(ANS – São Paulo) – The Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Aparecida is in the final stage of its journey through the 20 local centres of the Association of Salesian Cooperators of the Province of Our Lady Help of Christians, preparing the Salesian Family for the National Pilgrimage in 2026. The pilgrimage began following the Salesian Pilgrimage on 16 August 2025 and has visited communities in the regions of São Paulo, the Capital and the Paraíba Valley. The statue is currently at the Local Centre in Itaquera (until 26 July), before continuing on to Guarujá (from 26 July to 9 August) and concluding its journey in Bom Retiro, prior to being handed over to the former pupils of Don Bosco during the forthcoming Salesian Pilgrimage. The initiative began on the occasion of the first Salesian Pilgrimage, in 2000, under the theme ‘With Our Lady of Aparecida, towards the New Millennium’. Over the last three years, the image has been hosted by the Canto Nuovo Community (2023–2024), by ADMA (2024–2025) and now by the Salesian Cooperators (2025–2026), who are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Association’s foundation, which is present in over 130 countries. The 27th Pilgrimage of the Salesian Family will take place on 15 August in Aparecida, with the theme ‘Walking with Mary, let us do whatever He tells us’. The programme includes a procession to the Shrine, the arrival of the pilgrim image and a solemn Mass at 12 noon, presided over by Archbishop Antônio Emídio Vilar, SDB, Archbishop of São José do Rio Preto.