Seplad servers carry out a welcoming action for pilgrims during Círio 2025
The initiative had the voluntary participation of servers, who took turns throughout the night and early morning to support and assist the arrival of the devotees
With the spirit of solidarity and faith that marks the Círio de Nazaré, servers from the State Secretariat of Planning and Administration (Seplad) organized, from the night of October 9 until the morning of this Friday, October 10, a special welcoming action for the pilgrims who passed in front of the secretariat's headquarters, located on Travessa do Chaco, in the Marco neighborhood of Belém.
The support point operated in the Seplad parking lot, with entrance via Avenida Almirante Barroso, and offered water, coffee, snacks, and basic assistance to the pilgrims heading towards the Basilica Sanctuary. The initiative had the voluntary participation of 30 servers, distributed in four work shifts, who took turns throughout the night and early morning to ensure the reception of the faithful.
"It's my first time coming, right? And I'm realizing how important the welcoming point is for those who participate. This massage is relieving my feet a lot, it's great, I'm feeling renewed, I think I can even walk back to Ananindeua. It's really cool, it's great and very rewarding for us. I thank everyone involved," said Girleide Silva, a public servant from the municipality of Primavera.
According to the volunteer servers, the proposal arose from the desire to transform Seplad's space into a support and care point during the largest religious manifestation in Pará.
"It was a very rewarding moment because we had the opportunity to welcome these pilgrims, right? It was practically the end of the journey. Many came from afar, some from Capanema, others from Bragança, from Mosqueiro, from various places. So, they arrived very tired, and we were able to offer this welcome."
"I participated in the choir and we had the chance to sing for them while they were being assisted. They received massages, food, water, could use the restrooms, and rest a bit. Meanwhile, we were there singing for them, offering this affection in the form of music. Donating a little of ourselves to these people who, at that moment, needed it. It was also a moment of demonstrating our faith," expressed Léia Corrêa, a Seplad server.
During the action period, hundreds of pilgrims stopped to rest and recover, receiving support and words of encouragement from the servers. Many took the opportunity to thank the gesture and share their stories of faith and gratitude.
"I come from Coqueiro, it's 17 km to the Basilica of Nazaré. The welcoming point is very important because we receive affection, water, structural support, all of this gives us strength to continue the walk. And it is long, but faith and perseverance must be strong in the heart of the pilgrim because he never gives up on his goals," said pilgrim Janilson Silva.
Seplad server Anna Cláudia Malcher shared the emotion of participating in the welcoming of the pilgrims who passed in front of the Secretariat. According to her, the moment was marked by faith, solidarity, and overcoming, both on the part of the pilgrims and the servers involved in the action.
"Well, it was wonderful to participate in this moment of welcoming the pilgrims who passed here in front of the Secretariat. It was an opportunity to experience remarkable experiences, both from the perspective of a public servant and alongside colleagues who dedicated themselves wholeheartedly, demonstrating availability and willingness to do something for others. On the other hand, it was also very touching to see the pilgrims passing by, many already at the limit of their strength, visibly tired, but still moving forward with faith, with love for Our Lady. I am very, very proud to have been part of this moment. And we are already organizing for next year, to improve participation even more and make everything even more special," concluded the server.
For server Alliny Assef, it was a different and deeply meaningful way to serve others: "Daily, we serve the population through our work routines, but yesterday, we experienced the grace of serving differently: a coffee, a water, a smile, a conversation, a hug. Everything gained meaning because each small act was precisely the embodiment of the love that the Son of Our Lady asks of us: invisible, free, and selfless. We heard stories, saw the fatigue etched on their faces, in their bodies, but above all, we contemplated the gift of faith," revealed Alliny.
The action included the distribution of water, coffee, emotional support, and even musical performances by the servers themselves. The support point was closed after the passage of the pilgrim image of Our Lady of Nazaré in front of the secretariat, during the Traslado to Ananindeua-Marituba, marking a moment of emotion and devotion among the servers and pilgrims present.
