About 80 children and teenagers placed themselves under the protection of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in a prayer of consecration at the Church of the Visitacion on the 100th anniversary of the appearance of the Blessed Mother at Fatima May 13.

Among the children were teens who were confirmed the next day by Bishop William J. Justice, children in the parish religious education program and children from the Vietnamese community.

The 4 p.m. Mass and consecration was preceded by a Marian procession and liturgical dance by the Vietnamese children and teens. Visitacion pastor Father Thuan Hoang also gave each one a brown scapular after a prayer of dedication.

Father Thuan told the children as they go through life, there will be many distractions to pull them away from God, and Our Lady’s help and protection will safeguard them.

Full story at Catholic San Francisco.