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On September 19, 20, and 21, celebrations began for the 80th anniversary of the presence of the Institute of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in Brazil. The Brothers arrived in Brazil from Canada on October 5, 1945.

A pilgrimage to Aparecida marked the beginning of the festivities. Around 70 people, including Brothers and lay collaborators, took part in a special Thanksgiving program in the city of Brazil’s Patron Saint. The Superior General of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, Brother Mark Hilton, came from Rome to participate in this important moment of celebration for the Brazilian Province, which brought great joy to the Brazilian Brothers and collaborators.

On Saturday, September 20, the Rosary was prayed in the Chapel of the Miraculous Catch, followed by a prayer in the Chapel of the Apostles. The highlight was a special Eucharistic Celebration at the National Shrine. All these moments in Aparecida highlighted the spirituality of the Institute and were signs of gratitude for the history written in our country.

For Brother Elton Lopes, Provincial Superior of the Brothers in Brazil and director of Cristo Rei School, beginning the 80th anniversary celebration in Aparecida was very meaningful, as it represents a direct connection to the bicentennial origins of the Institute. “Our religious family was born in 1821, in Lyon, France, in the Church of Our Lady of Fourvière. That is, we have always been under Mary’s protection. So, nothing could be more symbolic than celebrating our eight decades of history in our country at the feet of Our Lady of Aparecida, patroness of Brazil. What we experienced in this celebration at the Shrine was profound, an emotional moment. I thank the priests who welcomed us and everyone who joined us on this pilgrimage.”

After the Mass in Aparecida, the group headed to Campanha, a city in southern Minas Gerais that was the first to receive the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in 1945. At that time, Canadian Brothers were invited by the Bishop of the Diocese of Campanha to take over the direction of São João High School. That invitation motivated four young religious men to come to Brazil and begin the educational and formative work that remains alive and vibrant to this day.

This journey was remembered and honored during the Solemn Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Anthony in Campanha, held on Sunday. After the Mass, at PRONOAMA, the Brothers’ Social Center in the city, a cross was installed to symbolize the mission and charism of Father André Coindre, founder of the Institute. The cross was blessed by the priest and serves as a concrete symbol of the 80-year celebration.

The Brother Paulo Marching Band attended the celebration and added even more brilliance to the festivities. Children and young people from Campanha performed in tribute to the Brothers.

To conclude the celebratory weekend, a lunch was offered to the guests, where everyone enjoyed a pleasant atmosphere of fellowship and communion, with a toast and a “Happy Birthday” moment.

The Brothers of the Sacred Heart are the administrators of Cristo Rei School and Brother Policarpo School in Marília, as well as three social centers in the states of Minas Gerais and Paraná: Pronoama, Juvenato, and Casa do Piá. Around 2,400 children and adolescents are served daily in the Brothers’ Brazilian institutions. The Institute’s main goal is to contribute to quality education, enabling holistic formation, providing growth opportunities, and positively impacting the communities in which it is present.

The 80th anniversary celebrations will continue on October 3, with a Thanksgiving Mass to be held at the Cathedral of São Bento in Marília/SP.