Julia Durocher crowns the pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima in St. Catherine Church, Kapaa, in February. (Photo courtesy of Anne Durocher)
By Anita Durocher
As I sit here writing this article, I feel so blessed and honored to be able to share my love for Our Lady. Due to my Portuguese heritage, Our Lady of Fatima is especially near and dear to me.
I can recall the day our pastor, Father Anthony Rapozo, asked me if my daughter would like to crown the pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima. My daughter, Julia Marie Rose Durocher, a sixth grader at St. Catherine School, wasn’t present at the time, but I knew she would be honored. So with a humble and excited smile I responded, “Yes.”
Just as I expected, Julia graciously accepted. I wanted her to know the importance of this most memorable event, as well as treat Our Lady with the love and honor she deserves, so I dressed her in white with a veil to honor Our Lady of Fatima in a most special way. This Mass, celebrated in February at St. Catherine Church in Kapaa, Kauai, was truly a special event.
This devotion was passed from generation to generation and shared with me through my mother, Anne Mary Lizama Noguchi, who I am named after. My name is Anita (which means little Anne) and my middle name is Mary. My daughter’s middle name is Marie, French for Mary. In 1966, my mother travelled to Portugal and visited the Fatima shrine where Our Lady appeared to the three children.
My mother passed on her love and devotion to all four of her children. As a young girl at St. Catherine School, I was a member of the Mary Club headed by the Dominican Sisters. I continued my devotion to Mary into young adulthood, attending Marian Conferences on Oahu. Later, as a mother, I joined my parish’s Third Order of Mary.
My husband, Joseph (Joey), also shares a love and devotion to Mary. When we first met, he invited me to a scriptural rosary club that he led. Joey helps me to pass on this love of Our Lady to our four children, Joseph, Anthony, Andrew and Julia.
This past month, the 100th anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima, our family increased our devotion to Mary by aspiring to say the rosary every day of October. We also attended Mass on Oct. 13 in honor of the 100th anniversary. The following day, we participated in the rosary and Fatima prayers with members of our church community.
We are so thankful to Father Anthony and all of the people responsible for bringing the pilgrim statue to Kauai. It has been such a blessing to our community. The 100th feast day of Our Lady of Fatima has given my family and me a renewed spirit and relationship with Mary. It has helped us to revisit the message of Fatima that was shared 100 years ago.
Now more than ever we need to pray the rosary. It is the strongest weapon that we have. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!
Durocher is a parishioner of St. Catherine Church, Kapaa, Kauai
