Terço dos Homens
Terço dos Homens is a Brazilian lay Catholic movement of Marian prayer by men only.
It consists in groups of local men who engage in group praying of the mysteries of the Rosary weekly at their parishes or community centers.
The movement grew with the help of priests from the Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement.
The priest who is the national responsible for the movement is the Archbishop of Juiz de Fora, Gil Antônio Moreira, according to the Brazilian Episcopal Conference.
History
Since the 1500s there have been manly Marian groups of prayer in Brazil. The modern expression "Terço dos Homens" was noticed for the first time in 1936. The 21st century "wave", however, started only in 1996, in Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Recife metropolitan area, in the state of Pernambuco. From there it established in the nearby Olinda Sanctuary, from where it spread to all 26 states of Brazil and the Federal District.Women's version
The prayer of the Rosary is traditionally associated with women, who pray individually in their homes and parishes. However, a women's movement was founded, based on the good male example of prayer that developed. This Rosary women's prayer movement is called the Terço das Mulheres. The anthem of the movement was composed by Adriana Gil. The first pilgrimage of female tercistas to the National Sanctuary of Aparecida took place in 2014. In 2023 the 10th edition of the pilgrimage took place from 10 to 12 March.Annual meetings
National meeting
Every year, in February, the movement gathers at the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida.State meetings
Southeast region- Espírito Santo: last Saturday in May at the Penha Convent, in Vitória.
- Minas Gerais: end of August or early September at the Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica, in Caeté. There is also an annual meeting at the Greater Belo Horizonte.
- Maranhão: last Sunday in April.
- Pernambuco: 5 March.
- Bahia: Divine Mercy Sunday.
- Paraná and Santa Catarina: at the highland of Southern Paraná and Northern Santa Catarina, at the end of September.