AMERICA/BRAZIL - National Pilgrimage in favor of the family, with the motto: “The Family, Disciple and Missionary at the Service of Life”

Aparecida (Agenzia Fides) - “The Family, Disciple and Missionary at the Service of Life” will be the theme of the National Pilgrimage in favor of the family, organized by the Bishops' Commission for Life and the Family and which will take place this May 24 in Aparecida, the host city chosen for its religious importance in Brazil.
According to the President of the Bishops' Commission of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, Archbishop Orlando Brandes of Londrina, the pilgrimage will help spread awareness of the importance and value of the centrality of the family in the midst of the current crisis, recalling the words of His Holiness Benedict XVI on the family in his pilgrimage to Aparecida in May 2007. They also hope to increase and strengthen the family ties expressed in the General Directives of the Evangelization of the Church in Brazil and the Aparecida Document.
“The family is one of the most important parts of the evangelization.” From this phrase taken from the Aparecida Document, they hope to inform families of the need for evangelization and inform legislative authorities of the most urgent priorities in regards to the family. The Archbishop comments: “With this event, we will confirm the need to defend the family, to strengthen, help, and assist those in Congress in supporting family values and thus, pass the most urgent legislation needed in this area.”
Among the scheduled activities is a procession to take place on May 23. At 7pm, there will be a Mass in the National Basilica, followed by the torchlight procession. On Sunday, May 24, at 8pm, there will be a Mass in the Basilica, which will be followed by a family festival, with testimonies and musical presentations. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 20/04/2009)