Bruno and Bruna say that their devotion to Saint Anthony began even before they met and remember a series of coincidences that marked the couple's history. Reproduction For university professors Bruno Zucherato and Bruna Albuquerque, devotion to Saint Anthony emerged unexpectedly. The couple often joke that they were not the ones who chose the saint as their patron saint, but that it was Saint Anthony who chose them as devotees. The story begins long before the two met. Their families originate from the same region of Italy, close to the city of Padua, where Saint Anthony is buried. Among grandparents, great-grandparents and other relatives, devotion to the saint spanned generations. The bond was so strong that, on both sides of the family, there were relatives baptized with the name Antônio, as well as images, rosaries and other souvenirs linked to the patron saint. Years later, a move to Portugal brought the couple even closer to the saint's trajectory. Bruno went to study at the University of Coimbra and discovered that Santo Antônio had also studied and taught at the institution centuries before. ✅ Click here to follow the g1 MT channel on WhatsApp Despite family tradition, the two claim that they were never especially religious. The relationship with the saint, however, gained strength during a period when they lived in Portugal. The couple went to live in the parish of Santo António dos Olivais, where the saint exercised part of his religious life. The church where he celebrated masses was close to their residence. "There was the church, there was the saint's festival, there was all that presence in everyday life. Little by little we got closer to devotion", recalls Bruno. During the period they lived in Europe, they also visited Padua. On that occasion, while they were still engaged, they received a special blessing for their wedding rings at the Basilica of Saint Anthony. The move to Barra do Garças brought a new surprise. Without a car at the time, the couple decided to live in a central area of ​​the city to make getting around easier. They chose a property in front of Praça da Matriz. When they arrived at the place, they were shocked: the church in front of the new house was dedicated precisely to Saint Anthony. "At that moment we surrendered. We thought: he was already there the whole time. We usually say that Saint Anthony spent his entire life chasing us. After so many coincidences, we decided to definitively adopt him as our patron saint. So we decided to assume this devotion. In Bruna's bouquet there was even a sliver of the Saint's dick to bless the union. We felt that he accompanied our entire journey", remembers Bruno. Since then, the couple began to participate in novenas and thirteennas in honor of the saint and incorporated devotion into the family's routine. At the wedding, held years later, a relic linked to Saint Anthony was also present in the bride's bouquet, the famous 'Saint Anthony chip'. Today, they actively participate in the traditional Santo Antônio Festival in the municipality and see the sequence of coincidences as a sign of protection. "Bruna and I joked that we weren't the ones who chose Saint Anthony as our patron saint. It was he who chose us as devotees. Lawyers would call this a guilty devotion, when you end up becoming a devotee without having that intention", joked Bruno. 73rd edition of the feast of Saint Anthony Festa de Santo Antônio is recognized as a historical heritage of MT and the city hosts an event It is in this climate of faith and devotion that the traditional Festa de Santo Antônio reaches its 73rd edition in 2026. Started on May 29, the program will end this Sunday (14), bringing together thousands of faithful in honor of the patron saint with masses, processions and cultural events. This year, the celebration has an even more special meaning. This is the first edition held after the festival was recognized as a historical, cultural and intangible heritage of Mato Grosso, reinforcing the importance of the tradition for the religious and cultural identity of Barra do Garças. Years later, a move to Portugal brought the couple even closer to the saint's trajectory. Reproduction