Throughout the week, thousands of pilgrims were arriving on foot, by bicycle or horse to the town of Chimpay, in the Patagonian province of Río Negro, to celebrate the Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá on the 139th anniversary of his birth.
This is the 55th pilgrimage in honor of the Blessed of Mapuche roots, who died in 1905 with only 18 years, and whose figure arouses one of the most convening devotions of the Patagonian region in Argentina.
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This year, within the framework of the Jubileo de la Esperanza, the motto that guides the pilgrimage to the hometown of Blessed is “with Ceferino walking together, pilgrims of hope.”
The celebrations began on August 26 with a Mass in the monument to Ceferino presided by the Bishop of Viedma, Mons. Esteban Laxague, and then the celebration of the birthday, with a cake, songs and the traditional hot chocolate.
In his homily, Mons. Laxague highlighted the presence of God in everyday life, and made reference to the symbolic meaning of a poncho belonging to the image of Ceferino, which has traveled different localities of Patagonia.
The Mass concluded with an invitation to the faithful to approach the image of the Blessed and to participate in the commemorative acts.
The official pilgrimage agenda began this Friday 29 with the reception of pilgrims and a celebration of the Eucharist marked by the gratitude and joy of the reunion as a community, sharing faith and renewing the commitment to walk after the steps of the “Lily of Patagonia.” Then a sacramental and testimonial prayer vigil was developed.
It is expected that during the weekend, the town – which has about 8,000 inhabitants – receives more than 45,000 pilgrims. The Catholic Church, the Municipality, the Police, Firefighters, the Hospital and Civil Protection work in the logistics.
The activities continue on Saturday with baptisms at 3:00 p.m., a prayer before the Blessed Sacrament at 7:00 p.m., a moment of reflection and prayer in front of the fire at 8:00 p.m., and a youth encounter with music and shared soup in the local sports center at 9:00 p.m.
On Sunday 31, the blessing and missionary shipment of young people will be taught at 1:00 p.m., and the farewell mass will be held.
As a concrete gesture of service and fraternity, in honor of the teaching of Blessed Namuncurá, donations of non -perishable food, clothing and footwear are received.
In addition, in the days of the pilgrimage, a testimonial tent is enabled in Ceferino Park, so that pilgrims can bring their stories of thanks, promises fulfilled and stories of possible miracles that can contribute to the cause of canonization of Ceferino Namuncurá.
Throughout the weekend, there will be priests listening to confessions.
Who was Ceferino Namuncurá?
Ceferino was born on August 26, 1886 in Chimpay, sixth son of Cacique Manuel Namuncurá.
Since childhood it was the hope of his tribe and was sent to a Salesian school in Buenos Aires, where he soon discovered his religious vocation. Already as a Salesian brother, he yearned to become a missionary priest to evangelize his own.
In 1987 he asked Fr. Domingo Milanesio to lead him to study in order to teach faith to his people. In this way, in 1902 he arrived in Viedma and then to Italy, where he met Pope Pius X. However, in 1905 he got tuberculosis and died that same year at 18 years of age on the island of Tiber, in Rome.
His virtues spread throughout the region, and his testimony collaborated in numerous conversions. In 1972 he was appointed Servant of God, and in 2007, proclaimed Blessed by Benedict XVI.
The miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Mapuche was the healing of an Argentine woman who had an uterus cancer.
Julieta Villar
I am a journalist, a graduate in Communication from the National University of La Matanza in Argentina. I have work experience in non -governmental organizations. Since 2016 I dedicate myself to Catholic journalism, first in the Argentine Catholic Information Agency (AICA) and, since 2022, as a correspondent for ACI Press for Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Bolivia.