A crowd of 100,000 pilgrims gathered in the Cova Da Iria Oct. 17, 1913, straining their eyes up to the sky over Fatima, Portugal, expecting a miracle. Suddenly, the sun burst forth from the rain clouds and danced in the heavens, emitting brilliant rays of light, as the masses, frightened, watched on.

When Mary steps out of the blinding light of the sun and into view for three children who have broken away from watching over a few sheep to pray the rosary, she isn’t surrounded by angels. No trumpets blare. Before the musical score rises to support this moment in the new film Fatima, there are crickets and birdsong and distant bleats of sheep. Mary is surrounded by hills, trees, fields and blue sky.

Thousands of Catholics gathered at locations across southern Ontario during August to greet and venerate the renowned statue of Our Lady of Fatima.

VATICAN CITY - While protests against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro raged across the country, National Guard forces loyal to the embattled head of state launched tear gas at churchgoers attending Mass at a local parish.

Canadians from coast to coast are being called to take up arms through the Rosary Oct. 7 in a clarion call for peace.

Fatima, Portugal – On “the day the sun danced,” thousands of people bore witness to a miracle that not only proved the validity of the Fatima Marian apparitions, but also shattered the prevalent belief at the time that God was no longer relevant, according to one theologian.

OTTAWA – An annual three-day, 100 km walking pilgrimage to Notre-Dame-du-Cap in Quebec Sept. 2-4 was inspired by a similar pilgrimage to from Paris to Chartres, France, says an organizer.

In Toronto the priestly ordinations usually have a maternal character. The customary date is in May, Mary’s month, and usually falls the day before Mother’s Day, which is not a religious feast day, but certainly can be looked upon with the eyes of faith.

ALEPPO, Syria – Still reeling from the Syrian civil war, the city of Aleppo saw a ray of hope this weekend with a consecration to Our Lady of Fatima on May 13.

VICTORIA, British Columbia – When Father Marinaldo Batista asked for relics of Blesseds Francisco and Jacinta Marto, two of the three children to whom Mary appeared in Fatima in 1917, he had no idea they would be canonized in 2017. He simply thought it would be a fitting way for the parish he pastors, Our Lady of Fatima in Victoria, to commemorate the centennial of the Marian apparitions.

While Pope Francis and countless thousands of Catholics flock to Portugal this week to celebrate one of the most famous Marian devotions in the world, a little piece of Fatima can be found in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Students at St. Augustine School in Regina were abuzz in the fall of 1960 when we learned a priest was coming who would reveal a secret message from the Virgin Mary.

VATICAN CITY – In a video message to the people of Portugal, Pope Francis said he would visit Fatima as a pilgrim of peace and to entrust the world to Mary's immaculate heart.

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. – One day before the May 13 celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions, a statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be visiting the United Nations.

OTTAWA – “Inspiration” is an word often heard around the New Evangelization Summit and it has plenty to draw on for this year’s edition May 12-13 in Ottawa.