On Thursday, May 14, 2026, the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord and the 57th anniversary of abortion being allowed in Canada, The Fatima Center’s National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima was marched in procession around Parliament Hill and adjacent city-blocks in Ottawa, accompanied by many praying the Rosary and singing hymns. The statue was carried in the March for Life by students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy in New Hamburg, Ontario. Many people gathered around the statue to join in prayer. Our Lady of Fatima continues to draw many to pray the Rosary. It was an edifying experience to participate in the March and to bring Our Lady to so many people.
Fatima Center staff and volunteers then set up a table for the March for Life Expo and youth conference. Many people of all ages visited The Fatima Center’s exhibit at the Conference Center. There was a lot of interest in the Brown Scapular – especially among the youth, many of whom had never heard of it, the First Saturday devotions, and the Devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus.
The Pilgrim statue drew a lot of people to our table, some for more information, some praying for Our Lady’s intercession. Some people did not know about the requests of Our Lady of Fatima and were surprised to hear that abortion would not have occurred if the requests of Our Lady had been met. Many people expressed surprise at how many materials The Fatima Center had to help them understand and live the Fatima Message. Our staff explained to everyone how Our Lady of Fatima has provided the world with the solution to end the crises in the Church and in the world, if only people will obey Her Message.
In the past few years, the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima has been a focal point of the March for Life. Hand-carved in Fatima, Portugal, it is one of the 25 “Pilgrim Virgin” statues blessed by Pope Paul VI on May 13, 1967 (the 50th anniversary of Our Lady’s first apparition in Fatima) and designated to be traveling statues fostering greater knowledge of and devotion to Our Lady of Fatima’s Message. This particular statue was assigned to Canada and is the statue that Father Nicholas Gruner traveled with most often across Canada, the United States, and other parts of the world.
The Importance of Public Processions
Sin is an infinite offense against God, and abortion – the murder of innocents – is one of the four most terrible sins, marked out by God as one which “cries to Heaven for vengeance” [Gn 4:10; 18:20-21 (sodomy); Ex 22:22-23 (oppression of widows and orphans); and Dt 24:15 (defrauding the laborer)].
The general acceptance and legalization of abortion – as well as euthanasia, including the growing expansion of M.A.I.D. (Medical Assistance in Dying) in Canada – represent a public affront to God. Such laws and judicial rulings which defy the divine law are vile public crimes, for which public acts of reparation (processions, prayers, and penance) must be made to Jesus Christ, Our Lord and King!
Without such public acts of reparation, we can expect to suffer the terrible chastisements – which no human measures can prevent – that these crimes will bring upon our countries.
The Ultimate Solution
Over 100 years ago, Our Lady of Fatima brought from Heaven the only solution to end the crises in the Church and the world, which includes the evils of abortion and other grave offenses against human life.
She asked us to pray the Rosary daily, do the Five First Saturdays Devotion, wear the Brown Scapular, pray for the Pope, and make reparation for sin. She said God commanded that the Pope – in union with all the Catholic bishops of the world – consecrate Russia, and Russia alone, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which will usher in the Triumph of Her Immaculate Heart!
To end the crises in the Church and the world, The Fatima Center encourages everyone to make a 54-day Rosary Novena, begging God to grant the necessary graces for the Consecration of Russia to be properly done.[1]
May God abundantly reward all you do for His greater glory, the salvation of souls, and the defense of innocent lives!
[1] We began this novena on April 21. We encourage you to begin praying it with us today and continue for the full 54 consecutive days (see “The Fatima Center’s 2026 54-Day Rosary Novena”). We are also orngaizing another 54-Day Rosary Novena later this year, beginning on August 21. The intention will be for the Pope and bishops to formally promote the First Saturday Devotion, and for all the intentions of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts. We hope you join us in this vital and powerful prayer!
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Parliament Hill at 12:30 p.m.
Ottawa, capital city of Canada
Join us as we process in the March for Life, with The Fatima Center’s National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, around Parliament Hill and adjacent city-blocks in Ottawa, praying the Rosary and singing hymns. The Statue will be carried in the March by students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy in New Hamburg, Ontario.
The Fatima Center is once again sponsoring this event (this is our third time).
After the March, visit The Fatima Center’s table at the Pro-Life Expo:
Thursday, May 14 at 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. & 9 – 11 p.m. AND
Friday, May 15 at 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
OTTAWA CONFERENCE & EVENTS CENTRE
200 Coventry Rd., Ottawa
A traditional Latin Mass will be offered by priests of the Fraternity of St. Peter at 10 a.m. on T̲h̲u̲r̲s̲d̲a̲y̲ ̲m̲o̲r̲n̲i̲n̲g̲ ̲a̲t̲ ̲S̲t̲.̲ ̲C̲l̲e̲m̲e̲n̲t̲ ̲c̲h̲u̲r̲c̲h̲.̲
528 Old St. Patrick Street, Ottawa.
This year’s theme of the March for Life is “Follow Me,” from the Gospel of St. Matthew (4:19). It emphasizes the need for Catholics to live in accordance with God’s Commandments, imitating Jesus in both corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
In the past few years, the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima has been a focal point of the March for Life. Hand-carved in Fatima, Portugal, it is one of the 25 “Pilgrim Virgin” statues blessed by Pope Paul VI on May 13, 1967 (the 50th anniversary of Our Lady’s first apparition in Fatima) and designated to be traveling statues fostering greater knowledge of and devotion to Our Lady of Fatima’s Message. This particular statue was assigned to Canada and is the statue that Father Nicholas Gruner traveled with most often across Canada, the United States, and other parts of the world.
