The World Apostolate of Fatima, formerly known as The Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima, is an international association of the faithful of the Catholic Church. Its purpose is the glory of God and the reign of Christ through personal fulfilment and propagation of the message brought to the world by Our Lady of Fatima as the Catholic Church recognises and encourages it: “evangelical message of faith, of conversion, of prayer, of unity and peace” (Pope Paul VI, May 12,1967).

Monsignor Victor Harold Colgan, the founder of the Blue Army Society (later renamed the World Apostolate of Fatima), tells us that the name came to him spontaneously as he was preaching in his parish (St. Mary’s Parish, New Jersey, U.S.A.) in 1947.

“Blue” stands for (1) Our Lady, and (2) Our daily duties, while “Army” signifies that those who make the pledge of membership of the Association are committing themselves to Our Lady’s side against the forces of Satan. They have chosen to use the spiritual weapons Our Lady gave us at Fatima (specified in the World Apostolate of Fatima Pledge) to bring about the victory She herself has promised.

To show the internationality of the Apostolate, the Vatican Congregation for Lay Apostolate later on in the 1980's instructed that the name of the Apostolate-the Blue Army, be changed to World Apostolate of Fatima (The Blue Army) and the youth wing of the Apostolate was also renamed Youth for Fatima Apostolate (The Blue Army Cadets).

Origin of the World Apostolate of Fatima

The World Apostolate of Fatima owes its existence to Monsignor Harold Colgan. In 1947, he recovered from a serious illness after he asked to be given a Statue of Our Lady of Fatima. Later he read an article about the apparitions of the Mother of God to the three children at Fatima. He was inspired to found the Blue Army now known as the World Apostolate of Fatima to better promote and carry out the requests made by Our Lady during those apparitions. And when Sr. Lucia, one of the three children to whom Our Lady appeared at Fatima wanted to do the same and she was informed of the Blue Army Apostolate and its goals, she was more than satisfied. She changed her earlier plan and gave her full blessing and encouragement to the Apostolate which enjoys full and direct Papal recognition and approval as the Church’s recognised International Apostolate for the propagation of the Fatima message.

In 1950, the founder of the Blue Army, Msgr. Colgan, went to Rome and had an audience with the Holy Father who on meeting him said “I give my blessings to the leaders and members of the Blue Army. The time for doubting Fatima has passed. It is now time for Action!” And it is that action that saw to the establishment of the first “Blue Army” centres in Nigeria as early as 1970.