From the early hours of Sunday, June 13th, hundreds of devotees were already preparing for the day's celebrations. Around 9 am, a procession carrying the image of Blessed Father Eustáquio left the Health and Peace Sanctuary towards the Christ the King Cathedral.

At the temple, which is still under construction, the faithful arrived in high spirits, singing the hymn to the Blessed One, and in a festive atmosphere they attended the celebration of Holy Mass. (see some photos).

The ceremony was presided over by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Belo Horizonte and president of the CNBB (National Conference of Brazilian Bishops), Dom Walmor Oliveira de Azevedo, who, in his homily, highlighted the reason why Father Eustáquio and Saint Anthony (the saint of the day) became examples of holiness. The archbishop also emphasized the importance of always greeting each other using the same expression that the Blessed One used when greeting people: "Health and Peace!"

Broadcast on TV Horizonte and the Padre Eustáquio Channel on YouTube, the Holy Mass attracted the attention of devotees from all over the country. At the end of the celebration, the faithful who were at the Christ the King Cathedral also participated in a festive lunch.

In the afternoon, residents of the Padre Eustáquio neighborhood welcomed the procession with the image of the Blessed and also of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, whose solemnity and feast, respectively, were also celebrated this weekend. At the end of the route, the vice-postulator of the Cause of Canonization, Fr. Vinícius Maciel, sscc, gave a blessing to those present, thanking everyone for their commitment and participation.

Tomorrow, the anniversary of the Beatification, a Mass is scheduled for 7 pm at the Health and Peace Sanctuary, presided over by the Archbishop Emeritus of Vitória, Espírito Santo, Dom Luiz Mancilha Vilela, sscc. The celebration will be broadcast live on the Padre Eustáquio Channel on YouTube.