ANNOUNCEMENT
Communication from the International Ocean to Ocean Coalition and Human Life International Polska
The third stage of the peregrination of the Częstochowa Icon begins
We are pleased to announce that on March 21 this year, after the break caused by the pandemic. The third stage of the peregrination of the Częstochowa Icon "From Ocean to Ocean" around the world in defense of the civilization of life and love begins. The visits of Our Lady of Częstochowa - Queen of Poland - apart from the pro-life aspect and Marian spirituality, are also a great promotion of Poland, its history and faith in the international space.
A life-size copy of the Icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa, applied to the original image and consecrated at Jasna Góra, has been traveling around the world since 2012. Millions of people have prayed before it, many children in the wombs of their mothers have been saved. It has already traveled 200,000 km, which makes this pilgrimage an unprecedented event. Brazil is the 30th country on the route of this journey. The next ones will be: Argentina, Uruguay, and then Italy.
The Mother of God in the Częstochowa Icon is flying from Ecuador to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil under the care of the Polish missionary Fr. Leon Juchniewicz, who has been acting as Her custodian in South America for several years now. The coordinator of the visit to Brazil is a Pole – Fr. Zdzisław Stanisław Błaszczyk, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, called Dom Tiago Stanislaw by the Brazilians. "We invite all people who care about life to take part in these moments, so that our unity and prayer in defense of the civilization of life and love may bring the expected fruits," wrote Bishop Błaszczyk in the invitation to the ceremony. The lay coordinator in Brazil is a pediatrician, Talmir Rodrigues, leader of the International Right to Life Federation.
After a ceremonial welcome at Galeão Airport, Our Lady in the Częstochowa Icon will visit the Metropolitan Curia in Rio de Janeiro. On Saturday, March 22, “Rio Celebrates” – a Solemn Holy Mass will be held in the Basilica of St. John the Baptist.
On the morning of Sunday, March 23, Our Lady of Częstochowa will visit the enormous statue of Christ the Redeemer on the Corcovado peak overlooking Rio de Janeiro and will stop for a moment in the chapel located in the pedestal of the statue. She will then participate in Mass during the annual meeting of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Metropolitan Cathedral. In the following days, the Icon will visit many parishes in the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro.
On March 28-30, a visit to Sao Paulo is planned, where the International Congress for Life and Family will be held in the Barra Funda district. Poland and the International Coalition "From Ocean to Ocean" will be represented by Lech Kowalewski.
A major event will be the arrival of the Częstochowa Icon on April 1 to Aparecida - one of the world's largest sanctuaries of Our Lady.
On April 2, a meeting of Our Lady in the Częstochowa Icon with a network of pro-life organizations in Brazil is planned. Titled "Brazil for Life". A visit to the "House for Pregnant Women" in Nova Iguacu is also planned. On April 11, the Icon of Our Lady will be a guest at the Greek-Melkite parish of St. Basil and Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
On April 12, members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem will venerate the Icon. On April 21-28, the Icon will travel to the interior to Presidente Prudente, and on April 29-30 to Londrina.
May 1-4 meetings are planned in Curitiba, where many descendants of Poles live.
We appeal to all people of good will to support this unique pilgrimage with your involvement and prayer. Further information is posted on the website www. fromoceantoocean.org, where you can also find information on various possibilities of donating your gift of heart in order to financially support this undertaking.
Lech Kowalewski – O2O International Coalition
Ewa Kowalewska – Human Life International Poland