An American in Fatima

My husband and I had the opportunity to visit the Shrine of Fatima in Portugal this past July. One day, we set out to visit the childhood homes of the three visionaries, Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco, in the village of Aljustrel, not far from the sanctuary. Though it was a bit of a walk from our hotel, we were told the route was simple and could be done on foot, so we decided to walk.

However, instead of leading us to the homes of the visionaries, the directions given took us to the monument of the Death of Jesus. Unsure of where to go next, we wandered into a small shop right on the corner. Hoping for help, we stepped inside. I speak Spanish and understand a little Portuguese, so I expected we would manage to communicate with the owner.

To our surprise, the shopkeeper turned out to be an American woman who had only recently opened her store that March. She kindly gave us directions, and though our conversation lasted no more than three minutes, I left with a stirring in my heart. I could not help but wonder about her story: what had brought her to Fatima, and why she had chosen to make her home there. 

As we left the shop, I paused to take a picture of its exterior, hoping we might return later that day. Time slipped away, however, and the opportunity never came. Once I returned home, curiosity led me to search for her store on social media, where I was able to find a contact. I reached out by email, reminding her of our brief encounter in Fatima, introducing myself as a blogger for the Clarion Herald, and asking if she might be willing to share her story. To my delight, she replied, and graciously said yes.

Her name is Elizabeth Bucchianeri, born in Carson City, Nev., and raised primarily in nearby Virginia City. A cradle Catholic, she credits her Irish mother as the greatest influence in her faith formation. Her father also played a significant role, directing the parish choir at St. Mary’s in the Mountains, where Elizabeth herself began singing at a young age. Surrounded by sacred and classical music from childhood, it was only natural that she later chose classical music as her field of study in college.

In 1997, while in her second year of university, Elizabeth was living in Ireland with her mother. That same year, her mother felt a strong desire to make a pilgrimage to Fatima, and together they set out on the journey. During their visit, while at a local convent enjoying tea with a group of pilgrims, an elderly woman from Mexico entered the hall and approached Elizabeth’s mother.

Although they had never met before, the woman explained that she had come specifically to deliver a message to her mother from Our Lady. The message was clear: “When the time came, they were to go to Fatima. They were not to worry about money or even about finding a house, for Our Lady would provide everything.” The woman repeated this assurance several times.

At the time, Elizabeth and her mother dismissed the encounter, attributing it to the eccentricities of old age. They thought little of it once they returned home, nearly forgetting the incident altogether.

Fast forward to 2001, when Elizabeth’s mother had a sudden and rather dramatic conviction: it was time to leave the country and begin life anew elsewhere. She wanted a deeply Catholic land and even considered Malta. But then, in prayer, she heard a small interior voice, saying, “Have you forgotten the message I sent you? Have you forgotten the lady I sent you at Fatima?”

Astounded, she told herself, “You mean that was real?” It dawned on her that Our Lady’s message years earlier had not been a gentle suggestion, but a command: “When the time comes, you are to come to Fatima.” This was not optional.

The timing was remarkable. It was May 13 when this happened, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima’s first apparition to the shepherd children. Elizabeth’s mother prayed, “Okay Holy Mother, but is this the time? You must let me know, but nothing extraordinary please.”

During that waiting period, Elizabeth wrote two books. Soon after the second was published, they heard the postman slip the mail through the door. Among the usual letters was a single postcard. Across it, in bold green letters, were the words: “Now is the time.” The date? Oct. 13, the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun in Fatima.

Taking this as heaven’s confirmation, Elizabeth’s mother picked up the phone that very day and called a real estate agent to put their house on the market. In yet another leap of faith, Elizabeth’s mother had purchased an unfinished construction, practically sight unseen, over the phone. On Feb. 20, 2003, they arrived in Fatima. The date of their arrival was not random, it was the feast day of Saints Jacinta and Francisco, the two little shepherd visionaries. Once again, providence left its mark.

When I asked Elizabeth what keeps her in Fatima, her answer was clear: “Since Our Lady literally gave the order for us to come here, I feel as if I cannot leave unless permission is given. There is a reason my mother and I were called here. I’ve been able to write more books, to study my faith, to uncover fascinating details about the lives of mystics and to make time for prayer and sacrifice; things I might not have done had life gone as I once planned. Yes, at times I still wonder why I’m here, but as the saints remind us, it is always best to remain where God and his mother place us. At this point, I cannot imagine leaving Fatima.”

As Pope John Paul II once said, “In the designs of providence there are no mere coincidences.” It is no mere coincidence that Elizabeth and her mother were called to Fatima, arriving on dates linked to Our Lady’s apparitions. And it is no mere coincidence that my husband and I got lost that day, only to stumble upon her shop. All of it is part of God’s providence, quietly arranging each step, reminding us that where he leads, he always provides.

Vivian Gonzalez Marino is a wife and mother of four living in the New Orleans Lakefront area. She graduated from St. Mary’s Dominican High School, LSU with a bachelor’s degree in science, and then earned her master’s in exercise physiology at the University of New Orleans. Her favorite online community is "Many Hail Mary’s at a Time."