arrived there in 1946 when the few surely an answer to prayer and an example Catholics in Bala went to the Convent of of Mary’s power with God.Fr. James The History of The the Sisters of Nazareth, situated in the hilly borrowed the money and trusted in God to countryside, at LIanycil, about one mile help him to repay it. Within four months Catholic Church of from the Town Centre, for Mass on of the purchase, enough money poured in Sundays. The elderly had an arduous walk to repay the loan and the Church was Our Lady of Fatima each way and staff employed in the Hotels opened free of debt. Much hard work during the holiday season hadn’t enough preceded the great day of the opening of Bala time to get to Mass.Fr. James felt that the Church such as the difficulty of something must be done, but the Parish obtaining building permits but after was poor and there were few Parishioners. months of waiting, permission was Fr. James was resolute and determined, granted, through the help of a non- with God’s help, to get a Church in the Catholic gentleman of great influence. The thriving market town of Bala, Town. One Sunday, he explained the Gwynedd in Snowdonia National Park, is situation to his little flock - “We must get The conversion of the stables into a a pretty tourist resort, surrounded by the a Church in the Town. We haven’t money, Church began in October 1947.Eight Berwyn, Aran and Arenig Mountain but we will pray and Our Lady will help months of toil followed and Fr. James ranges, set on the shores of Llyn Tegid, the us”. From then on, we are told, at every laboured alone, pulling down inner walls largest natural lake in Wales, 530 feet Mass, the people prayed a Hail Mary with in the kitchen, coalhouse, workshop & above sea level. In one year people from him, and asked Our Lady of Fatima to stables also removing oak floors in the loft over thirty-six countries signed the provide a Church. They prayed fervently and upstairs bedrooms. We are told, a visitors’ book in our Church! Bala has and some were doubtful, given the good Irishman came and sawed the 340 many Hotels, Guest Houses, B&B, circumstances, and who could blame year old oak beams out of the walls! At Caravan & camping Parks, and is an ideal them? But Fr. James - a man of Faith - last, the fine shape of a Church became base, for exploring the coast and walking kept on encouraging them to pray. Not visible! People from Liverpool, in the Mountains of the National Park. The surprisingly, their prayers were answered, Lancashire, & Ireland, made a magnificent coastal resorts of Llandudno, Colwyn Bay and Mary saw to it that they should have response to the Bala Appeal. The & Rhyl are within 50 miles of Bala, & their Church. Tabernacle was a gift from the west of Barmouth just 28.The Town is also Ireland. The specially designed Stations of famous as an International Centre for In November 1946, Fr. James learned that the Cross were donated by a man from Water Sports. Sailing, wind-surfing and there was a property for sale, in the High Cork, as were the ciborium and altar linen. canoeing are enjoyed on the lake. The Street, dating from 1609 - a large house, Canolfan Tryweryn - the National White cafe, fish & chip shop and stables. Prior to A Newry family contributed largely to the Water Centre, is situated nearby. this, it was the “Onen lnn” where travellers Monstrance which cost £200. A stayed and rested their horses. Fr. James Lancashire lady donated the Baptismal Bala is good for cycling, pony-trekking & tried to buy the premises through a friend, Font. The Sanctuary carpet was given by a swimming at the Penllynn Leisure Centre, but negotiations failed so he decided to lady from Liverpool and the Sisters in the Ten Pin Bowling at Urdd Multi-activity approach the vendor himself. Much to Convent of Perpetual Adoration in Centre at Glan-llyn and has a Golf Course. everyone’s surprise he succeeded. It is Kensington, gave generously to items for recalled that even though others offered the Altar. Frequent Visitors to Bala will see how more for the property, the smaller sum of much the Town has developed since Fr. £1,800 he offered was accepted. This was James Koenen, a Dutch Dominican Priest, Now Fr. James had to seek permission pilgrims and others walked! The served by Priests in Charge of Dolgellau from Bishop Petit, of the then Menevia Procession made its way to Chester, and Bala - See website for details. The Diocese, to dedicate his Church to Our Wrexham, Llangollen and Bala. On the Millennium was marked by the building of Lady of Fatima. Again Fr. James was edge of the town they walked in a Shrine to Our Lady of Fatima in an faced with a difficulty. The Bishop said procession along the High Street, praying extension to the side of the Church, made the Church should be dedicated to a Welsh the Rosary, to the Church where from Welsh slate it has a beautiful stained- Saint, David, Beuno, Winifred etc. Benediction was celebrated. Our Lady had glass window, representing the miracle of certainly not Our Lady of Fatima. arrived to take up residence in Bala. the ‘spinning sun’ in Fatima, the work of However Bishop Petit, later observing Fr. Loreto Sister, Jen Bromham, from James leaving looking so dejected at the Many Pilgrimages took place in 1949 and Swansea. Mike Watts from Blaenau refusal, called him back, and granted his on 21 May 1950, 8,000 pilgrims from all Ffestiniog, designed the slate work and petition - the first Church outside of over Britain came to witness the Crowning inscriptions in Welsh & English of Our Portugal, to be dedicated to Our Lady of of the Statue. On reaching the edge of the Lady’s words “Behold the Handmaid to Fatima & the first Catholic Church to be town, the thousands of pilgrims, praying the Lord. ” All materials used were Welsh, opened in Bala since the Reformation. On the Rosary, processed on foot along the as was the Builder, .Ellis Gwyn Jones. 8 15 June 1948, the Church was opened High Street to the spacious grounds of the Dec. 2000 was a memorable Day, when, Priests from all over the diocese , Spanish, then Fatima Guest House, a fine two- Priests from the Dioceses of Wrexham, Portuguese & South American Consuls, storey house for Pilgrims, overlooking the Liverpool, Salford & Shrewsbury, plus visitors from Ireland, Liverpool, Lake. The Statue, carried by the Knights hundreds of Pilgrims, assembled for the Manchester and overseas came. Local of St.Columba, was placed on a temporary Blessing of the Shrine and to Concelebrate people thronged the little Church and out altar. The Bishop of Shrewsbury - Rt. Rev. Mass. The Crown was restored to its into the streets. Bells rang out in the town John A Murphy, presided at the Crowning former beauty and the youngest member of and Mass was relayed over speakers; “the Ceremony, blessed two crowns, one for our Parish, Emma Roberts, Crowned Our chant of the Capuchin Friars from the statue used in the Procession and one Lady. The gift of a beautiful Rosary from Pantasaph rose and fell in waves of for our Statue - the gift of the people of the Pope, to mark this special occasion homage over the town”. An Italian Portugal. The children of the Portuguese was added. children’s choir, competing in the Consul Crowned the Statue and after Llangollen International Eisteddfod, sang Benediction, the Procession moved back to Motets - from the kitchen - no room for the Church. Pilgrims continue to come them elsewhere! from all over the world to Bala and to pray Devotion to Our Lady of Fatima in Bala? in the peaceful haven of her second stable- History reminds us that Wales has always Later that year, a Portuguese donor home! had a special devotion to Mary - Mair in provided ‘Our Statue’, carved in oak, by Welsh. Many places are called after her. the same sculptor who carved the Statue in Many changes have taken place since that The story of Fatima reveals Mary’s love the Fatima Basilica, in Portugal. It was wonderful day! Fr. James died on 6 and concern for all God’s children and her blessed by the Bishop of Leira in Fatima, August 1976 and is buried in Pantasaph ‘Message’, given to the three children in for all who come to pray in Bala. On 12 Monastery Cemetery. The work he began Fatima, is more relevant today than ever. December, the Statue arrived by ship in continues to this day. He was succeeded Mary made an urgent appeal for Prayer, Liverpool and was placed in an open car by Fr. James Rudd and other visiting Reconciliation & Penance. So, continuing decorated with flowers, emblems, and Priests. Fr. Richard Edwards was the last Fr. James Koenen’s mission, we flags of Wales & Portugal. It was followed Resident Parish Priest and he retired in encourage everyone who comes here, to by a cortege of white coaches, carrying 1997. Since then, the Parish has been listen to what Mary has requested us to do.