Wednesday, August 30, 2023

53d Pilgrimage of Faith to Chimpay

The 53rd Pilgrimage of Faith to Chimpay
Homage to Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá



 (ANS – Chimpay, Argentina – August 30, 2023) – The 53rd pilgrimage of faith in memory of the young Mapuche native took place between Friday, August 25, and Sunday the 27th in Chimpay, a town in Argentina’s Rio Negro Province, where Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá was born. The event took place under the motto “With Ceferino, sowers of hope today.”

The largest pilgrimage of faith in Patagonia began on Friday with the arrival of the pilgrims on horseback. After traveling many miles, they arrived at the Parque Ceferiniano to bring their offerings, their greetings, and their prayers before the traditional image that is venerated year round.

Religious, cultural, and recreational activities continued on Saturday, the day of the liturgical memorisl of the Blessed. The flow of pilgrims started very early in the morning. As the day progressed, then, the number of pilgrims grew further, with hundreds of people coming to greet Blessed Ceferino. There were celebrations and baptisms, while in the evening there was a prayer by the fire, animated by the Mapuche community. Saturday ended with a song to the earth by the young people of the Chimpay sports center.

On Sunday the 27th, the activities began with the first rays of the sun on the hill of the Fifth Centennial Cross (on National Road 22), with Mapuche prayer and supplication. At 9:00 a.m. the impressive group of people began the pilgrimage to the Parque Ceferiniano, where they arrived after a two-hour walk. At 11 o’clock the Mass began on an altar prepared outdoors.

The celebration was presided over by the Salesian bishop of Viedma, Bishop Esteban Maria Laxague, and concelebrated by Bishops Alejandro Pablo Benna (Alto Valle del Rio Negro) and Juan Carlos Ares (San Carlos de Bariloche) and by priests from different parts of the region and the country. Also concelebrating was the superior of the province of South Argentina, Fr Dario Perera, together with several Salesians from the communities in the area.

This demonstration was, once again, a true proof that if you pray with faith, God works in people’s lives.

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