By Chris McCormack 

Why, 107 years after the miraculous events at Fatima, Portugal, and fifty years after the first Marian Festival in Bendigo, do pilgrims travel from Melbourne, Ballarat, Geelong, Goulburn Valley and interstate, to the annual Marian Festival at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo?

Let’s begin with the Marian visions that preceded the Miracle of the Sun, the only public miracle in history to be foretold by Our Lady of the Rosary to the three seers at Fatima, Lucia dos Santos, 10, and siblings Francisco, 9 and Jacinta Marto, 7, in 1917, in order “so that all may believe”. Our Lady appeared to them each month from May to October. In July, she showed the terrified children a vision of hell, “where the souls of sinners go”. She told them:

"It is to save you that God wants to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart in this world. If you do what I tell you, many souls will be saved, and there will be peace. This war [WW1] will end, but if men do not refrain from offending God, another and more terrible war will begin … He is about to punish the world with another war [WWII]; and with hunger; and, by the persecution of the Church and the Holy Father.”

To prevent this, I shall come to the world to ask that Russia be consecrated to my Immaculate Heart, and I shall ask that on the First Saturday of every month, Communion of reparation be made in atonement for the sins of the world.

If my wishes are fulfilled, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, then Russia will spread her errors throughout the world, bringing new wars and persecutions of the Church, the good will be martyred, and the Holy Father will have much to suffer. Certain nations will be annihilated but, in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she will be converted, and the world will enjoy a period of peace.”

The messages of Our Lady at Fatima culminated in the Miracle of the Sun on 13 October 1917, witnessed by more than 70,000 people and reported in the secular media at the time.

Our Lady’s message is just as relevant today as in 1917, with wars and persecutions widespread, and many having turned away from God.

Pilgrims from far and wide will be treated to a joyous festival with Mass; sacred music, processions, rosary; adoration, barbeque lunch and afternoon tea. Attendees have always been attracted to the warm hospitality and camaraderie of fellow attendees and organisers. There is also a sense of deep devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and an understanding of the necessity to heed Our Lady’s requests to avert personal and collective punishment for sins against her and the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which continues to draw pilgrims to the Marian Festival every year. Attendees collectively look forward to the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the world “enjoy[ing] a period of peace”, as promised by Our Lady.

To find out more go to the Marian Festival Website or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..