New issue of the Bulletin of Graces

A double number, nos. 18/19, of the journal “Boletim de Graças” (Bulletin of Graces) has been released.

It begins with a long editorial by the director, Fr Manuel Neiva, under the title "Living of the Eucharist," which accompanies an article of similar length by Mons. Manuel Ferreira Araújo on the "Sacred Heart of Jesus." In both cases, the authors highlight the evangelical dimension of Blessed Alexandrina’s life. Msgr. Manuel Ferreira Araújo has also written a “Short biography of Alexandrina of Balasar ", which is mainly a chronology.

Fr Dario Pedroso writes again about Alexandrina’s first spiritual director, on page 3. The centre pages, 4 and 5, begin with the "Feast of the seventh anniversary of the beatification of Alexandrina" and afterwards develop the themes "Young Spaniards win the contest of ideas for the shrine in honor of Blessed Alexandrina", "News from Foundation Alexandrina" and "The Daughters of the Poverty of the Blessed Sacrament leave Balasar."

Through the "News from the Foundation Alexandrina of Balasar", we learn that a team of volunteers was created to host pilgrims, and they are using a printed pamphlet, "in several languages, with itinerary, and a short explanation of these places, which are very important to know Blessed Alexandrina".  A building will soon be acquired and adapted for the headquarters of the Foundation and a Center for Spirituality.  The Foundation acquired a site near the churchyard for the purpose of building a Parish Center, etc.

On the penultimate page, the Canon Fernando Silva writes about "The month of May in Balasar".  This is about the experience of May by Alexandrina, and the last page is a long list of "Graces Received". A brief note in page 3 on "Pilgrimages" says that many messages, letters, requests of prayer cards or books from abroad are received, for example, from Ghana, South Africa, England, Spain, France, Brazil, etc. and that groups of pilgrims came to Balasar from Portugal, Ireland, England, Italy, USA, Canada, France and the Lebanon.