Regional Director for the Communities participates in Holy Christ Festivities in Brampton, Canada
The Regional Director for the Communities, Paulo Teves, travels to Canada to participate in the Holy Christ of Miracles Festivities to take place in the city of Brampton from September 6 to 9, being the largest religious festival ever held in Canada.
This event, held for the first time in 2006, brings together thousands of devotees from the provinces of Ontario and Quebec in Canada and even from the United States.
This significant manifestation of faith and devotion to the "Ecce Homo" was brought to Canada by Azoreans, especially migrants from São Miguel Island. The statue is a replica of the exiting statute on this Azorean island and remains throughout the year at the Our Lady of Fatima Church, whose parish community is responsible for the organisation of these festivities.
On the first day of his visit, Paulo Teves will attend the Mass of Healing and Blessing of the Sick, which will take place at the Our Lady of Fatima Church and will be delivered by father Hélio Soares from Capelas, São Miguel Island.
On the following day, the Regional Director will take part in the Procession with the Statue of the Holy Christ, which will be accompanied by the Lira Portuguesa de Brampton and Filarmonica Portuguesa de Montréal philharmonic bands.
On Sunday, Paulo Teves will attend the Solemn Mass and take part in the procession, where the fulfilment of vows is the main goal of many devotees who participate in it.
The celebrations in honour of the Holy Christ of Miracles in the Luso-Canadian community of Brampton, metropolitan area of Toronto, will end Monday with a programme that will include a procession of offerings and a Thanksgiving celebration.
As part of this visit, the Regional Director will also meet with Brampton City Councillor Martin Medeiros, whose parents are from Rabo de Peixe. Currently, he is the only Azorean descendant elected in this Canadian city.