Bishop Lach to join Horizons pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal

Bishop Lach to join Horizons pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal
 
By Laura Ieraci
 
CHICAGO — Bishop Milan Lach, the new apostolic administrator of the Eparchy of Parma, has announced that he will accompany the Horizons-sponsored pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal, Oct. 26-Nov. 2.
Father Thomas J. Loya, pastor of Annunciation Parish in Homer Glen, Illinois, iconographer, international speaker and radio show host, will still lead the retreat, which will be held at the Byzantine Catholic Chapel of the Dormition in Fatima.
In his desire to accompany and pray with the pilgrims, Bishop Lach will be present exclusively for the Fatima portion of the trip. He will also preside a number of the liturgies.
The 43-year-old Slovak bishop has been to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal twice before.
He said the shrine represents for him the love of the Mother of God, a place of devotion to “our Mother, who loves us so much.”
He said it also reminds him of the need to pray and do penance.
This year, the universal church celebrates the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of the Mother of God in Fatima to three shepherd children, underlining Mary’s exhortation to all Catholics to pray for the conversion of sinners, to offer sacrifices and to pray without ceasing for the peace of the world.
“The 100th anniversary of Fatima invites all of us, myself included, to be pilgrims to thank the Theotokos for the gifts she gives us,” said Bishop Lach. “And to humbly ask her help for the faithful of the Eparchy of Parma and protection from all harm and temptations to abandon the way toward the Kingdom of heaven.”
 
SURCHARGE WAIVED
Several people contacted Horizons to express their interest in the pilgrimage, but also their concern about the travel agent’s stated policy of a surcharge should the pilgrimage not gather a minimum participation of 30 people.
Horizons discussed this concern with the travel agent, who agreed to drop the surcharge policy for this pilgrimage. Horizons expressed gratitude to the travel agent on behalf of all those who had expressed concern. 
Registration for the pilgrimage is still open.
Trip information is available on the website of the Eparchy of Parma, www.parma.org, or from Horizons editor Laura Ieraci, reachable at (216) 470-3287 or [email protected].
 
As published in Horizons, July 30, 2017.