Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, Brazil (Thursday, August 25, 2016, Gaudium Press) The “Oratory’s Apostolate” of the Heralds of the Gospel, carried out on August 12 and 13 the eighth national pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady Aparecida.

The event, which takes place annually, gathered thousands of faithful from all over Brazil willing to thank the Mother of God for the graces received through her intercession.

The program started on Friday, August 12, with a Mass celebrated in the Old Basilica at 6pm. After Mass a candlelight procession departed from the Old Basilica to the new one praying the rosary and singing hymns to Mary ending at the North Garden, near the new Sanctuary.

At 8 AM on Saturday 13, the participants gathered in front of the Benedict XVI square next to the Sanctuary for a recitation of the Rosary and meditation. At 10.30 AM the Holy Mass started at the Sanctuary presided by Cardinal Raimundo Damasceno Assis, Archbishop of Aparecida, and concelebrated by Bishop Benedito Beni dos Santos, former bishop of Lorena, as well as by Fr. Antonio Guerra, EP, spiritual director of the “Oratory’s Apostolate”, and some other priest from the Heralds of the Gospel.

The Orchestra and International Choir of the Heralds of the Gospel performed during the celebration of the Mass at the Basilica.

“Oratory’s Apostolate”

The “Oratory’s Apostolate” is a prayer event which is present in 93% of Brazilian Dioceses, and reaches out to more than 570,000 households, which is around two million people.

The oratories, dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, are portable shrines which go from home to home, on a monthly bases, of a pre-established group and are under the direction of a coordinator. In each home the rosary is recited and the oratory stays for a whole day as a way of asking for a blessing for the family. (EPC)