by Elizabeth N. Terte
“The number of devotees who are coming even surpassed the devotees who come on Holy Thursday and Good Friday”, said Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, parish priest of the San Fabian. “The people have been continuously coming in and out of the parish church since Our Lady was brought in the parish church.”
Grace-Filled Visit
The statue of Our Lady of Fatima was brought to the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, from the St. John the Evangelist Cathedral in Dagupan City after an overnight visit. Parishioners, led by the Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, and the members of the Knights of Columbus, including the K of C Honor Guards, accompanied the transfer from Dagupan City to San Fabian, Pangasinan.
Waves of White Handkerchiefs
The pupils of Longos Elementary School with their teachers were the first 
Pupils and students from the different schools in San Fabian lined up along the processional route to welcome Our Lady. They soon joined the procession in going to the parish church.
Students from the Archdiocesan School of San Fabian, St. Blaise 
Archbishop Soc: “San Fabian as Center of Formation of Priests”
Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, presided over the Mass welcoming Our Lady in San Fabian.
Archbishop Soc revealed why of the many parishes in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, it was only in Dagupan and San Fabian that were visited by Our Lady of Fatima.
“San Fabian will soon become the center of formation of our priests”, Archbishop Soc said. “Next month we will start the construction of the Theology Seminary in Palapad (San Fabian). Before Jesus will come, Mary has to come first.”
The Theology Seminary in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan
The Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan has assigned a lot in Barangay Palapad, San Fabian, Pangasinan measuring twenty seven thousand square meters as the future site of the theology seminary.
A pious lady architect who has been a recipient of the papal award Pro 
The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan has already two formation houses 
A massive fund raising campaign is being undertaken by the Archdiocese for the construction of the Theology Seminary which is to begin next month. The Theology Seminary is envisioned to be finished and fully operational by June 2013.
Unending Flow of Devotees
Since the arrival of the Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima in the morning of 9 January, it was observed that 
Families come to pray in front of the image of our Lady. “It is very touching to see children being led by their parents as they kneel and pray the rosary in front of Our Lady”, Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza observed.
Visit to Tandagan, Palapad, San Fabian, Pangasinan
A farewell Mass was celebrated on 10 January at 2:00 PM, by Rev. Fr. Genaro Jijune Herramia, the Vicar Forane of the Vicariate of St. Thomas 
Before the image was transferred to the next place to be visited by Our Lady, the Pilgrim Virgin Image was brought to Tandagan, Palapad, San Fabian, at the location where the Theology Seminary will be built. A short prayer was led by Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza. Marian Songs were sung during the short procession to the topmost part of the hill where the future chapel will be built.
“The Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima may leave us, but she will always remain in our hearts.” Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.
Our Lady of Fatima visits Tandagan, Palapad, San Fabian, Pangasinan, the site of the Theology Seminary in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagpan
This hill is where the Chapel of the Theology Seminary will be built.
Photos and pictures courtesy of Judys Apilado, Violeta Omiles and Weng Nicer (from their Facebook accounts. – ed)
(Elizabeth Terte is a member of the Union of Prayers for Vocation (UPV)of the Parish of St. Fabian. She is also a member of the Parish PREX Secretariat. She is at present the Head Teacher of Palapad Elementary School – ed).
