The Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Abbey, in Romaria, the first parish of Padre Eustáquio in Brazil, will be elevated to a Basilica. The Holy Mass for the installation of the new basilica is scheduled for next Monday, November 20th, at 10:00 AM.

For this occasion, the Archdiocese of Uberaba, together with the Parish, is preparing a beautiful celebration with a special three-day event. On Friday there will be a Festive Dawn, blessing of the houses where the banners will be displayed, Holy Rosary and Mass; On Saturday, a Cavalcade, musical performance, Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament are scheduled. On Sunday, the 19th, in addition to Holy Mass, there will be a show with the singer Fafá de Belém.

The ceremony will formalize the installation of the basilica, a process approved on May 15th of this year by Pope Francis at the Vatican.

The term basilica is used to recognize a holy temple of great spiritual and historical importance that promotes evangelization and a special devotion, in this case a pilgrimage, to Our Lady of the Abbey.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Abbey is 153 years old and recently underwent renovations to meet Vatican criteria in order to receive the new title.

Help us, Lady of the Abbey!

Father Eustáquio lived in Romaria-MG (then Água Suja), from 1925 to 1935, also serving the parishes of Indianópolis-MG and Iraí de Minas-MG. Builder of the current Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Abbey of Água Suja, he was transferred to São Paulo despite protests from his parishioners.

The parish priest enjoyed such high esteem among his parishioners that when he was transferred, they even besieged the rectory and blocked the town's roads, tearing out the cattle grids. Even so, to fulfill his new obligation, he set off on foot until he crossed the border of Água Suja.