Our Lady Aparecida of Brazilians in the United States, venerated by the Brazilian community

Marian Invocation of Newark (New Jersey)

La devoción a Our Lady of Aparecida it belongs, at its origin, to the Marian history of Brazil: tradition places the finding of a small image of the Virgin in the river Paraíba do Sul in 1717, when three fishermen found it after several unsuccessful fishing attempts; this narrative is the devotional basis of the advocation and the most widespread in popular memory.

Main data

Origin and history

La devoción a Our Lady of Aparecida it belongs, at its origin, to the Marian history of Brazil: tradition places the finding of a small image of the Virgin in the river Paraíba do Sul in 1717, when three fishermen found it after several unsuccessful fishing attempts; this narrative is the devotional basis of the advocation and the most widespread in popular memory.

En la documented history of devotion, Our Lady Aparecida was recognized as Patron of Brazil by the Pope Pío XI en 1929 and the liturgical feast is celebrated October 12. The documentation consulted on this document does not, however, prove a specific historical foundation of the advocation in Newark as an autonomous origin: it is a a devotional replica of the patron of Brazil promoted by the Brazilian community in the United States, especially in Newark, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.

The image and the sanctuary

The image venerated under the title of Our Lady of Aparecida es una small size of dark wood, of popular style, associated with the iconography of the Immaculate Conception; the popular tradition presents it as an image found and later object of great veneration in Brazil. In the devotion of the Brazilian community in the United States, this same iconographic identity is preserved, although in the sources consulted no consta a specific technical description of Newark's replica or its exact material.

Concerning sanctuary or temple from Newark, the sources provided do not allow for the safe identification of a official name only, nor do they confirm that the place has a range of minor basilica, National sanctuary o diocesan sanctuary. Therefore, for this record it should be stated: the canonical status of the Newark temple is not fully established in available verified sources.

Sponsorship and coronation

Patronage documented with security of this advocation is that of Brazil. In the case of Newark, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, the sources consulted show a Community veneration of the Brazilian diasporabut no consta an official diocesan, municipal or national patronage linked to this vocation in the United States.

On the canonical coronationfor the advocation of Our Lady of Aparecida In general it does contain the solemn coronation of the image in Brazil, but in the sources provided it appears with different chronological data; since this fact sheet refers to Newark's devotion and not to the Brazilian sanctuary, and there is no secure documentation for the American replica, it should be indicated: does not contain a documented canonical coronation for the advocation venerated in Newark.

Party and devotion

La main party of Our Lady Aparecida is the October 12. In the Brazilian community of Newark and elsewhere in the United States, this date often concentrates liturgical celebrations, acts of piety and community meetings, but in the sources verified here no constan reliable flow figures and no documented description of specific pilgrimages in Newark.

Devotion is characterized by a strong identity bond of the Brazilian diasporawhich keeps in migrant exile the cult of the national patron through festive masses, processions or community meetings; however, in order not to attribute unverified data, it must be stated that the specific details of these traditions in Newark no constan in the available documentation.

Link to the Rosary

There is no particular and exclusive historical link between this Newark advocation and a specific rosarian fellowship, sanctuary or practice in the sources consulted. However, the relationship is theologically natural: like every authentic Marian devotion, Our Lady of Aparecida leads to the contemplation of Christ with Mary, and the Rosary This piety is usually accompanied as one of the most classic forms of Marian prayer in the Latin Church.