The Redemptorists give importance to the liturgies of evangelization, the great demand for confessions, and solidarity initiatives in the peripheries.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, in Alto da Glória, Curitiba (PR), was a major center of evangelization during Holy Week, bringing together thousands of faithful during the celebrations.
In addition to the significant participation in Masses and liturgical celebrations, one of the highlights was the intense demand for the sacrament of confession. From Wednesday to Friday, eight priests were available for confessions from morning until evening. Despite their continued commitment, it was not possible to accommodate all the penitents, a testament to the Church’s profound search for reconciliation during this important time.
The Easter Triduum was also marked by a record turnout of faithful, so much so that the Shrine of Perpetual Help seemed small compared to the large number of people who gathered to celebrate the central mysteries of the Christian faith.
For Redemptorist Father Joaquim Parron, the significant increase in faithful participation is linked to a maturation of religious experience.
“We note a greater awareness among Catholics and also the fruit of a fundamentally evangelizing ministry that the Perpetual Help Shrine carries out in communion with the Archdiocese of Curitiba. We emphasize evangelization efforts aligned with the priorities of the Archdiocese, with a missionary focus, catechumenal inspiration, and a spirit of synodality,” he stated.
In addition to the celebrations, Holy Week was also marked by concrete gestures of solidarity. Through campaigns among the faithful, chocolates were collected for vulnerable communities in the capital.
A total of eight communities were helped, with the delivery of approximately 6,000 boxes of chocolates, bringing joy to children and renewing hope among the families assisted. The initiative is part of SOS Combate à Fome, a project led by Redemptorist Father Joaquim Parron, which works in the peripheral communities of Curitiba.
The delivery was carried out by Father Parron himself and Brother Andrey Reimer, with the support of the Perpetual Help Therapeutic Community.
The initiative strengthens the Sanctuary’s commitment to evangelization, which also translates into concrete gestures of care, sharing, and presence alongside those most in need.
Throughout Holy Week, the Perpetual Help Sanctuary reaffirmed its mission of welcome and evangelization, offering the faithful a space for prayer, reconciliation, and a profound experience of faith.
Journalist Fabiana Sá
