The Brazilian priests who participated in the Beatification of the Martyrs of Picpus in France went this week to the Breda Cemetery in the Netherlands to pay homage to the Dutch priests who dedicated their lives to missionary work in Brazil.

Flowers were laid at the Memorial of the Sacred Hearts by the Provincial of the Congregation in Brazil, Fr. Osvânio Mariano, SSCC, and Brother Antoniel da Silva, SSCC. Following this, the rector of the Archdiocesan Sanctuary of Health and Peace, Fr. Vinícius Maciel, SSCC, offered a prayer and invited those present to sing the Hymn of the Sacred Hearts. The moment was also attended by the formator of the Congregation in Brazil, Fr. Edvaldo Carneiro, SSCC.

The visit to the Cemetery was made together with the sister of Father Paulo Dekker, SSCC, Mrs. Sofia Dekker, who lives in the city, and included the participation of the group of 26 pilgrims who are traveling the Padre Eustáquio Paths in Europe.

This cemetery holds the remains of hundreds of Sacred Hearts missionaries from around the world. Among them are many of the 150 who served in Brazil, such as: Father Gil van den Boogart, the first Superior of the Congregation in the country; Father Alfredo Elfrink, the first vice-postulator of the Cause of Father Eustáquio; Father Mathias von Roy, founder of the Dom Lustosa College in Patrocínio; as well as Father Francisco Voskauil, Father Cornélio, and Father Henriquinho.