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Witnesses to the Light: National Pilgrimage of the Friends of the Divine Word
Antonio Leite
The pilgrimage had begun long before, as on November 30 of last year, we held the preparation meeting with about 40 representatives from the regions where we are present in Portugal. All of this is part of a journey shared among the Divine Word Missionaries, the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit, and the laity. Then came the next steps in organizing the local communities.
On the morning of Saturday, April 5, many were already on their way to Fátima. The others would arrive on Sunday.
After lunch on Saturday, we had a welcome gathering at the SDivine Fátima Hotel Church. Through gestures and words, songs and prayers, we praised the Lord for the 150th Anniversary of the Society of the Divine Word. We then prepared for the Way of the Cross in Valinhos, walking the path known as the Hungarian Calvary.
That evening, we joined the essential moment of the Rosary and Candlelight Procession at Sanctuary. There, everything becomes prayer!
On Sunday morning, with all participants present, we began the day with Our Lady at the Chapel of the Apparitions. The Rosary was prayed and meditated upon by our brothers and sisters from the Parish of St. Peter of Prior Velho, Lisbon. Afterward, the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity welcomed us for the Eucharist. The Rector of the Sanctuary, who presided over the celebration, offered a special message for the pilgrims from the family of Saint Arnold Janssen.
And then came the afternoon — and what an afternoon it was! The Paul VI Pastoral Center Auditorium opened its doors to host the Jubilee Musical Festival celebrating the 150 Years of the Society of the Divine Word. There were 11 original songs, with lyrics and music written around the theme “Witnesses to the Light.” Songs were sung in Portuguese and even in Chinese (with translation). From Almodôvar, in the south, came the winning song, titled Being Witnesses to the Light. An unforgettable afternoon!
To further increase our joy, we also had the participation of the group SVD Lay Dialogues for the Mission, who offered brief theatrical presentations — a beautiful synthesis of the various activities and projects they have participated in over their 25 years of existence. That’s right — the group is celebrating its 25th anniversary!
One of the pilgrims shared:
“This pilgrimage was very meaningful because we celebrated the Jubilee Year 2025, the 150 Years of the Society of the Divine Word, and the 25 Years of the Diálogos group — all together. It clearly shows the Congregation’s deep commitment to the communities served by the Divine Word Missionaries, truly being Witnesses to the Light.”
