Exactly 30 years after its inauguration, the bust of Blessed Father Eustáquio was restored and unveiled this Monday, August 21st, in the church square. The ceremony took place on the first day of the novena and is part of the celebrations of his 80th birthday in Saúde e Paz.

The unveiling of the sculpture took place immediately after Mass, marking the first day of the novena. Father Silvano Dias de Ávila, SSCC, and dozens of faithful went to the square to reveal the new image. After inviting Mrs. Natália (wife of the sculptor Mateo) and her children, who were responsible for the restoration, the image was unveiled to the applause of the devotees.

After the ceremony, the sculpture was blessed to the sound of the Supplication to Father Eustáquio, spontaneously sung by those present. At Espaço Molokai there were also stalls selling pastries, cornmeal porridge, hot dogs, and drinks.

The sculpture

The bust of Father Eustáquio was unveiled on August 30, 1993, during the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Father Eustáquio's passing. At the time, the couple Xisto Silveira Braga and Elza Machado Silveira Braga donated the image, which was sculpted by Mateo and placed on the right side of the church entrance.

From that date onwards, every year on August 30th, the sculptor would clean and repair the image. After the sculptor's death, his son Nilo took over this task.

This year, to give the image more prominence, it was relocated to where the faithful enter, on Cesário Alvim Street. With the change, Nilo helped remove the image in July of this year, took it to the family workshop, and worked on a more intensive restoration, using anti-corrosion paint and other repairs to the piece.