The City Hall of Farroupilha is preparing for the 144th Pilgrimage of Our Lady of Caravaggio, in partnership with several secretariats. This pilgrimage is one of the oldest and most important manifestations of faith and devotion in the state, hoping to attract thousands of pilgrims on the 26th, 27th and 28th of May. This year’s motto is “Source of our joy, pray for us”.
The coordination of the structures that will be set up at the beginning of Avenida Dom José Barea and at the access to the Sanctuary on Avenida 26 de Maio, for the distribution of cookies to pilgrims who arrive on foot, will be the responsibility of the Municipal Secretariat for Economic Development, Tourism and Innovation .
Thinking about preserving nature, the Department of Urbanism and the Environment, in partnership with Ecofar, installed 24 garbage containers and tubes with plastic bags along the way. In addition, two motorcycle collectors will be available to clean the trash cans and replace the garbage bags. A tent will also be set up next to Unimed’s Emergency Room, where biodegradable bags will be distributed so that people can deposit their waste until they find the bins. Around 70 chemical toilets will be made available at various points up to the Esplanade of the Sanctuary of Caravaggio.
The Traffic Department teams will provide support to the State Highway Police and Military Brigade agents regarding the mobility of vehicles and pedestrians. Access for light vehicles to the Sanctuary of Caravaggio will be allowed by the Rodovia dos Romeiros, and the return will be made through the District of São Marcos, in Farroupilha, towards Caminhos de Pedras.
Buses must use Rodovia dos Romeiros both to and from the Sanctuary. The Farroupilha Road Group will have fixed patrol points, one of which will be responsible for crossing pedestrians at the beginning of the pilgrimage, on the ERS-122, in Caxias do Sul, and the other will be located at the roundabout access to the Sanctuary, where the image is of Our Lady of Caravaggio.
According to the Military Brigade, 89 police officers will be employed daily and will be installed in different sectors during the three days of the pilgrimage. More than 20 posts will be set up, with military police and plainclothes teams alongside the devotees. Different policing modalities, such as police motorcycles, ostensive vehicles and military police on foot, will allow for a more efficient provision of public security services.
Pró Saúde will provide doctors, nurses and nursing technicians in the three days, according to the demand needed for each day. In addition, two ambulances will be available, one on the Esplanada, close to the outpatient clinic, for basic transport to Hospital Beneficente São Carlos or Unimed’s Emergency Room. The second ambulance will be in Beijo-Frio and will be activated if necessary for Busa or other stretches due to ease of mobility.
The Voluntary Rescue will be circulating on the esplanade checking the need for first aid. SAMU Caxias will provide support at ground zero (Viaduto Torto) and a motorcycle ambulance along the stretch. The Red Cross will set up tents to serve the public near the church of São José. The University of Caxias do Sul will be positioned on the esplanade to receive pilgrims and measure vital signs and guidelines.
Check the schedule:
May 26th (Friday):
Missas: 6h, 7h, 8h, 9h, 10:30h, 12h, 13h, 15h, 16h e 17h
Tuesday: 2pm
May 27th (Saturday):
Missas: 6h, 7h, 8h, 9h, 10:30h, 12h, 13h, 15h, 16h e 17h
Tuesday: 2pm
May 28th (Sunday):
Missas: 6h, 7h, 8h, 9h, 10:30h, 12h, 13h, 15h, 16h e 17h
Tuesday: 2pm
Transport
Several buses will connect Caravaggio with the cities of Caxias do Sul, Farroupilha and Bento Gonçalves. Pilgrims will be able to purchase tickets at the ticket booths, which are on the esplanade next to the Sanctuary and at the Caxias and Farroupilha bus stations. It is recommended to buy tickets in advance to avoid queues. The fare to Farroupilha is R$ 8.00 each way.
confessions and requests
During the three days of pilgrimage there will be individual confession, performed by priests, in the Old Sanctuary and in the confessionals of the New Sanctuary. Prayer requests can be made inside the Old Sanctuary and at the secretariat.
