Last week, Brazilian priests from the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts visited their Paraguayan brothers on a very special mission. On May 5th, the vice-postulator of the Cause of Canonization of Father Eustáquio, Father Marcus Vinícius Maciel, and Father Edmar Aparecido de Oliveira, both from the Father Eustáquio Church, arrived in the capital Asunción. They participated in various moments of formation and spirituality, as well as presenting the Relics of the Blessed to the Paraguayan community.

On the 7th, the reliquary was taken to the São Salvador do Mundo Parish and the relics were presented to the devotees during the Eucharistic Celebration. Immediately after Holy Mass, the faithful were able to receive a blessing with the laying on of hands and venerate the sacred objects. The following day, the parish community of Santa Catarina de Sena, located in Fernando de la Mora, in Greater Asunción, received a visit from the missionaries. There, too, a celebration took place and the priests gave a blessing under the intercession of Father Eustáquio.

The Mass in memory of the Blessed is already held every 30th of the month in both locations. Father Vinicius Maciel explains that the devotion in Paraguay is different from that practiced in Brazil: “In our country (Brazil), older people had contact with Father Eustáquio and pass this on from generation to generation. In contrast, in the neighboring country, it is the accounts of his life, combined with the testimonies of those who received graces and the missions of the religious of the Sacred Hearts, that have made the devotion to the Blessed grow.”

Prayers to Father Eustáquio, in Spanish, were distributed to the Paraguayan people. In addition, devotional materials, which are sold in Brazil, were also taken to the country and quickly sold out.

The city of Presidente Franco, on the border of the three countries (Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina), also received a visit from the Relics of Father Eustace. On the 10th, the feast day of Saint Damien of Molokai, Brother Hugo Armín Perez professed his perpetual vows to the Congregation. Other Brazilian priests were present, including the current Provincial of Brazil and the Paraguay Region, Father Sérgio Stein. The Mass highlighted the Saints and Blessed of the Sacred Hearts, emphasizing the Relics of Father Eustace. After the Mass, the students of the Sisters of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts' school performed the Cantata of Saint Damien of Molokai.

The reliquary presented to the Paraguayans contains a bone, a lock of hair, a pen, and pieces of fabric that belonged to Blessed Father Eustáquio, as well as the medal he received in Belgium. Contact with these objects rekindled the devotion of many and sparked the curiosity of those who were not yet familiar with the life and history of the religious figure. For Father Marcus Vinícius, the visit is important because it helps to de-regionalize devotion to Father Eustáquio: “This makes us realize how much the message of Health and Peace touches people, even in their first contact with the spirituality of the Blessed. We are very happy with this mission,” concluded the priest.