The Parish of Saint Anthony of Venda Nova, in Belo Horizonte, received, this Sunday (the 20th), a first-degree relic of Blessed Father Eustace. The vice-postulator, Father Vinícius Maciel, ss.cc., was the one who delivered the Sacred Relic during the Holy Mass presided over by him in the temporary church.

In addition to the vice-postulator, the celebration was attended by a family directly involved in the Canonization process, the researcher and custodian of Father Eustáquio's archives, Leandro Castro, and the postulators of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, the same congregation as the Blessed. All were received and welcomed by the parish priest, Fr. José Alves de Deus (Fr. Zezinho), and the entire community.

During the Holy Mass, parishioners of Venda Nova were able to learn a little more about the life of holiness of Father Eustáquio. The celebration was broadcast on the Santo Antônio de Venda Nova parish's YouTube channel (Watch hereFather Vinícius took the briefcase with other relics of Father Eustáquio and left behind a first-degree relic, called an Ex-ossibus (taken from the bones of the Blessed), duly certified by the National Secretariat for the Cause of Canonization.

The new Church of Saint Anthony of Venda Nova

The community has been building the new Santo Antônio de Venda Nova Parish Church since 2018, and construction is already in an advanced stage. The Sacred Relic of Blessed Father Eustáquio will be part of the altar of the new church, an old tradition of the Catholic Church of placing relics of saints or blessed individuals recognized by the Holy See on the altar where celebrations will take place.

The Church of Saint Anthony of Venda Nova is located in the neighborhood of the same name, in the northern region of Belo Horizonte, and is one of the 273 parishes of the Archdiocese of the capital of Minas Gerais.