The foundation of the monastery of the Mexican Augustinian Recollect nuns dedicated to the main Marian devotion in their land has resulted in an incredible filial welcome. Thousands of people celebrate the Mexican virgin today in the northeast of Brazil.
Once again, the celebration of the patron saint of the Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe of the contemplative Augustinian Recollect nuns in Guaraciaba do Norte (Ceará, Brazil) has been a spiritual stimulus, a celebration of cultures and a clear example of the welcome that the monastic community has had in this part of the Ibiapaba Mountains, northwest of the Brazilian state of Ceará.
This year, 2024, the theme of the celebration has been “Mary, mother and teacher of prayer”, and the motto “Woman of hope and reconciliation of the Christian People”. This was the subject of the reflections, homilies and prayers that took place during the previous novena. Every year more and more people join and, what is remarkable, the program adds proposals of a spiritual, cultural and celebratory nature and expands to more places.
As an example, the visit that the Virgin of Guadalupe has made to a dozen villages in the municipality: São Jose, Sítio Buriti, Buraco d’Água, Descoberta, São Félix I, Lagoinha, Passagem/Lameirão, Santa Luzia, Limoeiro dos Pompeus, Corça… We can highlight the one in Lagoinha, where a chalice and a golden book of donations were blessed for the construction of a tower in the chapel, which is dedicated to Saint Magdalene of Nagasaki, a martyr member of the Augustinian Recollect Secular Fraternity.
A good representation of these localities has been the protagonist each day of the novena with their presence and joy, sometimes with colorful processions, such as one on horseback. In the mornings the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe arrived in the town and in the afternoon it was taken to the monastery accompanied by a good part of the faithful.
One of the reasons why more and more people join this celebration is the careful implementation of a very complete program of religious and cultural activities, inside and outside the monastery, which go beyond the Parish and Municipality.
Thus, two bishops have participated directly in the celebrations this year: the local bishop of Tianguá, Francisco Edimilson Neves Ferreira, who presided over the last day of the novena; and the emeritus bishop of Teresina, the capital of the neighboring state of Piaui, Jacinto Furtado de Brito Sobrinho, who presided over the final festive day.
Since December 2, a different priest has presided over the novena each day, focusing his reflections on Marian themes. A rosary at 6:15 pm was followed by a novena at 6:45 pm and a Eucharist at 7 pm.
Every day there were special blessings for groups of the faithful: for children, for merchants, for members of the Augustinian-Recollect Family (on the anniversary day of the Recollection), for public officials, for young people…
On the day of the Recollection there was a theater; there was a Mexican night with songs and folklore; musical presentations with Catholic groups such as the Banda Cruz, Father Gilvan and the Diocesan Choir of Tianguá; and auctions and charity raffles to pay for the festivities and provide resources to the monastery for its life and mission.
On the day of the feast, the program began at dawn, at five in the morning, in the monastery square; After a reflection and the recitation of the rosary, the image was taken to the main church, about five kilometers away, in the municipal headquarters, where it remained until six in the afternoon, when it was returned to the monastery in a great pilgrimage of vehicles of all kinds for the closing of the festival.
After the rosary and the novena, the Eucharist on the day of Our Lady of Guadalupe was presided over by Jacinto Furtado, bishop emeritus of Teresina, capital of the State of Piauí, and who had previously been bishop of Crateús, in Ceará, a diocese neighboring that of Tianguá.
After the Eucharist there was a concert by the Diocesan Choir of Tianguá and a great raffle of prizes among the multitude of attendees of the day.
In short, this festival is not only a high point for Marian devotion in the region, but also a beautiful way to share spirituality and culture and an important support for the survival of the Augustinian Recollect contemplative charism in its only monastery in Brazil.