Start of the Novena and Patron Saint's Festival in Aparecida with New Archbishop Appointed by Pope Leo XIV

The Novena and Patron Saint's Festival of Brazil will begin this Saturday, the 3rd, in the city of Aparecida, in the state of São Paulo. The event will last until October 12th, the date dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida, and is expected to attract thousands of faithful to the National Sanctuary.

This special edition marks the first Novena under the leadership of Dom Mário Antônio da Silva, who was appointed Archbishop of Aparecida by Pope Leo XIV in March of this year. He succeeds Dom Orlando Brandes, who led the Catholic community in Aparecida for a decade.

The central theme of this novena is 'With Mary, in community, to know and practice the Word of God.' During the nine days of preparation for the festival, participants are encouraged to meditate, reflect, and study the Word of God, taking Mary as a model of faith and community life.

Until October 11th, there will be two daily ceremonies: the Afternoon Novena, held at 3 PM, and the Solemn Novena, scheduled for 7 PM. These celebrations will feature the presence of bishops from various regions of the country.

The reflections during the novena will be conducted by Father Ferdinando Mancilio, belonging to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. According to the Sanctuary, the meetings present Mary as a follower who knew how to listen, welcome, and apply the Word of God.

In addition to religious events, the program includes activities such as a bicycle ride, a parade, a procession, and the Patron Saint's Festival. The closing takes place on October 12th, a national holiday, celebrating the Day of Our Lady of Aparecida at the National Sanctuary.

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Patron Saint Festival 2026 begins in Manaus with religious and social programming until October 12th

The celebration of the Patron Saint Festival 2026 will begin this Friday (the 2nd) in Manaus, encompassing a series of religious events and social actions. The festival is dedicated to Our Lady Aparecida and will run until October 12th at the Archdiocese Sanctuary of Our Lady of Conception Aparecida, located in the Aparecida neighborhood, South Zone of the capital.

The official opening will take place at 8 PM, with a parade (carreata) starting from the Archdiocese Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, located on Tarumã Avenue, and proceeding to the Sanctuary of Our Lady Aparecida, where the blessing of vehicles will be held. The national theme for this edition is 'With Mary, in community, know and practice the Word.'

Novena Period

The novenas are scheduled to take place between October 3rd and 11th. During this period, celebrations will occur from Monday to Friday at 7 PM, and on Saturdays and Sundays, at 6 PM. On Saturday, the 3rd, the schedule will start earlier, at 5:30 PM, with the raising of flags and a performance by the Amazon Military Police Band. Additionally, on October 10th, before the novena, there will be a performance by the Amazon Choir at 5 PM.

Throughout the entire festive event, participants have the opportunity to contribute donations of non-perishable food intended for vulnerable families, in addition to bringing flowers in homage to the saint.

Water Distribution

The event organization announced that on October 12th, nine points will be established for the free distribution of drinking water. Four of these points will be fixed at the Sanctuary, starting at 6 AM, while the remaining five will be set up along the procession route.

October 12th Schedule

The day dedicated to Our Lady Aparecida will feature an intense schedule of pilgrimage and devotion. At 12:10 AM, pilgrims will begin the Pilgrimage of the Children of Mary, covering 22 kilometers from the Jardim Canaranas II Complex (Cidade Nova neighborhood) towards the Sanctuary, supported by IMMU, Military Police, and Firefighters.

The religious program includes the Midnight Mass at 3 AM (with projections on external screens), followed by the Solemn Mass with pilgrims and devotees at 6 AM. At 7 AM, there will be a community breakfast for the faithful, and at 8 AM, the Solemn Mass of Our Lady Aparecida. Later, at 10 AM and 12 PM, masses dedicated to children and youth, respectively, will be held.

At 2 PM, the Mass and Blessing of Mothers will take place, culminating with the Office of Our Lady at 3 PM. The religious highlight will be the Patron Saint Mass, scheduled for 4:30 PM, celebrated by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Manaus, Bishop Leonardo Steiner. The day will conclude at 6 PM with the traditional procession, which will carry the float and image through the streets of the Aparecida and Centro neighborhoods, ending with a blessing and a performance by the Hallel Band.

Fair and Bingo

After the novenas conclude, the public can enjoy the traditional Patron Saint Fair, where typical delicacies will be sold. Tickets for the Electronic Super Bingo will also be available for purchase at R$ 10. The draw for this bingo is scheduled for October 18th at 7 PM, with various prizes: the first prize is worth R$ 5 thousand, the second R$ 3 thousand, the third R$ 2 thousand, and the fourth and fifth prizes are a refrigerator and a 50-inch Smart TV, respectively.