THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PARTICIPATED LAST NIGHT IN VALPAÇOS IN THE TRADITIONAL CANDLE PROCESSION IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF HEALTH, ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT RELIGIOUS MOMENTS OF THE MUNICIPAL FESTIVITIES. THE IMAGE OF THE PATRON SAINT LEFT THE DEDICATED SANCTUARY AND TRAVELED ALONG THE AVENUE TO THE MOTHER CHURCH, ACCOMPANIED BY A MULTITUDE THAT, THROUGHOUT THE ROUTE, JOINED IN PRAYER, AMONG CANDLES, CHANTS, AND MOMENTS OF SILENCE.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF VALPAÇOS, JORGE MATA PIRES, CONSIDERED THIS "ONE OF THE MOST ATTENDED" PROCESSIONS HELD TO DATE IN THE MUNICIPALITY, PRAISING THE "DIGNIFIED AND BEAUTIFUL" MANNER IN WHICH THE PROCESSION PROCEEDED. THE MAYOR ALSO OFFERED WORDS OF RECOGNITION TO FATHER LEONEL REIS AND THE PARISH OF VALPAÇOS FOR ORGANIZING THE CELEBRATION.
JORGE MATA PIRES ALSO THANKED ALL THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE REALIZATION OF THE RELIGIOUS PROCESSION, NAMELY ALTAR SERVERS, THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR CARRYING THE PROCESSIONAL CANOPY, THE SCOUT GROUP, THE HUMANITARIAN ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS OF VALPAÇOS, AND THE GNR, FOR THEIR ESCORT AND SECURITY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ROUTE.
AFTER THE PROCESSION, THE PROGRAM CONTINUED AT PRAÇA DA REPÚBLICA WITH A PERFORMANCE BY THE MUNICIPAL BAND OF VALPAÇOS, COMBINING THE RELIGIOUS DIMENSION OF THE FESTIVITIES WITH THE CULTURAL AND MUSICAL EXPRESSION OF THE MUNICIPALITY. THE CANDLE PROCESSION ONCE AGAIN PROVED TO BE A MOMENT OF GATHERING BETWEEN GENERATIONS AND OF UNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY AROUND A TRADITION DEEPLY ROOTED IN VALPAÇOS.
