The 1st church of the Heralds of the Gospel is now a Basilica
The first church of Heralds of the Gospel (in the International Seminary of the Heralds’ priestly branch, the Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right Virgo Flos Carmeli) has been made a basilica by Pope Benedict XVI. The Basilica is named Our Lady of the Rosary. If you look at the pictures, the exterior is not even completed and yet the Holy Father bestows this honor. Inside it some improvements are also in the works. Here follows an translated excerpt of the news reported by Gaudium Press:
“With the Supreme Apostolic power, perpetually, we elevate the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary to the rank and dignity of Minor Basilica”
These words read yesterday from Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Brief brought joy and hope for the institution of the Heralds of the Gospel.
The feast of Our Lady Help of Christians was doubly celebrated by the Heralds of the Gospel. In addition to the normal celebrations in praise and honor of the Holy Mother of God, Help of Christians, there was something very special to be celebrated: The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, in the Diocese of Bragança Paulista was elevated to the rank of Minor Basilica, just that day .
This church is part of a group of buildings which include the seminary of the Clerical Society Virgo Flos Carmeli and the House of Formation of the Heralds of the Gospel.
The ceremony of the presentation of the Apostolic Brief that raised the church to the status of Minor Basilica proceeded with great solemnity during the Mass celebrated by Bishop Sergio Aparecido Colombo , Bishop of Bragança Paulista, in São Paulo.
The Brief of His Holiness was presented to Msgr. João Clá Dias, founder and general president of the Heralds of the Gospel. Then the proclamation of the Holy Father’s words followed.
At the end of ceremony the unveiling of the symbols that identify a Minor Basilica, the Papal Coat of Arms, the Coat of Arms of the Bishop and the Papal Keys.
The Apostolic Brief
“Given at Rome, at St. Peter’s, under the seal of the Fisherman, on April 21st in the year 2012, the eighth of Our Pontificate.”
Thus ends the Papal decree that was made known by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State of the Holy See.
In it “His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI — Ad perpetuam rei memoriam –” affirms “among the sacred temples of the Diocese of Bragança Paulista in Brazil, stands out, deservedly, the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, erected in the city of Caieiras, to which the faithful of the region tend to go to implore the powerful help of She who is Full of Grace, to guide their existence according the precepts of the Gospel.
For this reason, since the Venerable Brother Sergio Aparecido Colombo, bishop of that See, with the letter of the 1st of March of this year, in the name of the clergy and also the people, requested that we should honor this temple with the diginity of Minor Basilica, We, wishing to give proof of our special benevolence, with supreme satisfaction of those ferverent prayers, judge that it should be granted.”
Thus it is that the Holy Father says still “fully met the requirements that the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, with the powers granted by Us, established for this subject,With the Supreme Apostolic power, perpetually, we elevate the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary to the rank and dignity of Minor Basilica, conferred all the rights and liturgical concessions that properly belong to the sacred edifices honored with this title, observing what is determined by the Decree De titulo Basilicae Minoris, promulgated on the 9th of November, 1989.”
And the Supreme Pontiff continues: “We are confident that the honor given shall prompt the hearts of the faithful to venerate even more the Holy Mother of God and the Church. We desire that this letter take effect from now and for posterity, being revoked any provisions to contrary.”
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Our Lady of the Resurrection
Image of Our Lady of the Ressurection, the invocation of the original name of the House of Formation, Hermitage of Our Lady of the Resurrection
A detail of the living room lights
A community living room in the seminary of the Heralds
Pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima
Fatima Shrine, Lewinston, NY
The origin of the word “sanctuary” comes from the Latin sancturarium derived from saunctus which in turn means “holy.” That is to say the choir’s place located around the altar, which is where the liturgical celebrations and especially the Eucharist take place.
The religious act that constitutes a pilgrimage is a concrete gesture of a Christian’s desire to meet God : “Pilgrims often come to shrines particularly well-disposed to seek the grace of forgiveness; they should be helped to open themselves to the Father “rich in mercy” (Eph 2:4),(31) in truth and in freedom, consciously and responsibly, so that their encounter with his grace will give rise to a truly new life.” (Cf. The Shrine: Memory, Presence and Prophecy of the Living God)
In this spirit of pilgrimage to meet God through the intercession of Mary, two different groups visited the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima located in Lewiston, New York, accompanied by Father Julio Ubbelhode for a day retreat on the importance of Marian devotion.
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Apostolate of the Shrine in Rwanda
From Mr Emmanuel Batagata, companion of the Heralds of the Gospel in Rwanda:
“We have also a young choir composed by 25 girls we are in need of uniform for them and musical instruments. The Apostolate of the Shrine is active in many parishes : Rango, Nyumba, Butare, Ngoma (Butare Diocese) and Muhondo and Shyorongi (Kigali Archidiocese).
At present, 350 families are members of the Apostolate of the Shrine and visits among families continue with Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In June 26th, 2011, we will celebrate 5 years of this work of evangelization in Rwanda.”
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A quick video of Thabor during Christmas
It is a really nice video of scenes around the seminary.
It is in Portuguese, but the spoken part is minimal as it is mainly scenes.
Enjoy!
Thabor – The Heralds of the Gospel’s International Seminary
Tabor at an angle
The classrooms and the courtyard during Christmas
Tabor (Thabor in Portuguese) is the name of the international seminary of the Heralds of the Gospel (The Society of Apostolic life of Pontifical Right Virgo Flos Carmeli). It comprises the Major Seminary, Minor Seminary, Church and TV studios of the Heralds of the Gospel.
It is the main place where our future priests and consecrated receive their formation. In here they will not only study theology, philosophy and other ecclesiastical disciplines, but will formed into holy men. In a life full of prayer and study, guided by discipline and love of perfection they learn to “be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)”
At the Major Seminary, St. Thomas Aquinas, the young Heralds study the Church disciplines, always with a particular love for the via pulchritudinis. At the minor seminary, young aspirants begin their steps in the religious life with joy, starting from middle school to high school.
The Heralds of the Gospel always strive for the elevation of man to God through beauty and splendour. That is a keynote to Tabor. Everywhere and at all times is the young seminarian/novice surrounded by a an ambiance that elevates him towards contemplation. In a life full of ceremonials, the young Herald already begins to participate in the joys of the angels and saints in Heaven, feeling the peace God gives when we are in search of Him.
From dinner to Complines
We wanted show you this wonder to let you participate in our joy. If you ever find yourself in São Paulo, Brazil, come visit us!
This is a first post on Tabor and we hope to post more. We’ ll be putting things on the daily life and activities of the Heralds of the Gospel in Thabor and Our Lady of the Rosary Church.
The pictures are all thanks to our seminarians there who run a blog on the seminary. Please visit them! thabor.blog.arautos.org
New group of the Shrine Apostolate coordinated by kids
On January 2, in the celebration of the First Saturday devotion, a new group of the Apostolate of the Shirne was formed. Blessed by the Rev. Fr. Michael Greer, pastor of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Miami, the group has the particularity that it will be coordinated by kids. This ceremony took place the First Saturday preceding the Missionary Childhood Day celebrated today on the Solemnity of the Epiphany.
For more information on the Apostolate of the Shrine in Miami and general please call 1-305 238 2435. Please visit www.heralds.us and click on the top where is says “Shrine”.
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