Highlights of the pilgrimage included the opening Mass on Friday the 23rd, presided over by Archbishop Orlando Brandes of Aparecida, followed by a procession.
The previous day, at 7:30 am (local time), Mass was celebrated in the Dom Aloísio Lorscheider Grandstand, located in the Shrine’s Palm Tree Court. This ceremony was presided over by Mons. Gil Antônio, Archbishop of Juiz de Fora and a benchmark of the National Men’s Rosary Movement.
“The man with the Rosary in his hand has Jesus in his heart, he has Mary as his protector, he has the Church within his home,” stated Bishop Gil.
“By unraveling the beads of the Rosary, you come closer and closer to the Word that is Jesus, you allow yourself to be guided by the hand of the Mother who chose the Word to be her servant, you are a servant of God, you imitate Mary, because you love to Mary as your Mother,” he continued.