CHARLOTTE — Urging attendees to remain close to the Blessed Virgin Mary and imitate her example, Bishop Peter Jugis offered the closing Mass of the seventh annual diocesan Marian Rosary Congress Aug. 12.
The congress drew more than 300 people to St. Gabriel Church for a day-long program focusing on Mary in honor of the 100th anniversary of her apparitions in Fatima, Portugal.
The program included talks by Father John Eckert, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, and Father Robin Antonio Mora Casanova.
Along with St. Gabriel’s pastor Father Frank O’Rourke, they concelebrated the closing Mass with the bishop.
In his homily, Bishop Jugis reflected on the centennial anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima’s messages to the three shepherd children, and the opportunity for the faithful in the Diocese of Charlotte to dedicate this year to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
As she told the three children in Fatima, he reminded congress-goers, “In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph.”
“It’s a good promise … of ultimate victory, ultimate triumph, ultimate winning the battle – for all of us, her children. She will triumph,” Bishop Jugis said.
He also encouraged congress attendees to take courage and be strong by following in Mary’s footsteps in striving for holiness. Just as mothers instill virtues and values in their children, Our Lady seeks to do the same by instilling her virtues in her children, each one of us, he said.
“She is the best model. She is the greatest of all the saints, who most perfectly, without hesitation, always follows Jesus,” he said. “Follow the lead of the Immaculate Heart and her example; stay close to Jesus. That’s where victory lies.”
— Mike FitzGerald, correspondent
