Visiting the Pilgrim Image of the Virgin of the 33 (*) and the relics of Blessed Jacinto Vera, the first bishop of Uruguay in the mission of Maldonado, where the Redemptorists are present in small numbers.
Within the framework of the national vocational year motivated by the Episcopal Conference of Uruguay, and from the sanctuary of Florida, the pilgrim image of the Virgin of the 33 and the relics of Blessed Jacinto Vera, travel through the different dioceses and their communities.
From July 21 to August 4, they visited the Redemptorist mission in Maldonado. The first week was spent in the parish of the Virgen de los Remedios in the Maldonado Nuevo area, visiting the chapels and communities of the parish. There were moments of reflection on the vocation around the figure of the Virgin Mary and Blessed Jacinto Vera. They also visited the Dionisio Diaz* non-formal education youth center, where adolescents and young people shared a vocational moment.
In the second week, the image and the relics were taken by caravan to the parish of the Virgin of the 33 in the Lavalleja neighborhood. There, they were received by a good number of parishioners in a festive and traditional tone, and with sincere devotion. Sunday mass was celebrated. Then, a well-known journalist and historian by taste, Sergio Sánchez, made a presentation of relevant data on the presence and importance of the image of the Virgin of the 33 in the liberation and independence struggle of the Uruguayan people. On the following days, arrangements were made so that the image and the relics could visit families, homes for the elderly and children, and other institutions.
It is worth noting that, with the members of the prison ministry and the appropriate permits, a visit to the Maldonado prison was coordinated. With the presence of some prison officers, several pavilions were visited and thus the prisoners were able to have a brief meeting of prayer and devotion with the image of the Virgin of the 33 and the relics of Jacinto Vera. This gesture is worth highlighting because of the Uruguayan government’s policy of keeping state and religious matters separate.
It was a pleasant time spent in the mission in Uruguay as it motivated us to meet, visit, reflect and discover more about the history and devotion of the image of the Virgin of the 33 and of Jacinto Vera, the first bishop and blessed of Uruguay.
Redemptorist Missionary Community of Maldonado: Fr. Jorge Diaz, Fr. Mario Marin, Brother Rodolfo Ramos.
Mission of Uruguay – Pedro Donders Province
(*) The Virgin or Our lady of the Thirty-Three is a Marian devotion of the Catholic Church of Uruguayan origin whose center of worship is in the Cathedral Basilica of Florida located in the city of Florida, Uruguay. She is also considered the patron saint of Uruguay. She was declared as patron by Pope John XXIII and solemnly crowned in Piedra Alta in 1961.
About Our Lady of the Thirty-Three you can also see:
Clip from the Episcopal Conference of Uruguay
