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Traditional Catholic pilgrimage · On foot to Aparecida

Before Brazil, Vera Cruz.

Vera Cruz means True Cross, and it was the name this land was given in 1500. The pilgrimage walks in column, behind the Cross, to the National Shrine of Aparecida.

10, 11 and 12 July 2027 · From Campos do Jordão to Aparecida

Register Read the rule

Registration is open through the Drika pelo Mundo travel agency. Base price: R$ 1,500 per person.

Cannot walk? You can be a Guardian Angel.

01 The walk

Through the Serra da Mantiqueira, along the Caminho da Fé.

From Campos do Jordão to the National Shrine of Aparecida, in three days. The route follows the yellow arrows of the Caminho da Fé, the pilgrim network that converges on Aparecida. The surface is almost all unpaved country road.

When
10, 11 and 12 July 2027, Saturday to Monday
Start
Campos do Jordão, São Paulo state
Arrival
National Shrine of Aparecida, São Paulo state
An altar set up in an open field for Holy Mass, the priest facing away from the congregation kneeling in dry grass. Holy Mass

Every day. Attendance is essential.

A camp at night, tents lit from within and a wooden cross planted in the field. Conferences

Two a day, in each chapter.

A wooden wayside cross on a whitewashed masonry base, a rosary hanging from one arm. Rosary

One a day, for its own intentions.

At the end of the day, there is fellowship at the camp.

Pilgrims' boots and staffs on a red earth road, dust hanging in the hard midday light.
Midday
Araucaria and candeia trees on a high-altitude grassland, the valley disappearing into haze.
High ground
The Paraíba Valley covered in mist.
Mist
A pilgrim carrying a processional cross at the head of the column on a flat road, the town far off in haze.
Arrival

Drag sideways. Scenes generated for this page.

02 The column

Each pilgrim walks in a chapter.

A single file of pilgrims climbing a dirt road on a pasture hillside, seen from far away.

A chapter is a group of pilgrims from the same region, parish or devotion, with a leader and a banner of its own.

The Vera Cruz chapters do not exist yet: they form in the cities that appear in this pre-registration — and none starts with one person.

03 Who is called

Good will and a minimum of vigour. You need not be an athlete.

The pilgrimage is recommended to all Catholics who love the Tridentine Mass and wish to keep the visible bond with the Church.

Minimum age
16, with an accompanying adult
Register
04 The pilgrim's rule

Read before you fill in the form.

The organiser's seven rules in full, translated for understanding. The Portuguese text is the one that binds: if the two ever disagree, the Portuguese governs.

I · Purpose

The Vera Cruz pilgrimage intends to lead the faithful to an authentic living of the Catholic Faith through a deeper living of the Traditional Roman Liturgy, according to the liturgical books approved by St John XXIII and confirmed by His Holiness Pope Francis in 2022 for the FSSP and the institutes attached to the former Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei.

II · Roman communion

Any and every form of support for groups or persons, lay or priestly, who stand apart from Roman communion — whether by the sin of schism or of heresy — is therefore forbidden. Disrespect towards Bishops and lawful pastors will not be tolerated.

III · No political demonstration

Any political, ideological or party demonstration is expressly forbidden. We are a body of pilgrims, whose purpose is spiritual goods.

IV · Dress

Out of respect for the dignity God himself gave us, men and women shall dress with decency, taking care not to be a cause of scandal to their brother. Even so, clothing that is light and comfortable for walking is recommended.

V · The Mass

The daily Holy Mass, according to the 1962 Roman Missal, is an integral part and the heart of our pilgrimage; attendance is therefore essential.

VI · Conferences and Rosary

Every chapter will have two conferences a day, given by priests, seminarians or a layman, such as the chapter leader; and furthermore they will pray a daily Rosary for their own intentions.

VII · The sacrifice

The pilgrimage is meant to be a moment of offering a small sacrifice to the Good God, but it is also an occasion for self-knowledge, for the concrete practice of charity, for making new friendships, and for a foretaste of the joys of heaven.

Read the rule in the original Portuguese

I have read the rule. Register me
05 Guardian Angel chapter

Those who cannot go form the Guardian Angel.

It is the chapter of those who do not walk: it prays for the pilgrimage and helps to pay for those who cannot. It is formed by those who declare themselves here.

Enrol me as a Guardian Angel
A pilgrim's weathered hand gripping a wooden staff, a dark-beaded rosary wound round the wrist.
07 Pre-registration

Leave your name.

Registration is open

Registration is handled by the Drika pelo Mundo travel agency (Brazilian company no. 64.839.739/0001-74), which provides lodging, dinner and breakfast, individual insurance, a support vehicle and an ambulance. Base price: R$ 1,500 per person, by PIX in one payment or in up to three instalments by card or bank slip. The registration page is in Portuguese.

Register

Not ready to register yet? Leave your name below. Pre-registration costs nothing, reserves no place and does not oblige you to walk: it lets us keep in touch and learn in which cities there are people to form chapters.

Start the number with your country code: +351 912 345 678.

How do you intend to take part?

We read each pre-registration, one by one.

If you have no fixed one, write none fixed.

Leave blank if there is none.

Are you a priest, deacon, seminarian or religious?

You may withdraw this authorisation at any time, free of charge and without giving a reason. Providing the data is voluntary. If you prefer not to, the only consequence is that we will not be able to tell you when registration opens. How we handle your data