Dr. Celcio Dias of Goa
India spoke on Vatican Radio on 3rd May 2017, on how the Indian Catholic Church is preparing to celebrate
the Fatima Centenary.
Dr. Celcio Dias, a
medical doctor by profession, is the International Secretary and Vice Chairman
of the Indian centre and Goa Unit of the World Apostolate of Fatima (WAF). He
spoke at length on WAF association, its purpose, the relevance of the Message at
Fatima and the elaborate programmes designed by the Indian Board for a fruitful
celebration of the Fatima Centenary in the Parishes, Chapels, Institutions and
Houses.
Dr Celcio, before we begin the interview can you tell us something about
yourself, your name, your designation and how you got appointed to this post.
I am Dr Celcio Dias, a Medical Doctor by profession from Assolna, South
Goa India. I am also International Secretary, Vice Chairman of the Indian
Center and Goa unit of the World Apostolate of Fatima.
Elections are held after a term of 3 or 4 years 1) At Fatima, organised
by our International Secretariat and International Ex bd, under Bishop Antonio
Marto of Leiria-Fatima who is our International moderator at the International
level 2) under Bishop Peter Machado appointed by the Conference
of Catholic Bishops’ of India at National level and 3) under our
diocesan Spiritual Adviser Fr Conceicao D’Silva appointed by our local
Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao at Diocesan level.
Thank you Dr. First of all, why do you think Our Lady of Fatima
appeared at Fatima?
The First World War claimed over 40 million lives; Pope
Benedict the XV appealed to the Blessed Mother to end the War and a
new invocation was added to the litany of Our Lady –Queen of Peace, Pray for
us- dated 5th May 1917. Within 8 days, Our Blessed
Mother personally appeared to three poor shepherds Francisco, Jacinta
and Lucia aged 8, 6 and 9 years old.
We were familiar with the Blue Army of Fatima years ago. Is this
association same as that?
The name given to the movement was initially Blue Army,a private association
of the faithful, devoted to piety and the promotion of the Message of Fatima. A
new foundation was needed as per the request of the Holy See, to become an
ecclesial apostolate. This is how it became an international apostolate with
millions of members and national centres in many countries, and
some presence in 110 countries throughout the world adopting the
name World Apostolate of Fatima with the international headquarters
in Fatima, Portugal, in the beautiful pilgrim guest’s house, Domus Pacis (“House
of Peace”).
Prof. Américo Pablo López Ortiz, our International President, is
responsible for the renewal and re-founding of the Apostolate with the
principal mission of the New Evangelization using as instrument the authentic
Message of Fatima and the formation of our families, inspired by Saint John
Paul II, who personally requested the new foundation. Priests and Religious are
also included. The
World Apostolate of Fatima is a PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE FAITHFUL, approved by
the Holy See, whose DECREE OF ERECTION was signed on
October, 7, 2005, Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
‘The World Apostolate of Fatima’, what is its purpose?
The World
Apostolate of Fatima has, as its general purpose, the promotion of the
authentic teaching of the Catholic Church and the strict adherence to the
tenets of the Gospel; the personal sanctification of adherents through faithful
adherence to the message of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima - Portugal, in
1917, to three little shepherds, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta Marto and the
promotion of the common good by the spreading of this same message.
Its mission is the New Evangelization using as the ideal instrument the
authentic Message of Fatima, a true “echo” of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, “an
evangelical message of prayer and penance” as the Blessed Pope Paul VI said, of
conversion and “metanoia”.
The minimum required to become a member is the
making of a PLEDGE, known as the “Heaven’s Peace Plan” promising: (1) to offer
up every day the sacrifices demanded by one’s daily duty to the faithful
observance of God’s law; (2) to say five decades of the Rosary daily while
meditating on the mysteries; (3) to wear the brown scapular of Our Lady of
Mount Carmel as a sign and reminder of personal consecration to God through the
Immaculate Heart of Mary, soul of the Message of Fatima. (4) On the first
Saturday of five consecutive months, with the intention of making REPARATION to
the Immaculate Heart of Mary, confess and receive Holy Communion, recite five
decades of the Rosary, and keep company with Our Lady for fifteen minutes while
meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary.
In her book “Calls from the Message of Fatima” Sr
Lucia mentions: “The entire Message of Fatima is a great call for the Church of
our time. It is a Message which reveals the DESIRE of the Maternal Immaculate
Heart of Mary: an URGENT and universal call for Holiness for the Peace of the
World and for Salvation of all in Christ”
Tell us about the history and organization of WAF in India
The Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Karjat, Bombay Archdiocese is the
first in Asia and in India, to have a wooden statue here was brought from
Portugal in 1920.Jesuit Fr Julian Henry Spiritual Father of St Teresa of
Calcutta founded the Apostolate in1931. St Teresa was a great source of
encouragement. Her Sisters, the Missionaries of Charity have a deep
spirituality to the Immaculate Herat of Mary. She later became a member of our
Apostolate by signing the Pledge in public, signifying the importance and urgency
of this Charism. Earlier Calcutta was the National Center and in 1997, Goa
became the National Center. Fr. Servulo de Piedade founded the Apostolate
in Goa in 1954.
Every 3 years National Council meetings are held. The 9th National Council of the World Apostolate of Fatima was held on 18th November
2015. 3 Bishops, 39 delegates 12 observers, including 34 priests from 22
dioceses, 5 Sisters of different congregations and 112 local WAF members attended.
The Statutes of the Indian National Council and the Goa Archdiocesan are approved.
About 40 dioceses have Priests appointed by their
local Bishops as Spiritual Advisors, who carry out the mission in their
Diocese. Devotion to Our Lady of Fatima is definitely present in almost all
Dioceses in India.
4. What are the
different pastoral activities and devotional programmes organised at the
national level for this centenary?
We are privileged to be in the centenary of the Fatima Apparitions.
At the end of his homily of May, 13, 2010 at Fatima, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI mentioned: "May the seven years which separate us from the Centenary of the
Apparitions hasten the fulfillment of the prophecy of the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
We simply try to fulfill the desires of the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
made almost 100 years ago by sending handouts, whattsapp messages, videos and
emails to all Indian Bishops and many Priests, religious and lay focusing on
these 8 points. Also our Bishop Peter Machado made a special mention during the
Bishops’ Conference:-
1] Communion of Reparation on the First
Saturdays which is the forgotten message.
2] Act of Consecration / Entrustment to God
through the Immaculate Heart of Mary using the Brown Scapular as
a sign of this consecration.
3] Public meditation of the
Holy Rosary and Procession with the Most Blessed Sacrament or
with the Statue of Our Lady on Feast days. Also included here is the Statue
Visitation to Dioceses and Parishes.
4] Reparatory
Adoration taught to the shepherd children, for the triumph of good over evil in
groups especially children and youth or anyone.
5] Fatima Centenary
Year Mini Congress / Presentation in Parish / Deanery / Community / Diocese consisting of Holy Mass, Fatima
Reparatory Adoration, Rosary and short presentations on the Fatima story, the
Centenary celebrations and the Divine Mercy (a total of around 4 hours). We
send material to help organize. Totally, last year I have personally been to 10
Dioceses.
6] Diocesan Celebration of
the Fatima Apparitions on 13th May / 13 Oct 2017, at the
Cathedral / Central place with Reparatory Adoration and Presentations, Movie,
Holy Mass and Procession with Rosary, to be presided by Bishop, etc.
7] Plenary Indulgence is granted by the mandate of Pope Francis, to be gained during this Jubilee Year, under the usual conditions.
7] Plenary Indulgence is granted by the mandate of Pope Francis, to be gained during this Jubilee Year, under the usual conditions.
8] Online Fatima Formation
Platforms: Here we send on social media like email and whattsapp Fatima
presentations on various topics like the Fatima Story, First Saturdays, etc.
The target is youth. The WhatsApp number is
+91 9822981418 and the email is celciodias86@gmail.com. This
is our website:WorldFatimaTv.org
Many say that the miracle of the sun is only an imagination, what would
you say about it?
Our Lady was given all Power by God to work the miracle of Fatima that
all might believe, confirming God’s seal. Mainly because of this, the Church
approved the Fatima Apparitions and Message. This quote is from late Fr Luis
Kondor, who served as Postulator for the Beatification of the Shepherd children
for many years. This miracle would have been more prominent but was diminished
due to the sins of mankind. The physical changes occurred demonstrates that it
was something real, not imagined: That is after three days of rainfall, the
clothes, streams and dirt roads were dried with the “dance of the sun”, a
cosmological miracle unique in history since the days of the Old Covenant and
the victory of Israel over the Philistines.
How relevant do you think that the message of Fatima today and
especially for the Church in India?
In May 2010, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
expressed the hope that the Message of Fatima will be “increasingly accepted,
understood and lived in every community. The Good Lord of history, has chosen
messengers like Our Blessed Mother to actualize the measures of faith and
morals needed to succeed over the powers of evil
The Charisma of the World Apostolate of Fatima is the New
Evangelization and formation of the laity, especially families, through the
authentic Message of Fatima. Priests and Religious are also included. This is
the most important ecclesiastical pastoral mission of the Catholic Church, to
proclaim the Good News of salvation to all:
On 13 May 1917, Our Lady asked the shepherd children, which is also for
us: "Are you willing to offer yourselves to God and bear all the
sufferings He wills to send you, as an act of reparation for the conversion of
sinners? Then you are going to have much to suffer, but the Grace of God will
be your comfort."
INNER CONVERSION
(METANOIA), MEDITATIVE PRAYER ESPECIALLY THE MOST HOLY ROSARY, PENANCE,
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION AND REPARATION, ENTRUSTMENT TO GOD THROUGH THE
CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY are the tools needed here in India
where we are facing persecutions. At times,
persecutions are permitted for purification of the Church.
By proclaiming the primacy of God in today’s world,
the WAF contributes to build the Kingdom of God on earth, “a new civilization
of love” through a “new Marian Pentecost” that will constitute the authentic
TRIUMPH OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY announced at Fatima.
Pope Francis blessed 6 statues on Jan 11, for the 6 continents.
Has the statue arrived in India too?
The Alliance of the Holy Family International and Human Life
International Austria are organizing this, not our Apostolate, so I have no
idea.
But, we have 2 statues gifted by Bishop
Emeritus Serafim Sousa of Leiria Fatima. These statues go out to those Dioceses
who request. On the fiftieth anniversary of the Fatima apparitions on May 13th,
1967, Pope Paul VI blessed twenty – five National Pilgrim Virgin Statues of Our
Lady of Fatima to be presented to individual countries around the world. The
Indian one from Calcutta is now in Raiganj Diocese from where the Fatima
spirituality is spreading to the Eastern states. Many Dioceses and Parishes
have their own statues.
When must remember that when one venerates
images of Mary; the believer’s act is ultimately intended as a tribute to the
person of the Mother of Jesus.
Have you anything more to
share with us?
One year prior, i.e. in 1916, God
prepared the 3 shepherd children by sending them a celestial messenger,
the Angel of Peace, Catechist of Fatima. This Angel taught them prayers,
the sense of reverence before God’s presence, the value of time: make good use
of it, offering of one’s life, the Sanctification of our daily duties, the
supernatural value of suffering and its fruits of peace. Finally,
the Angel focused on the most profound esteem for the Eucharist, how
to make Reparation to the Most Holy Trinity through the Eucharist and Christ’s
real presence in the Eucharist and the fruit of reparation: the
conversion of poor sinners. Based on this, we have a program called
Children-of-the-Eucharist One World Praying for Peace and Life, which is on our
website WorldFatimaTv.org
I wish you Grace, Mercy and Peace in this
Great Jubilee Year of the Fatima Centenary! My gratitude goes to Prof. Américo
Pablo Lopez-Ortiz, International President of the WAF, whose publications and
articles written have served as sources for responding to your questions in the
interview. Thank you and God Bless!
God Bless
you too!
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| Indian Board 2015- 17 |
