Many Portuguese people have as one of their life goals, walk to Fátima, whether alone or in a group, although with different motivations, but united by the faith that everyone has in Our Lady of Fátima, This article is about one of these groups of pilgrims.
Rogério COPETO
Colonel of the GNR
Master in Law and Security and Homeland Security Auditor
Every year around this time, thousands of people walk to the Sanctuary of Fátima, with the aim of arriving at Cova da Iria next Sunday, day 12 May, where they will express their faith in Our Lady of Fátima and attend the religious ceremonies of the day 12 and 13 May.
There are so many thousands of people, that every year on these days they walk towards Fátima, that the Republican National Guard (GNR) held every year, from 2008, “Operation Safe Pilgrimage”, with the aim of ensuring the safety of all pilgrims, those who walk or drive along the roads heading to the Sanctuary of Fátima and those who attend religious ceremonies.
But this article is not about the role that the GNR plays in the safety of all those heading to Fátima on the roads and those in the Sanctuary of Fátima, where the GNR has demonstrated high competence and professionalism.
This article is about a group of about 25 men and women of Évora, since 2019 (except 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) organize themselves to walk to Fátima, having in common faith in Our Lady of Fátima, despite different motivations, ranging from being grateful for a blessing or keeping a promise, as it will be with all pilgrims and which was portrayed in the film “Fatima".
For this height, day 8 May, the group, which calls itself “Walk with Don Bosco to Mary” is completing the second stage, of a route that totals approximately 200 km, between Évora and the Sanctuary of Fátima, Where will they arrive next Sunday? 12 May, the departure was yesterday morning, after a mass at the Church of Our Lady Help of Christians, at the Salesians of Évora, whose image will accompany them all the way.
The departure was yesterday at 9:30 am and witnessed live on TVI and CNN, as I had already done in 2019, in the report “Pilgrims leave Évora heading to Fátima for the celebrations of the 13 May".
But so that this group of men and women can fulfill their desire to walk to Fátima, it took a long time before, than to Elsa Lima, responsible for the Group, have planned and organized, all necessary logistics, How are the steps defined?, and places of accommodation and food.
In addition to the responsibility of finding the best route and places to eat and sleep,, Elsa also tried to find support and sponsorship, that appear in the form of water bottles, fruit and support vehicle, with respective driver, provided by the Salesians of Évora, which guarantees all the necessary support to the group during the journey.
After planning all necessary logistical support, It was also essential to ensure that the group members met the minimum conditions, to get, from a physical point of view, comply with the 200 km, necessary to reach your destination, no serious injuries, Why blisters and muscle pain are normal, therefore, several training sessions were carried out, with the aim of preparing themselves physically for the challenge, because mentally, everyone is ready.
After some training, always on Sunday, some of which are single-stage in the morning and others in the morning and afternoon, because these workouts are the closest to reality, taking into account that the daily steps that take them to Fátima, are also made up of two routes, one in the morning, with a stop for lunch and another in the afternoon, to the place where they will spend the night.
After training, the group will have covered several hundred kilometers, along the paths and roads around Évora, with the aim of preparing themselves to walk to Fátima, so the bubbles, foot pain, in the legs, on the back, on your hips and swollen hands will no longer be a surprise, However, health support by volunteers from the Order of Malta, that every day at the end of each stage, will carry out massages and treatments for minor injuries, that appear along the way, What do “blisters on the feet” look like?, that all, some more than others, will do.
To better understand this group, I suggest reading the article I had the opportunity to write on the day 13 May 2022, to O’Digital with the title “Walk to Fátima", where I say that “Everyone arrives at their destination, because the arrival, It is reward enough for the sacrifice faced along the way and no one is left behind.
Upon arrival there is crying, laughs, hugs, kisses and claps, lots of applause, It is mandatory for pilgrims who are already at the Sanctuary to applaud those who are arriving. E no final, bonds of friendship were created between everyone, just like what happens during recruitment and who stay for life, even among those who had never met before.”
We ended, wishing all the pilgrims who have already started or are going to start their journey to Fátima, particularly to this group from Évora, do it safely, not forgetting the advice that GNR makes a point of transmitting, so that everyone arrives at the Sanctuary of Fátima on the day 12 May without a hitch.
Good way for everyone.
