On Sunday, Sept. 25, from 2-3:30 p.m., Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, 1023 Swann Road, Lewiston, will be the site of the 31st annual Rosary Crusade for World Peace sponsored by the Niagara Council of Catholic Women of the Diocese of Buffalo. “Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary intercedes for all humanity” is this year’s theme.

Father Bernard Confer, OP, of Our Lady of Rosary Monastery, Buffalo, will be the homilist and the long-time moderator will be Msgr. J. Thomas Moran, pastor of St. Bernard Parish in Youngstown.

The crusade, which is open to the public, will include an outdoor rosary procession, coronation of the statue of Mary, blessing of children and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Pope Benedict XVI has bestowed his apostolic blessing upon all participants in this year’s event.

Dolores Laurrie of Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Parish, Niagara Falls, will serve as the crusade’s chairperson. The Granieri family from St. Raphael Parish, Niagara Falls, will crown the statue of Mary. Niagara County students will recite the rosary and members of Niagara University’s ROTC will take part in the crusade.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima Shrine as well as the 45th anniversary of the ordination of Father Julio M. Ciavaglia, CRSP, rector of the shrine.

Complimentary rosaries and instructions on how to pray the rosary will be distributed at the crusade.