Sept. 13, 2017

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima and in supplication for our Lady’s intercession for the Diocese of Ogdensburg, I will consecrate our Diocese of Ogdensburg to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Sunday, October 22, at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

The message of Fatima remains relevant to our times.  It warns of the great calamities that befall humanity when we turn away from Jesus.  The message makes promises of peace and joy beginning in this life and perfected in the next if humanity will only give its heart to its beloved Lord. The message of Fatima is one of great hope in the midst of the world’s seemingly hopeless turmoil because our Blessed Mother assures us that the Lord is anxious to provide the graces we so desperately need.

“Confirmed in this hope,” Pope Francis declared this May, “we…give thanks for the countless graces bestowed over these past hundred years.  All of them passed beneath the mantle of light that Our Lady has spread over the four corners of the earth…”  The Holy Father continues, “Dear Pilgrims, we have a mother.  Clinging to her like children we live in the hope that rests in Jesus.”

This is my prayer for all the people of the North Country:  Cling to Mary.  Hope in Jesus.  May the consecration of our Diocese help us all to live as faithful children of our Heavenly Mother!  We will offer Mass in honor of Our Lady at 2:30 PM on Sunday, October 22 at the Cathedral.  Before Mass, at 2:00 PM, we will gather in our cathedral for a time of special prayer and reflection as we pray the Rosary together.

To help us prepare for this holy event, I ask all the faithful of our Diocese to join me in praying a Novena during the nine days from the anniversary date of the last Fatima vision, October 13th to the day of Consecration on October 22nd.  More information concerning the Novena and special Marian Mass will be sent to the parishes in the coming weeks.

What a wonderful way to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Dedication of our Cathedral, dedicated to our Blessed Lady!  Please mark your calendar today and join me and many of our neighbors and friends for the Rosary and Mass as I consecrate our beloved Diocese to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  In the meantime, please continue to join me in responding to her request that we pray the Rosary for peace and make sacrifices for sinners.

With much gratitude for your prayers and confident in the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin, I am
Faithfully yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Terry R. LaValley
Bishop of Ogdensburg