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.
WAF International Moderator
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Bishop of
Leiria Fatima HE Jose Ornelas Carvalho
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Asian Episcopal Moderator
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-
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Indian Ecclesiastical Adviser
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Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore, India appointed by the Conference of Catholic Bishops’ of India
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Spiritual Advisor, Goa Archdiocesan Unit
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Fr Peter da Gama, appointed by Archbishop Patriarch Filipe
Neri Ferrao +++ (see below)
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On February, 3, 2006, the World Apostolate of Fatima held, in Rome, at the Pontifical Council for the Laity, an official ceremony for the consignment of the decree and the approval of its statutes.
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.
Our international association was created, as late as 1947, in the United States of America, by the hand of Father Harold Colgan and Mr. John Haffert. The name given to the movement was initially Blue Army but, as it spread quickly around the world, it became an international apostolate with millions of members and national centres in various countries, adopting the worldwide recognised name World Apostolate of Fatima.
The international headquarters of the World Apostolate of Fatima are in Fatima, Portugal, in the beautiful pilgrim guest’s house, Domus Pacis (“House of Peace”).
A Public International
Association of the Christian faithful is an association of people erected by
the Holy See. Only a public association can receive a mission to teach
Christian doctrine in the name of the Church, promote public worship or pursue
a purpose which by nature is reserved to ecclesiastical authority (canon 301
§1). Public associations are able on their own initiative to undertake
endeavours in keeping with their own character. These endeavours are governed
according to the norm of the statutes, though under the higher direction of the
competent ecclesiastical authority. As a public association, the members act in
the name of the Church when fulfilling the purpose of the association.
“Vatican Decree Of Approval 2005”
“Vatican Decree Of Approval 2010”
"Prof Americo's address at the PCL-Rome-WAF
Approval
Pontifical Council for the Laity
Associations of the Faithful Directory
The World Apostolate of Fatima is
an association of the faithful that 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 the adherents through
faithful adherence to the message of Fatima and the promotion of the common
good by the spreading of the message of Fatima»(Statutes, art.
II,1-3).
In the apparitions of 1917, the
Blessed Virgin reaffirmed to the three little shepherds -Lucia dos Santos and
the blessed brothers Francisco and Jacinta Marto- the perennial Christian
message of conversion, prayer and penance in reparation for sins and for the
conversion of sinners, together with a more genuine devotion to the Eucharist,
the devotion to the Rosary and the consecration to her Immaculate Heart.
At the same time, «the World
Apostolate has the specific purpose of promoting the Pledge given by each
member of the World Apostolate of Fatima» (Statutes, art. II,
4).
The members of the World
Apostolate of Fatima, spread throughout numerous countries of the world, commit
themselves to become faithful witnesses of the Catholic faith in their own
families, at work, in the parishes and communities, participating in this way
in the "New Evangelisation".
The Second Vatican Council,
together with the post-conciliar teaching, has given special attention to the
new forms of aggregation of the Christian faithful and their participation in
the life of the Church. Deep esteem and consideration has been shown to
them (cf. Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity Apostolicam
actuositatem, 18, 19 and 21; John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic
Exhortation Christifideles Laici, 29).
In his Apostolic Letter, Novo
millennio inuente, His Holiness John Paul II wrote about the great
importance of «the promotion of forms of associations, whether of the more
traditional kind or the newer ecclesial movements which continue to give the
Church a vitality that is God's gift and a true "Springtime of the Spirit"»
(46).
Consequently:
Considering that the Pontifical
Council for the Laity, with a decree dated October 7, 2005, erected the World
Apostolate of Fatima as a public association of the faithful, with a
juridical personality, and approved its Statutes for a period of five
years ad experimentum;
After such a period of time has
elapsed, and having examined the request presented to this Dicastery by Prof.
Américo Pablo López Ortiz, President of the World Apostolate of
Fatima, asking for the definitive approbation of the Statutes;
Considering the opportunity of
approving definitively the Statutes of the World Apostolate of
Fatima, and keeping in mind that no proposal of modification to its
text has been presented;
In light of articles 131-134 of
the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus for the Roman Curia
and according to canon 312, §1, 1° of the Code of Canon Law, the
Pontifical Council for the Laity decrees:
1°) The confirmation of the
erection of the World Apostolate of Fatima as a public
international association of the faithful, with a juridical personality,
according to canons 298-320 and 327-329 of the Code of Canon Law.
2°) The definitive approbation of
the Statutes of this association, duly authenticated by this Dicastery and
deposited in our Archives.
From the Vatican, October 7,
2010, commemorative feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
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Bishop
of Leiria-Fatima and WAF International Ecclesiastical Moderator: HE Jose Ornelas Carvalho
INTERNATIONAL
BOARD OF TRUSTEES (2022-27):International President: Prof Michael Ogunu from Nigeria,
International Vice President: Reynald Andales from Philippines
International Treasurer: Mr David Kelly from USA
International Secretary: Mrs Edith Koch from Switzerland
Members: Mrs Oksana Bodak from Ukraine, Fr M V Sunni from India, Mr M J R Pereira from Samoa, Mr Walter Karger from Germany, Fr Damian Maria from South Korea
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Dr Celcio Dias: Chairman, Goa
Fr M. V. Sunny: Vice Chairman, Raiganj
Mr Shelton Pyster: Secretary, Calcutta
Mr Julius Fernandes: Treasurer, Goa
Trustee members: Fr Jiss Jose from Vijayapuram, Mrs Carmeline Vaz from Bombay, Fr Francis D ‘Souza from Mangalore, Fr Joseph Susainathan from Bangalore and Mr Robin Boidya from Krishnagar.
Goa Unit and Indian National Center with Spiritual Advisor Rev Fr Pedro da Gama Sep 2022
2021-24:
Chairman: Mr Francis S Barreto Coordinator: Mrs Eliza Gomes Vice Chairman: Mr Julius B Fernandes
Secretaries: Mr Henry F Souza Ferrao and Dr Mrs Sandhya Anita Mendonca
Treasurers: Mr Lester D'Mello and Mrs Liberata Fernandes
Editors: Mr Francis S Barreto and Mrs Ludmila Mehrotra Executive Trustee: Dr X Celcio Dias
 International WAF Board June 2018 |
