In their net, a statue of the Immaculate Conception

In September 1717, a hundred miles from Sao Paulo, Brazil, three fishermen named Domingos Garcia, Felipe Pedroso and Joao Alves discovered a small statue of the Immaculate Conception caught in their net, in which they also found a lot of fish. The fishermen called the Virgin "Aparecida" (Who Appeared).

In 1726, the people built an oratory where they placed the little statue and where they came to recite the Rosary with neighbors and friends. Graces and miracles abounded. The Virgin Mary brought many blessings to the Brazilian people there.

In 1834, the construction of a church with three naves began. The faithful flocked to the site. On December 8, 1888, the Archbishop of São Paulo blessed the new shrine. A small town of 3,000 inhabitants was born. On October 8, 1904, "Nossa Senhora Aparecida" was solemnly crowned.

On July 26, 1936, Pius XI declared Our Lady of Aparecida the "principal patroness of Brazil." On September 8, 1954, the foundation stone of the new basilica was laid, in a square that can accommodate 275,000 people. The shrine, a focal point for the Church of Brazil, receives 8 million pilgrims and visitors every year.

See: Our Lady of Aparecida