Although officially 90% of Argentineans are Roman Catholic, fewer than 20% attend church regularly. Most go for weddings, funerals and major feast days. Many Argentineans make annual pilgrimages to holy sites and local shrines. The most popular place is Luján, 40 miles west of Buenos Aires. Each year, thousands of people make the pilgrimage on foot from Buenos Aires to honor the Patron Saint of Argentina, the Virgin of Luján. According to tradition, in 1620 a statue of the Virgin was being carried from town to town in acart. The cart got stuck at Luján, Buenos Aires Province, and could not be moved.The people built a chapel for the Virgin to protect the statue. Today there is a large basilica where the chapel once stood.
The R.H.E.M.A. team will assist our host pastor Jorge Ovando in touching this strong Roman Catholic city. Please pray for the team and pray for the people of Luján, Buenos Aires. As we share the Gospel, we need the prayer covering of our supporters so that as we share with these precious people, they will not hear about religion, but will be open the liberating Gospel of Christ.
