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Next Sunday (17), the capital of Santa Catarina will be the stage for a special moment of faith and unity: the Procession on the bridge in honor of Our Lady of Fatima.The event is part of the official celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Hercílio Luz Bridge, inaugurated on May 13, 1926, a date also dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima.
The program begins at 3:30 PM, with a gathering at Parque da Luz, and the procession departs at 4:00 PM. The faithful will walk across the bridge, praying and singing, in prayer for world peace. This is the central message of the apparitions at Fatima, which remains relevant today.
During the procession, the image of Our Lady of Fatima will be carried in a fire truck, accompanied by pastoral groups from the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima and the Archdiocese of Florianópolis. For safety reasons, participants will walk along the sides of the bridge, on a route accessible to families, children, and the elderly.
The procession will conclude at Bolsinho da Beira-Mar Continental, where there will be a moment of prayer with the presence of the Archbishop of Florianópolis, followed by a show with Father Fábio de Melo at 17:30 PM.
The relationship between the bridge and Marian devotion is part of Florianópolis' own history. The inauguration of the Hercílio Luz Bridge, on May 13, 1926, took place exactly nine years after the first apparition of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal. On that occasion, a religious ceremony was held. Almost a century later, this tradition has returned to the life of the city. Organized by the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, in the Estreito neighborhood, the Procession on the Bridge has been taking place since 2022, when this gesture of faith was reintroduced to the celebrations linked to the bridge.
For the parish priest and rector of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, Father Mario José Raimondi, the celebration has a profound meaning for the city:It is an invitation for us to cross this bridge together, not only physically, but spiritually, renewing our trust in God and in the intercession of Our Lady.. "
The Archbishop of Florianópolis, Dom Wilson Tadeu Jönck, also highlights the importance of this initiative:We are called to be bridges every day in everything we do. Following the example of Mary, a bridge connecting God to the hearts of so many, may our actions and attitudes be bridges; only then will we have what we call fraternity.. "
Open to the entire population, the event invites worshippers and visitors to participate in this historic moment, which unites tradition and spirituality in one of Santa Catarina's main landmarks.
Start: 17/05/2026 15:30
End: 17/05/2026 20:00
Values: free admission.
Photo used: Photo by Paulinho Scarduelli / Press release.
