Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres Festivities 2022

The Senhor Santo Cristo Festivities are the second largest religious celebration in Portugal, after the pilgrimages to Fátima, and the largest in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. They are held every year in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, on the fifth week after Easter, and are a tribute to the image of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres, which is believed to have the power to perform miracles.

Although it is not known for sure, it is believed that the image of the Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres was offered to two nuns from the Convent of Vale de Cabaços by the Pope. The nuns were eventually evacuated from this convent, and some were relocated to the Convento da Esperança in 1541 after consecutive attacks by privateers and pirates.

Thus, the image would be forgotten for over 100 years, until it was found by Mother Teresa of Anunciada, who would eventually dedicate her time to it, recovering the image with great devotion, thus beginning the cult and veneration of the Holy Christ.

The Festas do Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres would only gain its current importance in the year 1700. That year, the island of São Miguel was going through a seismic crisis. Thus, the population felt the need to organize a procession with the image of Senhor Santo Cristo.

Whether by coincidence or not, the earthquakes stopped. Naturally, the population associated this event with a miracle performed by the image of Senhor Santo Cristo, and began to perform the procession annually.

Originally from Ponta Delgada, the Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres Festivities were so popular that they spread to the other islands of the archipelago, and are still celebrated on all the islands of the Azores.

Nowadays, the festivities gather a huge crowd, with people from Azorean emigrant communities from all over the world (mostly from the United States and Canada).

Procession of Senhor Santo Cristo, Photo by Visit Azores

2022 marks the return of the Senhor Santo Cristo Festivities, after two unprecedented years of cancellation due to the pandemic situation. Thus, the anticipation of this return is felt by the Azorean people.

Due to the pandemic situation, 2020 marked the first time in over 300 years that the Festas do Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres did not take place. In 2021, the situation of the previous year was repeated. Thus, 2022 will once again host the Festas do Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres for the first time in 2 years, with this edition being marked by the feeling of anticipation.

The parties will follow the following schedule:

Friday – May 20th:

Beginning of the Festivities
21h00 – Exit of the image of the Shrine to the churchyard, with the inauguration of the illumination of the facade of the Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres Shrine, with the parade of the Charanga of the Voluntary Firemen of Ponta Delgada and Hymn of Senhor Santo Cristo;
00h00 – Departure of the image of the Shrine to the São José Church.

Saturday – May 21st

00h30 – Mass in São José, after the Mass follows the beginning of the vigil in honor of Santo Cristo dos Milagres.
08h00 – Mass in St. Joseph Church and moving of the image to the front of the Sanctuary;
13h00 – Collecting of the image of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres;
16h30 – Procession from the Field, passing in front of the Guard of Honor provided by a company of the Army and Band of the Azores Military Zone, with a salute by a Navy corvette and overflying by an Air Force aircraft.
18h00 – Sermon by Cardinal D. José Tolentino Mendonça.
00h00 – Moving of the image to the Church of Saint Joseph.

Sunday – May 22nd:

00h30 – Mass in São José followed by the beginning of the vigil in honor of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres;
06h00 – Dawn with salute of mortars;
09h15 – Departure of the image of the Church of St. Joseph to the front of the Sanctuary;
09h30 – Solemn Eucharistic Concelebration presided by Cardinal D. José Tolentino Mendonça, in the front of the Sanctuary, with the presence of the image of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres;
14h00 – Collecting the image of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres;
15h30 – Departure of the Procession’s Guide that will follow the usual route*;
16h30 – Departure of the image of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres and collection of the image after the end of the procession.

Monday – May 23rd:

11h00 – Eucharistic Concelebration applied for the intentions of the Bureau of the Brotherhood and collaborators;

Thursday – May 26th:

18h00 – Closing of the religious festivities of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres – Concelebration, presided by Canon Adriano Borges, the Rector of the Sanctuary.

*The usual route – The route starts at the Church of Nossa Senhora da Esperança, the sanctuary of the Lord and the place where the image is always kept. It passes through the field of São Francisco, the Convent of Esperança and the Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição. It then goes on to Luís Soares de Sousa, Caetano Albuquerque, Açoriano Oriental, and Mercadores streets. It then goes through Largo de Camões, the Convent and Nossa Senhora da Graça Church. Continue through Ernesto do Canto, Tavares Canário and Mercado streets. Then, on São João street, it passes by the Convent and São João Church (Teatro Micaelense). Soon after, it goes through Guilherme Poças Falcão and passes by the Convent and Church of Santo André. Then it goes to Largo do Colégio where it passes by the Convent and Church of All Saints. It continues through Carvalho Araújo, Machado dos Santos, Marquês da Praia and Monforte Streets and through 6 de Junho Street. On February 16 street, the procession passes by the Convent and Church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo. The procession continues through Largo 2 de Março and Rua Diário dos Açores and ends with the collection of the image of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres at the Convento da Esperança.