Sacraments of Christian Initiation – Hundreds of the faithful prepared by the Heralds of the Gospel received the Sacraments of Christian initiation in November. The photos show Baptism at the Divine Mercy Parish in Santiago de Surco, Peru; In Brazil, First Communion at the Cuiabá Cathedral and at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima in the city of Cotia; and in the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Juiz de Fora; Confirmation ceremonies at the Church of the Holy Saviour in Lauro de Freitas, presided over by the Most Rev. Marco Eugênio Galrão Leite de Almeida, Auxiliary Bishop of Salvador, at the Our Lady of Divine Providence Parish in Belo Horizonte, presided over by the Metropolitan Auxiliary Bishop Edmar José da Silva, and at Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish in Structural City in the Federal District, presided over by Dom Raymundo Damasceno Assis, Archbishop Emeritus of Aparecida.
In Mary’s Hands Forever
New groups completing the course on the Reconquest Catholic Formation Platform were consecrated in November as slaves of love of the Blessed Virgin Mary, according to the method of St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort. Of special note are the ceremonies held at the Mary Help of Christians Parish in Mexico City and the Mary Our Queen Parish in Puebla, Mexico; at the Santa Helena Parish in Antiguo Cuscatlán, El Salvador; at the cathedral of Juigalpa, Nicaragua; at the Church of Our Lady of Fatima in Tocancipá, Colombia; at the St. Roque Parish in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia; at the St. Dominic of Guzmán Parish in Santiago, Chile; at the Church of the Mother of Good Counsel in Ypacaraí, Paraguay; at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Montevideo; and at the Heralds’ houses in Buenos Aires and Lima.
Brazil – The pipe organ in the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the city of Juiz de Fora was inaugurated on November 6, during a solemn Eucharist followed by a concert. Then, on November 25 in the same church, the 27th Battalion of the Military Police commemorated their thirtieth anniversary with a Holy Mass. Both ceremonies were presided over by Metropolitan Archbishop Gil Antônio Moreira.
Franco da Rocha (Brazil) – As part of the celebrations for the 81st anniversary of Franco da Rocha, the Most Rev. Sérgio Aparecido Colombo, Bishop of Bragança Paulista, celebrated a solemn Eucharist in the Benedito Bueno de Moraes Park, accompanied by the choir of seminarians from the Clerical Society of Apostolic Life Virgo Flos Carmeli. On this occasion, the mayor of the city, Mrs. Lorena Oliveira, crowned the image of Our Lady.
Italy – In November, the Pilgrim Statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary visited the Basilica of St. Anthony in Messina, bringing hope and comfort to the faithful even in their very homes (photo 1), as well as the Church of St. Mary of the Holy Spirit Shrine in the same city. On All Souls’ Day, members of the Heralds assisted in the liturgical service of the Holy Mass presided over by the Patriarch of Venice, Archbishop Francesco Moraglia, at the Church of San Michele in Isola.
Paraguay – On November 14, the Municipal Traffic Police of Asunción celebrated its sixtieth anniversary with a Holy Mass, celebrated by Fr. Ismael Fuentealba, EP. On November 22, the Heralds participated in the Eucharist in honour of the Patron of the Christ the King Parish in Ciudad del Este, followed by a musical concert (photo 3), and the following day they made their annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Miracles in Caacupé.
Hallows’ Eve – The Solemnity of All Saints took on a special note of innocence in Brazil with the participation of children dressed in costumes reflecting the characteristics of their favourite saints. Highlights include the celebrations held at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima in Cotia, São Paulo, at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Juiz de Fora, at the St. Therese Chapel in Belo Horizonte and at the Heralds’ houses in Fortaleza and Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro.
Campo Grande (Brazil) – A blessed “Afternoon with Mary” was held at the Heralds’ house on October 25th. The activities consisted of a lecture given by Fr. Ricardo José Basso, EP, followed by the solemn crowning of the Pilgrim Statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the celebration of Holy Mass.
