Our Lady of Aparecida Day: check the timetable for masses and celebrations in Juiz de Fora

Parishes and communities in different neighborhoods of Juiz de Fora prepared a special program to celebrate, this Monday (12), the Day of Our Lady of Aparecida, patron saint of Brazil.

Throughout the day, there will be masses, processions, motorcades, lunches, auctions and other religious and community activities.

This year, the theme of the party is “With Mary, in community, to know and practice the Word”. The celebrations bring together believers in different regions of the city and are part of one of the most important dates in the Brazilian Catholic calendar.

Check the schedule:

Our Lady of Aparecida Parish — Our Lady of Aparecida Neighborhood 6am, 8am, 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm and 7pm — Masses *Before the last Mass, there will be a procession leaving at 6pm.

Eucharistic Sanctuary Cenacle Saint John the Evangelist — Center 8am — Mass

Metropolitan Cathedral — Center 7am, 8:30am, 10am, 12pm, 4pm, 6pm and 7:30pm — Masses 11:30 am — Arrival of the motorbike

Our Lady of Aparecida Parish — Linhares neighborhood 7am, 10am and 6pm — Masses 11am — Motorcade 12pm — Festive lunch 5pm — Solemn procession, with a concentration in the São Luís Gonzaga Community

Quasi-Parish of Our Lady of Aparecida — Granjas Betânia 7:15 am and 12 pm — Men’s Rosary 8am and 10am — Masses From 9 am — Stalls open 11am to 2pm — Lunch 6pm — Mass presided over by the Metropolitan Archbishop

Our Lady of the Assumption Parish — Paula Lima 6pm — Mass

Our Lady of Aparecida Church — Varginha, Paula Lima From 2pm — Procession, leaving Granja Recanto do Vovô. Afterwards, there will be a mass, a calf auction, a gift auction and a prize show.

Nossa Senhora Aparecida Church — Cerâmica Neighborhood 6am — Prayer of the Rosary, followed by shared coffee 10am — Mass with children. Then, games and distribution of popcorn and soft drinks 12pm — Rosary Prayer 3pm — Mass with anointing of the sick 6pm — Solemn Mass, followed by procession

Nossa Senhora Aparecida Community — Little Church 7am — Mass, followed by shared coffee 10:30 am — Procession 11am — Mass, followed by lunch from the patron saint 2pm — Auction 4pm — Awards show and musical performance

Nossa Senhora Aparecida Church — Jardim Natal Neighborhood 5am — Dawn with procession 7am — Breakfast 9am — Mass 11am to 1pm — Lunch 12pm — Prayer of the Marian Rosary 1pm to 3pm — Recreation time 3pm — Prayer of the Chaplet of Mercy 4pm — Solemn Mass, followed by a delicacies show

Our Lady of Aparecida Church — Jardim Cachoeira 12pm — Rosary Prayer 5pm — Procession, leaving the Main Church, and Mass in the Chapel

Nossa Senhora Aparecida Church — Vila Ideal Neighborhood 8am — Family Rosary 9am — Mass 12pm — Consecration to Our Lady 3pm — Motorcade 3:30 pm — Procession

Our Lady of Aparecida Church — Pires, Torreões 10am — Motorcade 10:30 am — Mass 12pm — Lunch 2pm — Awards show

Our Lady of Aparecida Church — Dam 11am — Mass

Our Lady of Aparecida Church — Dias Tavares neighborhood 8:10 am — Procession 9:30 am — Rosary Prayer

Nossa Senhora Aparecida Church — Ribeirão das Pedras/Náutico 12pm — Bells ring and fireworks display 4pm — Mass, followed by procession 6pm — Livestock auction 7pm — Gift auction 8pm — Musical performance

Our Lady of Aparecida Church — Cidade Nova Neighborhood 9:30 am — Mass at Escola Dr. Antonio Lessa

Our Lady of Aparecida Church — Jardim Esperança 8am — Mass, followed by community coffee 10am — Blessing of Our Lady of Aparecida through the streets of the neighborhood 12pm — Rosary Prayer 5pm — Procession and Mass

Saint John Paul II Parish — New Era 4pm — Mass, followed by stalls opening

Our Lady of Fátima Parish — Santa Cruz 7am — Procession, leaving from the São Cosme and São Damião Community. Then Mass at the Matrix

Symbol of faith in Brazil

Devotion to Our Lady of Aparecida began in 1717, when fishermen found an image of Our Lady of Conception in the Paraíba do Sul River, in the region of Guaratinguetá, in the interior of São Paulo.

According to Catholic tradition, after finding first the body and then the head of the image, the fishermen obtained an abundant catch. The episode became associated with a miracle and began the devotion that, over the centuries, spread across the country.

With the growth in the number of believers, Nossa Senhora Aparecida has established itself as one of the main symbols of Brazilian Catholicism. Pilgrimages, promises, parties and celebrations began to bring together millions of devotees every year.

Our Lady of Aparecida was proclaimed patron saint of Brazil in 1930. October 12th was established as a national holiday in 1980 and, since then, the date has been marked by religious celebrations throughout the country.