Singing "Ave Maria," about 400 Spanish-speaking Catholicds from throughout the Diocese of Peoria process from the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria to St. Mary's Cathedral for a Mass with Bishop Jenky at the conclusion of their daylong celebration of the centennial of the Mary's appearances at Fatima. (The Catholic Post/Tom Dermody)

Spanish-speaking Catholics from around the Diocese of Peoria celebrated their unity in faith and their love of the Eucharist, St. John Paul II, and the Blessed Virgin Mary during a daylong celebration Aug. 19 in Peoria.

The focus of the event was this year’s centennial of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s appearances in Fatima, Portugal. While several talks explored the messages and significance of Fatima, the day was joy-filled for several other reasons, including:

• The presence of the relic of St. John Paul II that toured the diocese last week, and
• That it was the first major event planned by the diocese’s renewed Hispanic Ministry, now directed by Sister Isabel Romero, SCTJM. A profile of Sister Isabel and her plans for implementing the diocese’s vision for Hispanic Ministry is found here.

Photos from the Fatima event, which began at the Spalding Pastoral Center and concluded with Mass and eucharistic adoration at St. Mary’s Cathedral, will be posted to The Catholic Post’s site on Facebook.