Historic Events

For the first time in history, on Saturday, September 14, the faithful people of the Brazilian community in the United States gathered from so many distant parts of this country, from Florida to California, to celebrate the enthronement of the image of Our Lady of Aparecida in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. It is a moment to endure in history and in our memory for years to come. When the planning committee began organizing the event, we hoped for at least 300 people; however, Our Lady surprised us beyond our wildest dreams when just under 7,000 pilgrims showed up!

Although there are 80 different chapels at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception honoring the many different titles of Our Blessed Mother, there has never been one for Our Lady of Aparecida. When the Basilica was approached about adding one, the initial determination was that, unfortunately, they didn’t see a place to accommodate one. However, thanks to the persistence of the Vice Provost of the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, and the initial grassroots efforts of the local Brazilian Community (and I believe, a little bit of intercession from Our Lady), space was finally found in the Chapel of Our Lady of Fatima. The joke became that the two should get along very well since they could speak Portuguese together.

Yet, there remained the need to raise the money for this little chapel for the enthronement to take place. At this time, the information finally arrived in my hands from a local group in the Washington, DC, area. We determined that if the effort involved the Brazilian Apostolate and all the Brazilian communities from across the country, we could certainly accomplish this feat of raising enough funds to add Our Lady of Aparecida to the Immaculate Conception Basilica. We mobilized everyone, and I personally began writing letters to bishops and priests across the country, working together to build momentum for this historic event. The response was overwhelming, sparking the idea that this event should be more than just a ceremony but a pilgrimage. As I mentioned earlier, the Brazilian Community came together from across the country, and this was broadcast live for all of Brazil and live streamed across the world.

As I said in my homily, “we come to commemorate, to celebrate, to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Aparecida. To ask for her intercession and her blessings, as well as to promise to imitate her virtues. What does she have to say to us here today? She says to us: ‘Do whatever he tells you!’ This is what Our Lady did, this is what she asked the disciples of Jesus to do, this is what she recommended to those present at the wedding feast in Cana and this is what she suggests to each one of us here today. For Mary there was nothing more important in the world, and in her life, than doing the will of God.”

The weekend celebration included an opening Mass on Friday night. On Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m., there was a procession of the Our Lady of Aparecida statue from Sacred Heart Church to the National Shrine. This was followed by the recitation of the Rosary, done very prayerfully with reflections and beautiful music. Deacon Manoel Maria, who is from Brazil, offered a short conference followed by a lunch break. A Solemn Mass of Enthronement began at 2 pm with Cardinal Sean O’Malley of the Archdiocese of Boston as the main celebrant. It was also beautifully done and lasted two hours. The day concluded with a praise and worship concert on the nearby campus of the Catholic University of America, featuring Sister Kelly Patricia, who is also from Brazil.

As God came through Mary, he also came to the aid of the people of Guaratinguetá (a city in Brazil) when they needed food to welcome the Count of Assumar, D. Pedro de Almeida e Portugal, Governor of the Province of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, who was passing through there on his way to Vila Rica, MG. Without having any food available, they sent the fishermen João Alves, Felipe Pedroso, and Domingos Garcia to get fish from the Paraíba River and thus receive the Governor with a decent dinner. The fishermen despaired because they could not get fish from the river for the banquet that day. And behold, Mary appears on the scene from the depths of the dark waters of the Paraíba River to rescue the people from an embarrassing situation. From the mud and dark waters emerged a small statue of clay, broken, headless, apparently without any value in the eyes of humans or of those who have no faith. But it was precisely in this simplicity—this poverty, that God chose to manifest His power and His love for His sons and daughters.

The fishermen could have ignored and abandoned that old, broken image, but they were able to see beyond appearances. They did not despise the sign that God had given them that day. They did not throw away the pieces of that symbol, of that mystery. After this find, they caught such a large quantity of fish that they had to return to port for fear of the boat capsizing. The fishermen arrived in Guaratinguetá euphoric and moved by what they had witnessed, and the entire population understood the fact as divine intervention.

God and Mary arrived at a difficult time in the lives of the fishermen and the people of Guaratinguetá to tell them: we are with you. You are not alone or abandoned.

When we think and seem insignificant, worthless, and powerless in the eyes of the world, that is when God values us. Because He “has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly.”

Special Mass to Celebrate Diocese

I hope you will be able to join us at a special Mass to observe the 120th anniversary of the Diocese of Fall River and the 10th anniversary of my installation as Bishop of Fall River. An invitation follows below, and it has the details. You can click here to RSVP.

Catholic Youth Day | Oct. 5th

I am happy to share that our Diocese will once again host a Catholic Youth Day. What a perfect way to start the school year with our young people. From Mass to a concert, fun activities to lunch and dinner to go, the Day offers a full schedule for young people in grades 6-12. It will take place on the grounds of the former Cathedral Camp. The day is free, with transportation being arranged for those who need it. For questions, email orivera@dioc-fr.org. Click here to reserve space for your group.

Yours in Christ,
Bishop da Cunha