Brazil Hozo Shrine Festival Attracts 19,588 People
The Number of Memorialized Soul Registers Reaches A Record 2.41 Million
In Brazil, the 51st Brazil Hozo Shrine Festival was held from April 14 to 15 at the Brazil Hozo Shrine in Ibiuna, Sao Paulo and was attended by a total of 19,588 people. The number of soul registers memorialized was 2,413,850, which was an increase of 17.3% (357,307) from last year and a record.
2 million attendance at Hozo Shrine Festival
At the main festival, which took place from 9:30 a.m. on April 15, Rev. Yoshio Mukai, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Latin America, explained the history of the Hozo Shrine as well as the significance of the Festival. It was followed by the Invocation and the reading of the Holy Sutra, Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines by the attendees.
The Memorial Service for the Neglected Souls of Aborted Children was held from 1:00 p.m. On the previous day (April 14), the soul divestment ceremony and purification ceremony were held. The calling out of the souls to be newly memorialized lasted from April 14 through noon of April 15.
The Brazil Missionary Headquarters attributed the reasons for a record number of soul registers to: (1) from January to March leaders’ study classes were held at 68 sites, where memorialization of soul registers was recommended; (2) the Seicho-No-Ie’s television program introduced the significance of the Festival and importance of memorizlization with a great emphasis, which led many Catholic followers to submit soul registers; and (3) to promote the Festival 5,000 copies of DVDs introducing the Hozo Shrine were distributed to missionary centers and other organizations.
There were a group of 38 people, who traveled from Argentina for 48 hours by bus one way and attended the Festival for the first time. There were also attendees from other Central and South American countries. A woman from Argentina remarked, “As soon as I arrived at the Shrine, I felt reborn and I could sense that I was being protected by my ancestor. I sensed heavenly joy.”
Remarks By Rev. Yoshio Mukai,
Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Latin America
“I became aware five years ago that protection from the spiritual world was important in the promotion of the Movement. The number of soul registers, which numbered 230,000 then, reached 2.41 million this year, which was a record. This was made possible not only by the soul register promotional activities but also the active Movement carried out by each organization across Brazil with an emphasis on the practice of the three important religious practices. I believe that with the growth of the International Peace by Faith Movement the number of soul registers will increase even more.”