DUNWOODY—One of six pilgrim statues of Our Lady of Fatima blessed by Pope Francis in January for the centennial of the Fatima apparitions will be in the Atlanta Archdiocese at several parishes and schools and religious houses beginning March 31.

That Friday, March 31, the international centennial pilgrim statue will be brought into All Saints Church, Dunwoody, at 8 a.m. and will remain there throughout the day and evening while various talks are presented, Masses are celebrated and adoration is held. The visit is being coordinated by the Alliance of the Holy Family International and the Alliance of the Two Hearts in Georgia.

The schedule includes Mass at 9 a.m., talks at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. by Father Bing Arellano, spiritual director of the Alliance of the Holy Family International, rosary and confession at 8 p.m., Mass in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at 9 p.m., followed by holy hours of adoration and concluding with 1 a.m. Saturday Mass in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

On Saturday and Sunday, April 1 and 2, a Lenten retreat will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn-Roswell, 909 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell. Father Arellano and Father Jose Marie Viola, assistant spiritual director of the Alliance of the Holy Family International, will lead the retreat. Mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m. both days. A $50 donation per person is requested for expenses for those who register. A donation at the door of $70 is requested. Contact www.allianceoftwoheartsgeorgia.com to register for the retreat. Registration is required.

Visits of the international centennial pilgrim image of Our Lady of Fatima are planned at schools and parishes of the archdiocese in April, including St. George, Newnan, April 4, Good Shepherd, Cumming, April 5, St. Anthony, Blue Ridge, April 7 and 8, Our Lady of LaSalette, Canton, April 19 and 20, St. Patrick, Norcross, April 21 and 22, St. John Neumann, Lilburn, April 22, 23 and 24, St. Brendan, Cumming, April 25, 26 and 27, and Our Lady of the Americas, Lilburn, April 28, 29 and 30.

The image will also visit the religious houses of the Missionaries of Charity and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home of the Hawthorne Dominicans in Atlanta on April 3.

Diane Guesman, Georgia chapter coordinator of the Alliance of the Holy Family International, went to Rome for the blessing by Pope Francis of the six images. She represented North America and traveled back on Delta Airlines with the image intended to travel throughout the continent. The image has traveled from St. Louis, Missouri, to Alabama, Florida and Georgia and will next be in Louisiana.

Pope Francis was asked to send these images around the world by the AHFI and Human Life International—Austria. One was sent to each continent of the world with an appeal to pray and offer reparation for the intentions of world peace and the sanctity of family life. Pope Francis also declared the centennial year a jubilee year with plenary indulgence to be granted to those who participate in the centenary of Our Lady of Fatima.

For detailed information about Masses, rosaries, presentations or talks at the parishes where the image will be placed, please contact the individual parishes.