Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament

1st Meeting of the Sacramentinos Americas Conference / Eugênio Barbosa Martins SSS Ordained 12th SSS Bishop

1st Meeting of the Sacramentinos Americas Conference in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

The first meeting since the General Chapter of the Sacramentinos Americas Conference (SAC) took place at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Province (Argentina-Brazil-Chile) headquarters (Emmaus Center) in Belo Horizonte, the third largest metropolitan city of Brazil, in the state of Minas Gerais (between the states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro). We began the meeting on Wednesday, April 3, and Thursday, April 4, 2024, in English and Spanish (with some Portuguese). After welcome, our host, Father Marcelo Silva SSS (Argentina-Brazil-Chile), explained that we would attend Mass at the shrine of Our Lady of the Boa Viagem (Good Voyage) church (the former cathedral) where it has been arranged to coincide with the reception of 7 new Associates of the Blessed Sacrament….
Our Superior General, Father Philip Benzy Romician SSS, joined us to give direction in our first geographical conference meeting since the mandates of the 36th General Chapter. …
This is a key animation and supporting body for the provincial/regional administration in their quest to grow in fidelity to the charism. Now, every SSS province is part of a conference, with the USA province joining this one and the existing conferences for Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Photos: [Right] L-R Father Carlos Rodriguez (Bogotá), Francisco Junior (Brazil, General Council), Father John Thomas Lane (USA), Father General, Father Jose Antonio (Spain, General Council), Marcelo da Silva (Brazil-Argentina-Chile)
[Left] Church of Boa Viagem

Eugênio Barbosa Martins SSS Ordained 12th SSS Bishop, 5th SSS Bishop in Brazil, and 7th Bishop of the Diocese of São João de Boa Vista

I had the honor of representing the USA SSS by being present on Friday, April 5 to Sunday, April 7, 2024, for the ordination celebrations of our SSS Brazilian and 15th Superior General Eugenio Barbosa Martins SSS in the city of Sao Joao de Boa Vista in the state of Sao Paulo (SP), Brazil. … Many SSS religious from across the globe, mainly from Brazil and almost a hundred Aggregates of the Blessed Sacrament (Associates) from across Brazil also attended. …
Over 3,000 gathered early the following day to participate in the ordination at the city college’s basketball arena, made into a sanctuary for this momentous occasion. …
We were honored to be part of a history-making event with Bishop Euge nio’s excellent episcopal motto: e começou a lavar os pes dos discipulos (Portuguese) for John 13:3, “And he began to wash the feet of his disciples.” In his final words of the Mass, before his first blessing as bishop, Bishop Euge nio promised to “wash the feet of the diocese” to care and serve with his Eucharistic heart, warm with gratitude and honor.

Photos: [Right] Bishop Eugenio blesses the congregation gathered for his Episcopal Ordination
[Left] SSS Bishops and priests with Bishop Eugenio

Articles continue – Read more in Grapevine 2024-8 pdf