host suspended in the air, on to which drops of blood were falling from the face of Jesus Crucified and from the wound in His side. These drops ran down on to the host and fell into the chalice. Beneath the right arm of the cross was Our Lady and in her hand was her Immaculate heart. (It was Our Lady of Fatima, with her Immaculate Heart in her left hand, without sword or roses, but with a crown of thorns and
flames). Under the left arm of the cross, large letters, as if of crystal clear water which ran down upon the alter, formed these words:

«Grace and Mercy.» 

I understood that it was the Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity which was shown to me, and I received lights about this mystery which I am not permitted to reveal. Our Lady then said to me: «The moment has come in which God asks the Holy Father, in union with all the Bishops of the world, to make the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, promising to save it by this means. There are so many souls whom the Justice of God condemns for sins committed against me, that I have come to ask reparation: sacrifice yourself for this intention and pray.» I gave an account of this to the confessor, who ordered me to write down what Our Lady wanted done. Later, in an intimate communication. Our Lord complained to
me saying:

«They did not wish to heed my request. Like the King of France, they will repent and do it, but it will be late. Russia will have already spread her errors throughout the world, provoking wars, and persecutions of the Church; the Holy Father will have much to suffer.»

32. Let us pray:
Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. 

Pontevedra
The Sanctuary of the Apparitions (Santuario das Aparicións in Galician and Santuario de las Apariciones in Spanish) is a Catholic convent and sanctuary located in Pontevedra, Spain. According to Sister Lúcia, it was here that the child Jesus and the Virgin Mary appeared to her in 1925-1926 and revealed to her the First Saturdays Devotion.

It is the third most visited Marian pilgrimage destination in the world, with over 12 million visits recorded up to 2022. 

Sister Lúcia's cell, now a chapel 

The sanctuary is known as the "Spanish Fátima"

The Five First Saturdays Devotion is a Catholic devotion that was requested by the Virgin Mary during her apparitions at Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. It involves the faithful committing to specific practices on the first Saturday of five consecutive months. The devotion includes: Receiving Holy Communion: Attend Mass and receive the Eucharist. Confession: Go to Confession within 8 days before or after the first Saturday. 

Praying the Rosary: Pray five decades of the Rosary.

15-Minute Meditation: Spend 15 minutes meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary. These practices are done with the intention of offering reparation for offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The devotion is a beautiful way for Catholics to deepen their faith and show their love and dedication to Mary.

CONCLUSION:

As we finish our Jubilee Year 2025, we thank God for a successful 66 days journey of faith. In this Pilgrimage we temporary left the comforts and routines of our lives. We answered the Call of Pope Francis Pope Francis for a pilgrimage to Rome in 2025 as part of the Jubilee Year, which he proclaimed in a papal bull titled Spes Non Confundit ("Hope Does Not Disappoint"). The Jubilee Year begins on Christmas Eve, 2024 and ends on January 6, 2026. Having read “Saintly pilgrims: : 8 Patron Saints of Pilgrims and Travelers we were inspired by their lives. These were saints for whom the experience of pilgrimage has been so significant that it became the very reason for their sanctity. These include the following: 1 Saint James the Greater; 2 Saint Roch; 3 Saint Christopher; 4 Saint Benedict Joseph Labre; 5 Saint Gertrude of Nivelles; 6 Saint
Bridget of Sweden; 7 Saint Bona; 8 Saint Sebaldus. Full of Hope, we are certain that our pilgrimage can help us twins be a saint. Making this deeply meaningful journey, will lead us to feel the Divine presence with renewed focus with the help of the Patron Saints of Pilgrims.

33. Let us pray to God our Father: "Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts full of humility and gratitude. In this Sanctuary of the Apparitions at Pontevedra, where Your servant Lucía received Your heavenly message, we seek Your grace and guidance. Help us to listen with open hearts and follow Your path with faith and devotion. May Your light shine upon us and lead us closer to Your divine truth. Amen."