Crato – Ceara, Brazil (Tuesday, 05/26/2015, Gaudium Press) The Abbey of Our Lady of Victory, in the Diocese of Crato, Ceara, in the north east of the country, this year celebrates its twelve anniversary. To celebrate this important milestone for the Catholic Church in this province, a ceremony was held in this Benedictine monastery presided by Bishop Fernando Panico, which was attended by Benedictine nuns, as well as by a large number of believers.

During his homily Bishop Panico remembered his long time desire to build a monastery in the Diocese of Crato, when he had just been appointed bishop of this important diocese:

“It was June 15, 2001 and I was going for the Episcopal ordination of a friend of mine, Bishop Dulcênio Fontes de Matos, in Recife. On the way I passed through the town of Sao Cristovao and there I was told that there was a monastery in town. I went in and in front of all the sisters, I heard the supplications of Mother Maria Aparecida Menezes do Couto about their desire to change the location of the monastery because the environment was no longer appropriate. Even today I still remember that in front of her I knelt down and told them that the Diocese of Crato was ready to receive them with open arms. They thanked me and a few months later came in to contact me and plan the beginning their mission in our region” Bishop Panico said.

Since 2003, the Monastery did many missions in the area of Juazeiro do Norte and the Monastery was elevated to become the Abbey of Our Lady of Victory, on March 18, 2014, and thus becoming the first abbey of Ceara. (LMI)