CONRAD LOUIS CHARLES

Work-in-Progress

Pilgrimage

Throughout the years, I have become fascinated with religious pilgrimages in Brazil. Pilgrims embark on their journey with joyful anticipation of spiritual renewal and blessings.

For devoted pilgrims, the journey involves a commitment to leave behind one's problems and focus on their faith and spiritual renewal. Upon arrival to sacred sites, pilgrims offer prayers, praises, petitions, and thanksgiving. They return home rejuvinated, transformed, and restored by the many blessings they have received.

My current photographic project focuses on documenting the many religious festivals and pilgrimages Brazilians make to these sacred sites. The photographs are part of a work-in-progress for a book and documentary film on religious pilgrimages in northern Brazil.

A pilgrim holding photographs of Jacinta and Francisco. Juazeiro do Norte, BrazilIn 1989, on the 72nd anniversary of the first appearance of Our Lady of Fatima, Pope John II officially recognized and beatified the herioc virtues of Francisco and Jacinta Marto. In late 1917, Jacinta and Francisco received apparitions of Our Lady at Cova da Iria, near Fatima, a city 110 miles north of Lisbon, Portugal.
  
An pilgrim holding a photograph of Padre Cicero.In the late 1880's, a priest named Padre Cicero Romao Batista began to gain prominence when many of his followers were convinced he had performed miracles. As word spread throughout the region, gradually his fame grew in the sertao (drylands of Brazil) and many Brazilians began making pilgimages to the town of Juazeiro do Norte in Ceara state where Padre Cicero had his church. For his devoted followers he was a saint. Padre Cicero became one of the most powerful figures in the north up to his death in 1934. Today, Juazeiro do Norte is one of the largest pilgimage centers in Brazil.
   
Brazilians singing and saluting at a mass service for Padre Cicero. Pilgrims come to pay homage to Padre Cicero on July 20th for the anniversary of his death. A huge statue of the priest overlooks the town of Juaziero do Norte.
     
  
Pilgrims at the front of a church celebrating the final day of the Padre Cicero pilgrimage.Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
   
Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
   
A man praying.Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
     
  
A boy praying while touching a statue of Jesus.Aparecida do Norte,Brazil
   
A man praying after a mass.Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
   
A woman praying underneath a shrine.Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
     
  
While sitting inside a church after a mass service, a woman in front of me began praying. Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil.
   
A woman standing under a crevass in the ceiling of a cave where water trickles down from above. Pilgrims believe the water is sacred and blessed. She waited minutes before a drop of water finally came through. She then blessed herself and the next person in line stepped forward to wait for another drop of water. Many pilgrims patiently wait with cups in hand filling it with water to take home to family members.Bom Jesus da Lapa, Brazil
   
Pilgrims waiting for water.Bom Jesus da Lapa, Brazil
     
  
A pilgrim praying inside of a church after a mass service.Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
   
A young woman praying to a statue of the Virgin Mary.Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
   
A blind woman praying at an altar.Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
     
  
Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
   
In the town of Bom Jesus da Lapa located in western Bahia, pilgrims travel to a sacred cave where they pray for loved ones.
  
A man lighting candles outside of a church in remembrance to loved ones.Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
     
  
A boy looking at candles during a religious festival in Juazeiro do Norte.
   
The hand of a pilgrim praying during a mass.Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
   
A man praying underneath a statue of Jesus.Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
     
  
A woman praying outside a church in Juazeiro do Norte.
   
A girl inside of a truck transporting pilgrims from the interior of Bahia to the town of Bom Jesus da Lapa.
   
A boy inside of a truck that was being used to transport pilgrims. While playing around with him teasing and trying to take his photograph, he pointed his toy gun at me.Bom Jesus da Lapa, Brazil
     
  
Boys at the front of a church cheering after the ending of a special mass commemorating Padre Cicero.Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
   
Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
   
A man praying to a statue of the Virgin Mary.Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
     
  
A boy praying inside a church.Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
   
During the final days of the Festival of Padre Cicero, pilgims gather for a final mass in his honor.Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
   
An elder man bowing his head down and praying. Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
     
  
A woman in prayer.Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
   
During a mass, a man walked into a church and got down on his knees where he proceeded to inch his way to the front of the church. While doing so, he prayed out loud for his family.Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
   
A nun praying after a service.Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
     
  
A woman leaving a church in Juazeiro do Norte.
  
A blind man sitting outside of a cave where inside people make pilgrimages to get blessed and say prayers for loved ones.Bom Jesus da Lapa, Brazil
   
A woman praying during a mass near a sacred site in Bahia.Bom Jesus da Lapa, Brazil
     
  
During the final minutes of a mass, an elder woman began crying while praying. Juaziero do Norte, Brazil
   
A pilgrim praying after a mass service. Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
   
A priest listening to the confessions of a woman inside a sacred cave where pilgrims come to say prayers for loved ones.Bom Jesus da Lapa, Brazil
     
  
Hands of a Bahian woman with jewelry during a church service.Cachoeira, Brazil
   
A man praying in front of an altar of candles during a ceremony in the final hours of a religious festival.Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
   
A Bahian woman praying and making her wishes after tieing a ribbon on the fence of the Church of Bomfin in Salvador Brazil.
     
  
Prayer vigilJuazeiro do Norte,Brazil
   
An elder woman praying against the wall of a church. Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
   
Our Lady AparecidaOur Lady Aparecida Day is a national holiday on October 12th honoring Brazil's Patron Saint, the Virgin Mary. According to legend, a fisherman caught in their net a black wooden statue of the Virgin Mary. The statue was named Our Lady Aparecida. Throughout the years, many miracles have been attributed to it. In the city of Aparecida, Brazil, a church houses the statue where pilgrims travel to pay respects to the statue of Our Lady Aparecida.