Libertad Municipality begins festivities for Saint Matthew

Devotees in the Libertad municipality of Anzoátegui, Venezuela, have begun annual festivities honoring Saint Matthew the Apostle. The celebrations commenced on September 1 with the traditional lowering of the saint's image from its niche to allow closer contact with the faithful.

The image has been part of the community for 311 years. During the opening mass, parish administrator Father José Manuel Carreño emphasized the importance of faith and the teachings of the evangelist.

The scheduled program includes a novena and visits to various sectors of the municipality. On September 19, an institutional parade is planned. The main celebrations will take place on September 21, which marks both the feast day of Saint Matthew and the anniversary of the municipality's capital. Events on that day include a midnight celebration, a solemn mass presided over by Bishop Jorge Aníbal Quintero of the Diocese of Barcelona, and a procession from the church to the town entrance.