The parish of Balasar is inaugurating the Eucharistic Sanctuary of Balasar, dedicated to Blessed Alexandrina, on October 10 and 11. The celebrations are expected to attract thousands of pilgrims from Portugal and abroad. The program begins on Saturday, October 10, at 10 a.m., with the translation of the mortal remains of Blessed Alexandrina from the parish church to the new sanctuary, in a procession presided over by D. José Cordeiro, Archbishop of Braga. On Sunday, October 11, at 4 p.m., there will be the solemn celebration of the dedication of the church and altar, presided over by D. Andrés Carrascosa Coso, Apostolic Nuncio in Portugal.
The new temple has a capacity for approximately 1,800 seated people. Due to the high turnout expected, the organization will install screens outside to allow people to watch the ceremonies. D. José Cordeiro considered these will be unique moments in the life of the Church and represent a new stage in spreading the spiritual message of Blessed Alexandrina.
The overall investment is around 14 million euros, as revealed by Monsignor Manuel Neiva, rector of the sanctuary. The Covid-19 pandemic, inflation, and the rise in material costs caused a significant increase compared to the initial forecasts.
Marco Silva, president of the Parish Council, said the work represents a challenge for Balasar in terms of signage, traffic circulation, and parking. Contacts are underway with the Póvoa de Varzim City Council and Infraestruturas de Portugal to reinforce road signage and improve access, with the mayor advocating for a more direct link to the motorway.
