Our Lady of Aparecida

Our Lady of Aparecida

 Our Lady  of Aparecida

Every year on October 12th, Brazil celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Aparecida.   It is marked as a national holiday throughout Brazil and is similar to our celebration of St. Patrick´s day.   The actual Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida is to be found in the State of São Paulo and hopefully we will get to visit it on our return journey next week.   It is estimated that about 170,000 people visit the National Sanctuary today.

The story goes that in October of 1717, Dom Pedro de Almedida, travelled from Sao Paulo to Minas Gerais. During his journey, he passed through a small city in the Paraiba river valley called Guaratinqueta.   During his time there, the local people had decided to put together a great party that would require an incredible number of fish. Gathered together were three fishermen who had a special devotion to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Prior to fishing, all three men plead to God that they would be blessed with more than enough fish.   At that time, one of the men named Felipe Pedroso got on his knees swiftly and prayed saying, “Mother of God and our Mother; we need to find fish!”

Lone and behold, after not being able to find anything for hours, they cast their net out for a final time near the Port of Itaguagu. To their amazement, they hauled in the body of a statue, as well as the statue’s head. After cleaning the statue, they discovered that it was Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. They named the statue Our Lady of Aparecida. They wrapped a statue they found in cloth and continued to fish. All of a sudden, through the grace of God, their nets were full.


The Night Watch!!


Most parishes throughout Brazil have festivities to mark this special day.    Nine years ago when Fr. Paudie came to Juruena he started a walk from the main Church of St. Pedro Apostoli to the Community Church named after Nossa Senhora Aparecida.   It is an 18km walk starting at 4.00am so it was early to bed the night before and early to rise this morning.   The idea is that people from the other Communities along the way join in as we pass their Church thus growing in numbers but also growing in fellowship and faith.   At each of the five stops along the way a prayer circle is formed and someone from the Community (not the priest!!) leads the prayers at that station followed by a decade of the rosary.

The Circle of Prayer

We began at the main Church with around 20-25 people and headed off on our journey towards the Church of St. Clare.   The picture here shows the extended prayer circle as this Community joined us outside their Church.   There is a great sense of welcome as each different Community joins the walk.   There is singing along the way by some pilgrims who are in joyful mood as they walk.   Others talk and chat as friends meet up along the way.   Others choose to walk alone in reflective thought and prayer.

I have mentioned it before but it is so striking again on this occasion, the amount of young adults participating in the walk but also actively involved in organising the walk and leading the prayers.   At each of the stops along the way, refreshments were available to sustain the walkers on their 18km journey.   Again, it is mostly young adults who were involved in the process.   There were also quite a number of young teenagers participating in the walk.
 

Fr. Paudie, Larissa and Ivette.



I couldn't help but notice the young girl in the photo, Larissa, who walked the full 18km in her bare feet.   Remember, as you can see in the photo, the trail is not on a nice clean road surface but muddy, stony, and uneven.   Some people walked the last section of the walk in their bare feet also but Larissa went the whole hog!!!  Well done to her for her courage.

The early part of the journey was difficult as we were travelling in the dark and no street lighting once we were outside town.   Between potholes and puddles it was hard to pick your step at times.  

By 5.30am the day began to brighten.   I'm not so sure that helped either as we could see the long road unfolding ahead of us!!!   You can never win!

Nossa Senhora Aparecida



Final section of the walk.

The statue of Our Lady of Aparecida was carried along with us for most of the journey on the back of a 4x4 but was carried on the final section by volunteers.   It is difficult to make it out in the picture to the left but the four people in the centre are carrying the statue.

Here at last!!

As we finally arrived at the Community Church of Nossa Senhora Aparecida, a large crowd was there to welcome us to our destination.   There was a great party atmosphere even though it was only 8.00am in the morning.   Lost of families had come along at that stage.   People spend most of the of the day there in celebration so there were lots of activities going on all around the field.   Before Mass people could purchase meat for the BBQ which would be cooked to perfection for them, just to collect and eat!!!  The event is run as a parish fund-raiser so stalls were in place where people could purchase the rest of what they needed for lunch - bread, rice, salads, etc.

A Large Crowd Gather for Mass

As you can see from the photo, there was quite a large gathering for Mass.   Fr. Paudie and I con celebrated the Mass and all the children came forward for an Irish Blessing at the end!!   There was lovely singing and a great atmosphere which was enjoyed by all.   Although we could not converse in Portuguese, so so many people came up to welcome us and just say hello.

Once Mass was over, people got set for their lunch or mid morning breakfast.   Every section of the massive BBQ was in full swing catering for all who had come to celebrate.   Our events man whom I referred to earlier in the week was on hand with tables, chairs, PA system, bar facilities, the works!!!

Food, Glorious Food!!



The Weigh-in!!!

 No shortage of meat here!!  Basically, it was sold by weight so depending on the number of people you had to feed, you bought a piece big enough

Reaady for cooking!

.   The meat was on long skewers as seen in the picture.   Each skewer had a number attached so you knew which piece was your to collect when ready.   We were all licking our lips after it.!!!

It was a great day even though it started very early in the morning.   We left the celebrations around mid afternoon.