Blessed Sacrament Church offers its congregant faithful and the public an opportunity to join Our Lady of Fatima Conference on Saturday to hear messages for peace that are as relevant now as in 1917.

In keeping with Fatima's message of peace, the Rev. Andrew Apostoli of Yonkers, N.Y., will present "The Message of Fatima, More Important Now than Ever." Doors open at 7 a.m. for registration to the daylong event that includes morning prayer, meditative rosary, Mass, film and nursery.

The gathering also will feature Michael La Corte, executive director of the World Apostolate of Fatima, whose two presentations are "The Miracle of the Sun" and "Fatima, Path to an Era of Peace."

The Fatima conference will observe the 91st anniversary of the Virgin Mary's six appearances to three shepherd children - Lucy dos Santos and Francisco and Jacinta Marto - between May 13 and Oct. 13, 1917, near the village of Fatima in Portugal.

Appearing at the time of World War I, Mary promised the children that heaven would grant peace to all if her requests for prayer, reparation and consecration were obeyed, according to Apostoli.

"I'm just reminding people of what Fatima's message is," said Apostoli by telephone from his office at the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Yonkers.

The local superior, scholar and writer, who has dedicated 41 years and counting to his faith, had been on hand when Pope Benedict XVI recently visited New York City in May, which was a first-time visit for the Holy See.

"He was remarkable," Apostoli said of Benedict. "His presence exuded real warmth and compassion."

This brief visit may indirectly benefit Apostoli's work in the canonization of television's first evangelist - Archbishop Fulton Sheen.

In the golden era of television, Sheen's TV program ran opposite Milton Berle's wildly popular comedy show. At its height, 30 million viewers tuned in on Tuesday nights for Sheen's sermons. According to Apostoli's research, the largest portion of Sheen's viewing audience was Jewish, followed by Protestants, with Catholics coming in third.

"My work has been to gather information on people receiving favors through (Sheen's) prayers and receiving recognizable favors of healing-surviving death when they should not have survived. These are being studied as possible miracles," he said.

His interviews with family, medical personal, ministry and other witnesses have generated 21 volumes of documents about Sheen, which he has turned over to a committee of experts for review.

In an intricate process, the deposed witnesses and notarized documents must stand the careful scrutiny of physicians, theologians and - if approved - Roman Cardinals, before Apostoli's work may lead to Sheen being recognized as a saint.

The sainthood is well deserved for the humble Sheen, he said.

"He made a phenomenal impact to the world around him," Apostoli said.

Apostoli has another good reason for working to see this interesting archbishop recognized for his achievements.

"I was ordained by him," he said.

If you go

What: Our Lady of Fatima Conference World Apostolate of Fatima, a public association of the faithful under the Pontifical Council for the Laity

When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21

Fee: $10, reserved limited seating

Where: Blessed Sacrament Church, 4500 Jackson Blvd.

For reservations, contact Ellen Robertson at 718-9909; Jim Jacquot at 381-9130 or e-mail sheila.meyer@gmail. com. Send checks payable to Blue Army to Jim Jacquot, 608 Cleveland St., Rapid City, SD 57701.