Confraternities and archconfraternities
World Apostolate of Fatima
WAF · The Blue Army · Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima · Our Lady's Blue Army · Apostolado Mundial de Fatima
St Padre Pio whose spiritual children its members become
Founded 1947International public association of the faithful; erected as such by decree of the Pontifical Council for the Laity on 7 October 2005; organized nationally, with an International Secretariat at Domus Pacis in Fatima, PortugalDescribed by the apostolate as millions of members worldwide; no exact current figure is published
SacramentalsThe Brown Scapular, as one of the four commitments.
Open to anyone, today
Free online form. Free to join; donations are invited separately.
Enroll nowFill in the 'Join Our Lady's Blue Army' form on the WAF USA site; the commitments begin the moment you accept them.
Members have a portal to sign in to.
The World Apostolate of Fatima, still widely called the Blue Army, is for people who want to actually do what Our Lady asked at Fatima in 1917 rather than just read about it. Joining is a single decision with four lifelong commitments attached: offer up the sacrifices your ordinary daily duties already demand, pray a five-decade Rosary every day, wear the Brown Scapular as the sign of your consecration to Mary's Immaculate Heart, and try to practice the First Saturday devotion. There are no required meetings, though local cell prayer groups and divisions exist. People join because the Fatima message is specific and practical, and because this is the body the Church recognizes as speaking for the authentic version of it.
What you promise
Four commitments, made to the best of your ability: daily sacrifices accepted from your duty of state, a daily five-decade Rosary, wearing the Brown Scapular, and striving to practice the First Saturday devotion (Confession, Communion, Rosary, and fifteen minutes of meditation on the mysteries on five consecutive first Saturdays). There is no formation period and no probation.
What the Church attaches
Your name is placed at the site of the apparitions in Fatima. You become a spiritual child of St. Padre Pio. You receive the graces and indulgences attached to the Rosary and the Brown Scapular. You are united spiritually with members worldwide. The apostolate also runs retreats, congresses, Pilgrim Virgin Statue visits, and a pilgrimage program to the Shrine of Fatima, and publishes the quarterly Messenger magazine.
Enrollment checked 2026-10-22. Details change without notice and parish practice varies. Confirm before relying on this sheet.