As part of the worldwide pilgrimage “From Ocean to Ocean”, the Icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa arrived on 3 April at the Archdiocesan Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Rio de Janeiro.
She was received there by the Polish Pallottines who take care of this place. The icon from Jasna Góra, traveling around the world with the intention of defending the civilization of life and love, arrived in the former capital of Brazil on 21 March, welcomed by pro-lifers together with the local auxiliary bishop Zdzisław Błaszczyk.
At the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy, the image was welcomed by Fr. Jacek Wójcik SAC, responsible for pastoral care in this place, and Fr. Artur Karbowy SAC – the higher superior of the Pallottines in this city, as well as a large group of the faithful. After the Icon was placed at the altar, the Rosary Prayer began for the intention of protecting life and family.
In the sermon, Fr. Karbowy presented the history of the pilgrimage From Ocean to Ocean, which began in 2012 in Vladivostok. He also presented the cult of Our Lady of Jasna Góra in Poland and the meaning of pilgrimage. Mary teaches us how to be pilgrims of hope. Being a pilgrim means, above all, the ability to take risks - the decision to go out. Mary was able to respond to God's calling, which she did not fully understand, saying to God: "Let it be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38) - explained the preacher.
He emphasized that pilgrimage also means finding a way: - Sometimes God leads us along paths that are little known and little understood. Mary managed to find the way in Her Son. He pointed out that on the Icon of Jasna Gora, Mary points with her right hand to Her Son and recalled that in Cana of Galilee She says to the servants who do not know how to cope with the lack of wine: - Do whatever He tells you (Jn 2:5). The superior of the Pallottines noted that following Jesus, listening to His Word, which the Gospel gives us, is a map and a compass, without which we will not reach our destination.
At the end of the Holy Mass, after performing the Act of entrusting the protection of the civilization of life and love to the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Brazilians present in the church sang the Black Madonna in Portuguese.
The next pilgrimage stop of the Częstochowa Icon is the diocese of Nova Iguaçu, also located in the state of Rio de Janeiro.