IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FREI BRUNO
THE PROJECT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this discussion paper is to present the idea of establishing a pilgrimage trail in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil in honor of Frei Bruno (called The Way of Frei Bruno). The proposed walk would start in Florianópolis, pass through São José, Novo Trento Rodeo, Campos Novos, Luzerna, Herval do Oeste, and finish in Joaçaba (distance of approximately 450 km). See Map One for a possible route.
This trail would have many of the characteristics of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela (Compostela Pilgrimage Trail, France - Spain) as it would follow a path through back roads, connecting as many churches, chapels, and places of devotion as possible. Pilgrims who complete the pilgrimage requirements would be rewarded with a special blessing and certificate.
The road to Emmaus
That same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus,
eleven kilometers from Jerusalem.
On the way, they talked about everything that had happened.
As they talked and argued, Jesus himself approached and began to walk
with them;
but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk?” They stopped;
their faces sad.
One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you the only visitor
to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there these
days?"
"What things?" He asked. "What happened to Jesus of
Nazareth," they answered. "He was a prophet, mighty in word and
deed before God and all the people.
The chief priests and our authorities delivered him to be put to
death, and crucified him;
and we hoped that he was the one who was going to bring redemption to
Israel. And today is the third day since all this happened.
Some of the women among us startled us today. They went to the tomb
very early in the morning
and did not find his body. They came back and told us they had a
vision of angels, who said that he is alive.
Some of our companions went to the tomb and found everything exactly
as the women had said, but they didn't see it. "
He said to them, "How hard do you come to understand and how slow
to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
Should not Christ suffer these things, to enter into his glory? "
And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them
what was about him in all the Scriptures.
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted
as if they were going further.
But they urged him very much, "Stay with us, for the night is
coming; the day is almost over." So he came in to be with them.
When he was at table with them, he took the bread, gave thanks, broke
it, and gave it to them.
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he
disappeared from their sight.
They asked each other, "Aren't our hearts burning within us while
He spoke to us on the way and expounded us the Scriptures?"
Luke
24: 13-32
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Frei (Friar)Bruno
Son of Humberto Linden and Cecilia Golden, Humberto Linden Jr. was born in Dusseldorf, Germany, on September 8, 1876. At the age of 18, he joined the Franciscan Novitiate of Saxony in Harreveld, the Netherlands. He took up his habit on March 13, 1894. Aimed for the Brazilian mission, Friar Bruno exchanged the news of Saxony for a transatlantic ship that took him to Salvador, Bahia, on July 12, 1894, where he completed his novitiate and made solemn profession on December 15. May 1898. He then went to the priesthood, studying philosophy and theology, being ordained a priest on May 10, 1901, in Petrópolis, where he remained for two more years. In 1904, he went to the city of Gaspar, Santa Catarina, to act as superior and vicar. He remained in the same place for three more years as a coadjutor. Bruno was transferred to St. Joseph, where he was later entrusted with the office of vicar of the parish. In 1917, he was transferred to the city of Not Me Toque, Rio Grande do Sul, as superior and vicar.
An octogenarian came to
Joaçaba and in the then district of Lucerne spent a rest season, or, as he
himself understood, the preparation for death. At the request of the confreres,
he discovered new opportunities for apostolate, which made him ready to stay
in Joaçaba on February 2, 1956. The last four years were nothing more than
the continuation of an apostolate that Friar Bruno had been practicing for
years. He had a fondness for long and continuous walks. In fact, morning and
evening it kept moving. He walked, visiting families, blessing homes,
discovering unions to legalize, repairing homes in disharmony, visiting the
sick, always at the same tireless pace. Going up the hills, I used to zigzag
to relieve my old heart.
At the end of the Mass, Brother Bruno turned around, arriving home shortly before noon, almost always on foot, holding an umbrella, his faithful and inseparable companion. After lunch, he would rest in the church, trimming his head on the altar table of Our Lady, praying, or else in the concierge room, where he would attend to the people who sought him or whom he had called. He was very worried about the prisoners. There was also a group of poor children around him to whom he gave doctrine and sometimes bread and other snacks. From 1958, Friar Bruno celebrated his Mass at 5:30 am at the altar of Our Lady. Then he gave communion to the early risers and went to the confessional, where he was always wanted.
Bulky was the
correspondence he received. Some asked for blessings, others for health for a
sick person, others for business luck. On July 3, 1959, he last celebrated a
mass. He was no longer leaving, but the hearings in the concierge room
continued. On November 20, 1959, he was found by Friar Edgar (then parish
vicar) in the lobby room, passed out, pale and cold. From that day on,
Brother Bruno was very concerned about death.
In the short term, he
twice received extreme unction. The sandals weighed heavily on him. In the
last month of his life, he had to use a cane for walking and his confessional
was placed in the sacristy to spare him the walk through the church. Until
the last day, he attended confessions and gave hearings in his small room. On
February 23, Friar Edgar and Friar Bruno were alone until late. Friar Bruno
sucked on some grapes, became, as usual, the "vatersegen" (paternal
blessing) and went to retire. On February 25, 1960, Friar Edgar returned from
the Sisters' College and found Friar Bruno neither in the sacristy, nor in
the concierge, nor in the refectory. Friar Edgar went to his room, where he
found him dead.
News quickly spread of
the death. At noon the body was placed in the church and veiled without
interruption until 8 am the next day. The population greatly regretted the
death of the friar. On February 26, commerce and industry closed in mourning.
The church became small; came the confreres of Luzerna, Jaborá and Xaxim.
More than 120 cars and a crowd accompanied Friar Bruno's body to the
cemetery. Joaçaba's drivers paid a special tribute to the memory of Friar
Bruno, organizing a large procession, going to the head office at night,
where everyone, kneeling on the steps of the church, prayed for the soul of
the religious.
Friar Bruno's memory
remains shrouded in inexplicable mystical episodes for all. But these facts
are nonetheless justifying the countless number of devotees visiting the
grave of the one who, in life, spread only charity and goodness. In the
Franciscan tomb is the tomb of Friar Bruno, renovated in 1998 to be able to
receive all the faithful who tirelessly migrate to the cemetery in the name of
faith in the charismatic figure of Friar Bruno.
Adaptation of excerpts
from the book CONVERSA DE SANTOS, by Alessandra Zílio
Vanessa Coleraus of the
Rose
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Pilgrimage attracts thousands of devotees
of Friar Bruno in Joaçaba. By NSC TV 3/17/2019
More than 55 thousand
people participated this Sunday (16) of the Fria Bruno Friary in Joaçaba, in
the west of Santa Catarina. The pilgrimage took place between Santa Terezinha
Cathedral and the Municipal Cemetery, where the friar's body is buried. (See
photos below)
The 29th Penitential Walk
I carry a track "Friar Bruno bless the environment" and started
around 8am. During the pilgrimage on the approximately 3.5 km route, the
pilgrims prayed and sang. Some believers walked on their feet without shoes
and carrying crosses.
The Military Police
estimate that between 55 and 60 thousand people attended the event. There was
no record of occurrence and the transit of mediations was released after the
passage of the public.
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Testimonials from people
who met Frei Bruno
Anyone who has met Friar
Bruno knows of his irresistible predilection for long and continuous “pedibus
apostolorum” walks. In fact, from morning to night it kept moving. Playing
with him, we often call him a gypsy without whereabouts or quiet. Walking,
visiting families, blessing homes, discovering unions to legalize, repairing
homes in disharmony, visiting the sick, always at the same tireless pace,
uphill and downhill .......
Truck drivers say that
Friar Bruno did not accept a ride, walking the paths between one community
and another. And some drivers, who had vainly offered him a ride, discovered
that Friar Bruno was already at the destination when the truck arrived…
Friar
Elzeário Schmitt
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LOCATION
 |
 |
MAP ONE:
Possible route: São José to Joaçaba 450 km (approximately)
The route could be done on foot, or by horse, or by
bicycle, using secondary roads, linking churches, chapels, places of devotion.
PROJECT JUSTIFICATION:
Why a pilgrimage trail linked to Frei Bruno?
* A pilgrimage trail between St. José and Joaçaba
would cover part of the same territory that Friar Bruno traveled. In other
words, the pilgrims would follow some of Father Bruno's footsteps.
* Simply because Frei Bruno liked to walk. (Walking
provides one with an opportunity to communicate with God and vice versa).
(1) RELIGIOUS PURPOSE:
A pilgrimage is a symbol in action. It represents
the way of the Christian life. Christians see life in terms of a journey,
coming from God and returning to God.
The Church is sometimes described as a pilgrim
people.
People make pilgrimages
for various reasons, for example:
• As an act of penance
for sins.
• As an act of devotion
to God in exchange for a miracle.
• To touch a holy relic
that can bring good luck.
• Experience the joyful
feeling of spiritual connection and being close to God.
• As a form of
distraction escapism to provide an opportunity to reflect and receive
God-given guidance.
• Like
an adventure.
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(2) COMMERCIAL / TOURIST PURPOSE:
A trail, of course, can create many business and
tourism opportunities in the regions it passes, but they need to be a secondary
consideration. (When they do occur they need to be controlled by the Church in
the form of licensing and franchising.)
MAP TWO: Lages to Joaçaba. 275 km (approximately).
THE PATH: PART TWO.
Lages - Joaçaba
(The initial research is focused on the second part of the trial due to logistics and cultural considerations).
(The initial research is focused on the second part of the trial due to logistics and cultural considerations).
Day / Kilometers - Lages - Joaçaba
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DAYS
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PLACES
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Km’s
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ONE
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Catedral
Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, Lages - Igreja Santa Terezinha do Boqueiro -
Igreja Nossa Senhora Aparecida
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23.5
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TWO
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Igreja
Nossa Senhora Aparecida - Igreja Santa Catarina - Gruta Nossa Senhora de
Fátima - Igreja Matriz de São Pedro, São José do Cerrito
|
19.5
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THREE
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Igreja
Matriz de São Pedro, São José do Cerrito - Capela Bom Jesus - Pousada e
Cafeteria Entre Largos
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11.3
|
FOUR
|
Pousada
e Cafeteria Entre Largos - Igreja nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro - Igreja
dos Gramados dos Oliveiras - Igreja Campina Dogelo - Igreja Vila Santa
Catarina
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25.9
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FIVE
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Igreja
Vila Santa Catarina - Ferry Boat - Santa Cruz do Pery - Curitibanos
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34.2
|
SIX
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Curitibanos
- Núcleo Celso Ramos
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23.9
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SEVEN
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Núcleo
Celso Ramos - Brunópolis
|
19.1
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EIGHT
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Brunópolis
- Monte Carlo
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23.9
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NINE
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Monte
Carlo - Espinilho
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21.0
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TEN
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Espinilho
- Campos Novos
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18.8
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ELEVEN
|
Campos
Novos - Igreja Monte Alegre
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23.8
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TWELVE
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Igreja
Monte Alegre - Sede Sarandi
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19.3
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THIRTEEN
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Sede
Sarandi - Sede Belém - Gruta Grande - Estacão Luzerna - Luzerna
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21.8
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FOURTEEN
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Luzerna
- Túmulo Frei Bruno - Herval do Oeste - Joaçaba - Monumento Frei Bruno
Alternative Route: Luzerna - Monumento Frei Bruno - Joaçaba - Herval do Oeste -Túmulo Frei Bruno (22.6 km). |
9.3
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| Highlighted In Blue: Sections Surveyed |
275.3 Km's
|
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TYPES OF ROAD
TYPES OF ROAD WALKED
FEDERAL HIGHWAY
(Asphalted).
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STATE HIGHWAY
(Asphalted).
|
 |
 |
MUNICIPAL ROAD
(Asphalted).
|
MUNICIPAL ROAD
(Not Asphalted but with
good surface).
|
 |
 |
MUNICIPAL ROAD
(Gravel or dirt).
|
COBBLED STREET
|
 |
 |
TYPES OF ROAD WALKED
S
E
C
T
I
O
N
|
FEDERAL HIGHWAY
(Asphalted).
|
STATE HIGHWAY
(Asphalted).
|
MUNICIPAL
ROAD (Asphalted).
|
MUNICIPAL
ROAD
(Not Asphalted but with
good surface).
|
MUNICIPAL
ROAD
(Gravel or dirt).
|
COBBLED STREET
|
(26)
02/01/2020
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0 Km
|
4 Km
|
2 Km
|
2 Km
|
10 Km
|
2 Km
|
For a summary of the first completed section click Technical Report below:
LAGES
 Catedral Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, Lages |
 |
Morro
da Cruz, Lages
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Morro da Cruz, Lages
Place of religious pilgrimage, especially on Good Friday. At its top
is a cross and a cave. To climb, there is a staircase with 500 steps, built
in 2000, when Brazil completed 500 Portuguese colonization. In addition, the
place welcomes hang gliders and paragliders. Access by Dom Pedro II Avenue,
next to the ship's church.
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THE WAY: PART TWO: SECTION ONE
(1) Catedral Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, Lages - Igreja Santa Terezinha do
Boqueiro - Igreja Nossa Senhora Aparecida - Igreja Santa Catarina -
Gruta Nossa Senhora de Fátima - Igreja Matriz de São Pedro, São José do Cerrito - Capela Bom Jesus -
Pousada e Cafeteria Entre Largos - Igreja nossa
Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro - Igreja dos Gramados dos Oliveiras - Igreja
Campina Dogelo - Igreja Vila Santa Catarina - Santa Cruz do Pery
- Igreja Matriz
Imaculada Conceição, Curitibanos (🚶🚶 114.4
km)
DAY ONE
(2) Catedral Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, Lages - Igreja Santa Terezinha do Boqueiro - Igreja Nossa Senhora Aparecida (🚶🚶 23.5 km)
Segment One:
(3) Catedral Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, Lages - Igreja
Santa Terezinha do Boqueiro (🚶🚶 10.3 Km)
 Igreja Santa Terezinha do Boqueiro |
 |
Segment Two:
(4) Igreja Santa Terezinha do Boqueiro - Igreja Nossa Senhora Aparecida
(🚶🚶 13.7 Km)
(4) Igreja Santa Terezinha do Boqueiro - Igreja Nossa Senhora Aparecida
(🚶🚶 13.7 Km)
Part 1
 Igreja Nossa Senhora Aparecida |
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Hospedagem: Fazenda Estancia Gaucha
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DAY TWO
(5) Igreja Nossa Senhora Aparecida - Igreja Santa Catarina - Gruta Nossa
Senhora de Fátima - Igreja Matriz de São Pedro, São José
do Cerrito (🚶🚶 19.4 Km)
Segment One:
(6) Igreja Nossa
Senhora Aparecida - Igreja Santa Catarina
(🚶🚶 5.7 Km)
(🚶🚶 5.7 Km)
Igreja Santa Catarina
|
 |
Segment Two:
(7) Igreja Santa Catarina - Gruta Nossa Senhora de Fátima - Igreja Matriz de São Pedro, São José do Cerrito (🚶🚶 13.1 Km)
Igreja Matriz de São Pedro, São José do Cerrito -
SC
|
 |
Hospedagem: Fazenda senhor do Bom Fim, São
José do Cerrito - SC, 88570-000
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DAY THREE
Alternative Route One:
Hospedagem
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DAY FOUR
(9) Pousada e Cafeteria Entre Largos - Igreja nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro - Igreja dos Gramados dos Oliveiras - Igreja Campina Dogelo - Igreja Vila Santa Catarina (🚶🚶 25.9 Km)
(9) Pousada e Cafeteria Entre Largos - Igreja nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro - Igreja dos Gramados dos Oliveiras - Igreja Campina Dogelo - Igreja Vila Santa Catarina (🚶🚶 25.9 Km)
Segment One:
(10) Pousada e Cafeteria Entre Largos - Igreja nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro (🚶🚶 9.5 Km)
 Igreja nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro |
Segment Two:
(11) Igreja nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro
- Igreja dos Gramados dos Oliveiras (🚶🚶 5.1 Km)
Igreja dos Gramados dos Oliveiras
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Segment Three:
(12) Igreja dos Gramados
dos Oliveiras - Igreja Campina Dogelo (🚶🚶 6.5 Km)
Igreja Campina Dogelo
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Segment Four:
(13) Igreja Campina Dogelo - Igreja Vila Santa Catarina (🚶🚶 5.4 Km)
 Igreja Vila Santa Catarina |
DAY FIVE
(14) Igreja Vila Santa Catarina - Ferry Boat - Santa Cruz do Pery - Curitibanos (🚶🚶 34.2 Km)
Balsa do valeco:
Igreja Matriz Imaculada Conceição: Curitibanos |
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THE WALK: SECTION TWO
(15) Curitibanos - Núcleo Celso Ramos - Brunópolis - Monte Carlo (🚶🚶 66.9 Km)
(15) Curitibanos - Núcleo Celso Ramos - Brunópolis - Monte Carlo (🚶🚶 66.9 Km)
DAY SIX
(16) Curitibanos - Núcleo Celso
Ramos (perto Parque Sakura) (🚶🚶 23.9 Km)
|
 |
DAY SEVEN
(17) Núcleo Celso Ramos - Brunópolis (🚶🚶 19.1 Km)
Igreja Católica Capela São José, Brunópolis
|
 |
Hospedagem
Hotel, Restaurante E Pizzaria
Dom Daniel, Brunópolis.
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DAY EIGHT
(18) Brunópolis - Monte Carlo (🚶🚶 23.9 Km)
(18) Brunópolis - Monte Carlo (🚶🚶 23.9 Km)
 Igreja Matriz Imaculada Conceição-Monte Carlo |
 |
Hospedagem
Hotel e Restaurante Recanto, Monte Carlos
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THE WALK: SECTION THREE
DAY NINE
(19) Monte Carlo - Espinilho (🚶🚶 21 Km).
Capela Santa Terezinha
|
 |
DAY TEN
(20) Espinilho - Campos Novos (🚶🚶 18.8 Km)
 Igreja Matriz São João Batista-Campos Novos |
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THE WALK: SECTION FOUR
(21) Campos Novos - Igreja Monte Alegre - Sede Sarandi
- Sede Belém - Gruta Grande - Estacão Luzerna - Luzerna (🚶🚶 64.8 Km)
DAY ELEVEN
(22) Campos Novos - Igreja Monte Alegre (🚶🚶 23.8 Km)
 |
 |
DAY TWELVE
(23) Igreja Monte Alegre - Sede Sarandi (🚶🚶 19.3 Km)
(23) Igreja Monte Alegre - Sede Sarandi (🚶🚶 19.3 Km)
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DAY
THIRTEEN
(24) Sede Sarandi - Sede Belém - Gruta Grande - Estacão Luzerna - Luzerna
(🚶🚶 21.8 Km)
(🚶🚶 21.8 Km)
Segment One:
(25) Sede Sarandi - Sede Belém
(🚶🚶 8.1 Km)
 Igreja Menino Deus, Sede Belém
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Segment Two:
LINK: TECHNICAL REPORT
TYPES OF ROAD WALKED
FEDERAL HIGHWAY
(Asphalted).
|
STATE HIGHWAY
(Asphalted).
|
MUNICIPAL
ROAD (Asphalted).
|
MUNICIPAL
ROAD
(Not Asphalted but with
good surface).
|
MUNICIPAL
ROAD
(Gravel or dirt).
|
COBBLED STREET
|
0 Km
|
4 Km
|
2 Km
|
2 Km
|
10 Km
|
2 Km
|
(27) Sede Belém - Gruta
Grande
 Gruta Grande
|
|
|
 |
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Igreja
Nossa Senhora Aparecida, Estacão Luzerna
|
|
|
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R. Rui Barbosa, 2166 - Suzana, Luzerna - SC, 89609-000(49) 3523-1420
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THE WALK: SECTION FIVE
DAY FOURTEEN
(28) Luzerna - Túmulo Frei Bruno - Herval do Oeste - Joaçaba
- Monumento Frei
Bruno (🚶🚶 9.3 Km)
Segment One:
(29) Igreja São João Batista Luzerna, Luzerna - Túmulo Frei Bruno, Joaçaba
(🚶🚶 4.4 Km)
|
|
|
Segment Two:
(30) Túmulo Frei Bruno - Senhor Bom Jesus, Herval do Oeste (🚶🚶 2.1 Km)
 |
Segment Three:
(31) Senhor Bom Jesus, Herval do Oeste - Catedral de Sta. Teresinha do Menino Jesus - Joaçaba (🚶🚶 1.4 Km)
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Catedral de Sta. Teresinha do
Menino Jesus - Joaçaba
|
 |
Segment Four:
(32) Catedral de Sta. Teresinha do Menino Jesus, Joaçaba - Monumento Frei Bruno, Joaçaba (🚶🚶 1.1 Km)
(32) Catedral de Sta. Teresinha do Menino Jesus, Joaçaba - Monumento Frei Bruno, Joaçaba (🚶🚶 1.1 Km)
The monument
inaugurated in 2008 is considered the 3rd largest in the Americas, 37 meters
high, smaller only than Christ the Redeemer (40m) and the Statue of Liberty
(57m). The image was built in Styrofoam by plastic artist Cláudio Silva and
coated with fiberglass. Friar Bruno was a religious who marked and still
marks all the people who knew him in the last years of his life, when he
lived in Joaçaba. Some devotees consider him holy because of the graces
attained through him. Its name is known throughout the Midwest region of
Santa Catarina and is present in various works, such as hospitals, gyms,
colleges and neighborhoods. A book about his life was written entitled
"Conversation of Saints."
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ALTERNATIVE ROUTE: DAY FOURTEEN
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