Structural City (Brazil) – On the occasion of the liturgical commemoration of St. Lucy, patroness of one of the chapels of Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish, in Structural City, Cardinal Paulo Cezar Costa, Archbishop of Brasília, presided over the Solemn Eucharist of the community on December 13.
Concelebrating the Holy Mass was the parish pastor, Fr. Lourenço Ferronatto, EP, and Fr. Miguel Ángel Díaz Meléndez, from the Parish of Our Lady of the Encounter with God.
Caieiras (Brazil) – One hundred and forty-four confirmands from the Parish of Our Lady of Grace received the Sacrament of Confirmation from the hands of the Most Rev. Sérgio Aparecido Colombo, Bishop of Bragança Paulista. The ceremony took place on December 7, in the church of the motherhouse of the Feminine Society of Apostolic Life, Regina Virginum.
Caieiras (Brazil) – The academic year at the St. Thomas Aquinas Theological Institute and the Aristotelian-Thomistic Philosophical Institute commenced on January 28 with an inaugural lecture given by the Most Rev. Benedito Beni dos Santos, Bishop Emeritus of Lorena, who then presided over Holy Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary.
Costa Rica – To the sound of hymns sung by the youth choir of the Heralds of the Gospel, on January 24 the historic cross erected at La Sabana Metropolitan Park in the city of San José was blessed by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Mark Gerard Miles, after months of restoration. The ceremony was attended by the Costa Rican President, Dr. Rodrigo Chaves Robles, and the First Lady, Signe Zeikate, who advocated the project to restore this religious and civic symbol of the country.
Salvador (Brazil) – In a solemn session in the Cosme de Farias Plenary Hall, presided over by councilman Alexandre Aleluia on December 17, the City Council of Salvador conferred the title of Citizen of Salvador, “in memoriam,” to Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias, EP, represented at the ceremony by Fr. Wagner Silva, EP.
Spain – In an act of heartfelt filial devotion, on January 25, the members of the Heralds of the Gospel residing in Spain paid their homage the Patroness of their country with a Holy Mass and a floral offering made at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza.
A request of the Blessed Virgin
T
he ceremonies held on the first Saturdays of each month in the different places where the Heralds of the Gospel are active have been occasions for a copious outpouring of graces. These events aim to fulfil the request of Our Lady in Fatima, that on five consecutive first Saturdays the faithful confess, receive Communion, pray a Rosary and meditate for fifteen minutes on the mysteries of the Rosary, as an act of reparation to her Immaculate Heart.
The photos below highlight the ceremonies that took place at the Collegiate Church of St. Isidore in Madrid, Spain; at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, in Lisbon, at the Church of Pópulo, in Braga, and in the Church of Our Lady of the Conception, in Porto, Portugal; at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, in Caieiras; at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Grace, in Belém do Pará; and at the houses of the Heralds in the cities of Campos dos Goytacazes and Maringá (Brazil).
Ecuador – The Pilgrim Statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary visited the parishes of St. John Bosco and St. Teresa of Jesus in the city of Cuenca. In both parishes, there was a solemn crowning of the statue and several Eucharistic Celebrations embellished by the choir of the Heralds of the Gospel.
Chile – A blessed “Afternoon with Mary” was held at the Heralds of the Gospel house in the capital city, Santiago, on December 13. The programme consisted of talks on the theme “The Virgin Mary and Advent,” followed by the celebration of a Holy Mass.
Guatemala – In December, the choir of the feminine sector of the Heralds of the Gospel gave a musical performance at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Guatemala City, where the institution’s house is located. The music was followed by the distribution of provisions to the families present.
