October 2, 2015 // Local

St. Vincent de Paul students learn the story of Fatima

Todays Catholic

By Tim Johnson

Sister Angela Coelho, who is a religious sister and a medical doctor from Portugal, took the message of Fatima to the children of St. Vincent de Paul School on Friday during a special holy hour that included the rosary. Sister Angela is most qualified to tell the story of the three shepherd children of Fatima. She serves as the postulator and vice postulator for the Cause of Canonization of Blessed Francisco and Jacinta, and the vice postulator for Sister Lucia. (Photo by Tim Johnson)

FORT WAYNE — Sister Angela Coelho, who is a religious sister and a medical doctor from Portugal, took the message of Fatima to the children of St. Vincent de Paul School in Fort Wayne on Oct. 2 during a special holy hour that included the rosary.

Sister Angela is most qualified to tell the story of the three shepherd children of Fatima. The three Portuguese children were visited six times from the Blessed Mother from May 13, 1917 to Oct. 13, 1917. Sister Angela serves as the postulator and vice postulator for the Cause of Canonization of Blessed Francisco and Jacinta, and the vice postulator for Sister Lucia.

Sister Angela was in the diocese to speak at World Apostolate of Fatima’s Fort Wayne-South Bend Division breakfast gathering on Oct. 3 at Fort Wayne’s Grand Wayne Center, a talk that follows 8 a.m. devotions, and a 9 a.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. She was also expected to speak at Marian High School in Mishawaka on Monday and Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne on Tuesday.

Sister Angela captured the attention of the St. Vincent students, calling to the sanctuary of the church three students who were, 7, 9 and 10, the same ages at Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia when they received the apparitions from Our Lady.

The Blessed Mother asked the children to pray the rosary, to trust her and to offer sacrifices for sinners.

The schoolchildren shared examples of simple sacrifices such as obeying their parents, being kind to their siblings and friends as sufficient offerings to get people to heaven, and “do it with love,” encouraged Sister Angela. The Blessed Mother told the Fatima children many people would go to heaven if people prayed and made sacrifices for sinners.

Sister Angela spoke of the great miracle of the sun during the Oct. 13, 1917 apparition, in which 70,000 people witnessed the multi-colors around the sun and the dancing of the sun.

Should Blessed Francisco and Jacinta be canonized, they will be the youngest saints recognized by the Church. The remarkable holiness of Francisco and Jacinta remind Catholics that sanctity is possible for children. They are models toward which young people and adults should strive.