A huge and beautiful photo, with a stern yet welcoming gaze. Much larger, it seemed, from a child's perspective. That large, 3x4 black and white photo remains in the church, in shops, and in every home in the region.

At school, at the Padre Eustáquio Elementary School, we proudly sang along with the National Anthem: "Our school patron, Father Eustáquio, we salute you for Minas Gerais and for Brazil." That's how I grew up, listening to stories of my aunts and Grandpa Chico's relationship with the holy Vicar of our parish. Every year, awaiting the beatification, we were thrilled with the celebration on August 30th. Until June 15th, 2006 arrived. What beautiful memories.

Before dawn, the people of Patrocínio were already calling to say the bus was about to leave. After lunch, the activity at the church thinned out, the buses packed on their way to Mineirão… Family members had arrived from Holland with the bishop and so many relatives, friends, and devotees. So many people came from Paraguay with the nuns that it was impressive. Exotic costumes of the brothers and sisters from the islands of Oceania. So many bishops from various states and even countries. The priests? There were many. Hundreds. Of course, most were from Belo Horizonte. But there were many from the interior of Minas Gerais, from many states.

From abroad, there were well over 30 countries. From Rome came Cardinal Saraiva on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI to proclaim the new Blessed. Mother Jane and Father Losada, Superiors General of the Sacred Hearts, also came from there.

Devotees, nuns, and priests from every continent. From India or Congo, Poland or Chile. From cities in Minas Gerais and also São Paulo, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Rio de Janeiro… a crowd of 80,000 faithful at the Eucharist presided over by Dom Walmor Azevedo, the new archbishop of Belo Horizonte. The bishop of the Diocese to which Poá belongs in São Paulo could not be absent. But the archbishop of Uberaba went to the Romaria da Água Suja to watch on the big screen the proclamation that echoed in our hearts from the Mineirão stadium.

There on the lawn was Father Belém himself, who received the grace of the miraculous cure, and no less moved was Cardinal Dom Serafim, who had learned from his grandmother to ask Father Eustáquio, and was answered. Through his prayer along with Dom João Rezende, the miracle happened.

Suddenly, emotion swept through the entire stadium. As the Pope's decree was read, the enormous red veils fell, revealing the face of our Kind Friend on four gigantic panels. The new Blessed. Our Father Eustáquio was elevated to the altars as Blessed. That tireless, downtrodden man who played with children, who visited every house and had a little coffee. The one who blessed the sick and encouraged the weak and sinners, the one who walked leagues on foot or on horseback to help a distressed family, who left his own beloved family as an intercessor in Holland for his mission in Brazil? Yes, that's right, that priest of the war refugees, the vicar of Our Lady of Água Suja and Poá, of Indianapolis and Irai. The refugee from Rio Claro and the miracle worker from Patrocínio. From Ibiá he set out to become the saint of the Minas Gerais capital, planting in the heart of Belo Horizonte a church dedicated to those to whom he consecrated his life and his own heart: the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, who from the beginning rejoiced in the affection of the people who affectionately refer to it as the Church "of" Father Eustáquio. It is there that the Memorial, the Archdiocesan Sanctuary of Health and Peace, stands.

The voice of the people was heard and confirmed by the Pope himself: the Missionary of Health and Peace was beatified 15 years ago, on June 15, 2006, at the Mineirão Stadium by decree of Pope Benedict XVI.

When it was all over, it seemed like nobody wanted to leave. The joy was contagious. People greeted each other, overflowing with health and peace. It was night. The lights went out and the Mineirão stadium was illuminated by thousands of candles. The Procession of the Blessed Sacrament was taking shape. It was cold. Silently, we could still see in the dim light Dom Luciano Mendes de Almeida and Dom Serafim leaving with that joy for Eustáquio that teaches us to perceive how many good and holy people live among the people. They are the "Fans of God" every day.

“"Pray for us, Father Eustace, watch over us with love."”