"Estamos Chega!"
("We're coming!")
It 's a typical phrase, much used in Brazil, which indicates, together with the imprecision of "when", the hope of to a state of prosperity and security of life that now seems attainable, but whose goal moves further and further. In
greet and thank all friends and everyone in particular, I think that might be useful to describe, in general, how life is organized in the parish of Holy Trinity in the city of São Luís, Maranhão State, North East Brazil.
The inhabitants of the parish (about 60,000) have occupied the "Olympic City" in 1996, the territory is located on the outskirts of the city and therefore the people for the work and services must move (45 minutes by bus) to reach the center of São Luís. The neighborhood he lives all the problems of a precarious situation: cultural and economic poverty, lack of sense of belonging to the territory, lack of certain perspectives, health problems and violence ... but also want to build a new life, young age and mentality, patience, faith in God ... There is a multitude of Protestant churches, especially Pentecostal.
Our parish, made up of 6 communities, its main objective: to build a sense of community in a spirit of autonomy and responsibility, focusing on the formation of catechists and promoters. It seeks to achieve by working together, as far as possible, with neighboring parishes and unity with the diocese, in a climate of continuous "experimentation" and "verification" and with the enthusiasm of the beginning. It 's really amazing to see how the mission of the priest is not here is so "totalitarian" as in Italy and at the same time is so "necessary."
Organization: Every priest follows two communities in particular, but everything is shared!
• Education and Catechesis : each of the six Community holds a monthly meeting for Bible study, weekly training of Christian and sacramental preparation, training for different groups. At the parish level is for the training of catechists and promoters of individual communities and training of parish groups. We also help some people to study theology and to participate in training courses diocesan and national levels.
• Liturgy : You try, when possible, to celebrate the festive Mass, Liturgy of the Word or at least a self-managed, in each of the 6 communities. It enhances the community celebration of the sacraments, including marriage.
weekdays sometimes there is the Mass, Eucharistic adoration at other times or the Rosary or a penitential celebration with Mass or Confessions on the road, or the Council of the Community or visits to families ...
• Charity and Social Activities: There are several projects funded by Italian institutions (8 x thousand, Medicus Mundi, Verona parishes) in collaboration with Local Authorities, but also supported by the work and the offerings of Parishioners: Formation of the "Women multiplied" basic knowledge about health and family life, Familias Solidarias (= aid to families with children under 12 years without income: it provides a "Basic Basket" monthly (basic foods) and calls for service in the community: clean rooms, churches, halls, gardens, community garden and offers the possibility of professionalism in order to have a source of income (sewing, cross-stitch, cloth production, production of vegetables) , Pastoral da Criança with periodic visits to health care for children and pregnant women, school assistance, etc..
There are other projects under preparation: a Centre for Professional Bakers
, Training Microeconomics domestic and professional training to the Rights and Duties ...
Behind these projects, there are so many people, like our Giuliana, in Verona, Italy by the paper work and provides good part of the required funds without getting tired of knocking on every door. • Construction
since 2005, when they arrived, and Don Don Luca Daniel, has built a new house-Canonica, beautiful, simple and cozy and it has been built the new Parish Centre "Federico Aldrighetti" It is designed and equipped the parish office, has arranged the main church; For every community you're trying to give some basic structures needed: a church with decent frames functional borders, bathroom, meeting room ... I just started work on a new building multifunctional, according to current needs probably become a center of spirituality.
• Besides all these activities of the parish, Father Luke has made considerable efforts in the prison ministry at the diocesan level, Don Daniel attended a refresher course in the university four mornings a week and once a week by a radio broadcast and I'm going to perfect the language to class one morning each week and taking advantage of several opportunities to speak with people.
The climate in the parish house and rectory is peaceful and there is always room to pray, reflect, study, play, welcome people celebrate without getting caught up in a hurry ... I think the priestly fraternity really help us to build something that is not just our doing, but because it is something that comes in the fraternity, is the "work of God."
two simple experiences to reflect :
• There are still many houses of straw and mud, though now most are now of brick, plastered and without doors (sometimes instead of doors there are tents) . The services are outside the house and there are no sewers. The power is there if you pay the bill. All have at least a small TV. One day later in a house inhabited by her husband, wife and three children. I see a little room with two beds and wonder: "This is the children's room?" The mother looks at me with a smile of "compassion" and says, "Oh no! We all slept in this room! "
• 15 and 16 July: Pilgrimage of the Diocese of Zé Doca in Maranhão, a city of the interior, to reflect and pray over the issues of Earth and Water. Let's start with a coach paid for 2 / 3 by Italian soldiers, to facilitate the participation of the people. The road seems rally, full of potholes and bumpy. After 6 hours of travel we arrive, after lunch, everyone had brought, and a shower, organized by the usual knowledge of Italian (the Sisters of the Holy Family), it is the providence of cooking dinner for another group that had not arrived. And thank goodness, because money in the pockets of our parishioners there were none. All night, from 8 pm to 10 am was held in thoughts, prayers, singing, walking, mass. A wealth of unique content, but also a considerable physical and mental effort. On the return trip, stop autogrill, seeing that some do not buy anything to eat or not much, the temptation to offer " was strong. A series of reflections are at once entered my head: I have to play the part of foreigners that has a lot of money and pay for all? Should I hide and eat alone? I have to offer just a few? Eventually I bought a little something to eat for me and I got a bit 'of sweets and biscuits for all, how do you even in Italy tours. I do not know if I did good or bad, but certainly coexist with poverty directly helps convert some 'his life! Thank God!
("We're coming!")
It 's a typical phrase, much used in Brazil, which indicates, together with the imprecision of "when", the hope of to a state of prosperity and security of life that now seems attainable, but whose goal moves further and further. In
greet and thank all friends and everyone in particular, I think that might be useful to describe, in general, how life is organized in the parish of Holy Trinity in the city of São Luís, Maranhão State, North East Brazil.
The inhabitants of the parish (about 60,000) have occupied the "Olympic City" in 1996, the territory is located on the outskirts of the city and therefore the people for the work and services must move (45 minutes by bus) to reach the center of São Luís. The neighborhood he lives all the problems of a precarious situation: cultural and economic poverty, lack of sense of belonging to the territory, lack of certain perspectives, health problems and violence ... but also want to build a new life, young age and mentality, patience, faith in God ... There is a multitude of Protestant churches, especially Pentecostal.
Our parish, made up of 6 communities, its main objective: to build a sense of community in a spirit of autonomy and responsibility, focusing on the formation of catechists and promoters. It seeks to achieve by working together, as far as possible, with neighboring parishes and unity with the diocese, in a climate of continuous "experimentation" and "verification" and with the enthusiasm of the beginning. It 's really amazing to see how the mission of the priest is not here is so "totalitarian" as in Italy and at the same time is so "necessary."
Organization: Every priest follows two communities in particular, but everything is shared!
• Education and Catechesis : each of the six Community holds a monthly meeting for Bible study, weekly training of Christian and sacramental preparation, training for different groups. At the parish level is for the training of catechists and promoters of individual communities and training of parish groups. We also help some people to study theology and to participate in training courses diocesan and national levels.
• Liturgy : You try, when possible, to celebrate the festive Mass, Liturgy of the Word or at least a self-managed, in each of the 6 communities. It enhances the community celebration of the sacraments, including marriage.
weekdays sometimes there is the Mass, Eucharistic adoration at other times or the Rosary or a penitential celebration with Mass or Confessions on the road, or the Council of the Community or visits to families ...
• Charity and Social Activities: There are several projects funded by Italian institutions (8 x thousand, Medicus Mundi, Verona parishes) in collaboration with Local Authorities, but also supported by the work and the offerings of Parishioners: Formation of the "Women multiplied" basic knowledge about health and family life, Familias Solidarias (= aid to families with children under 12 years without income: it provides a "Basic Basket" monthly (basic foods) and calls for service in the community: clean rooms, churches, halls, gardens, community garden and offers the possibility of professionalism in order to have a source of income (sewing, cross-stitch, cloth production, production of vegetables) , Pastoral da Criança with periodic visits to health care for children and pregnant women, school assistance, etc..
There are other projects under preparation: a Centre for Professional Bakers
, Training Microeconomics domestic and professional training to the Rights and Duties ...
Behind these projects, there are so many people, like our Giuliana, in Verona, Italy by the paper work and provides good part of the required funds without getting tired of knocking on every door. • Construction
since 2005, when they arrived, and Don Don Luca Daniel, has built a new house-Canonica, beautiful, simple and cozy and it has been built the new Parish Centre "Federico Aldrighetti" It is designed and equipped the parish office, has arranged the main church; For every community you're trying to give some basic structures needed: a church with decent frames functional borders, bathroom, meeting room ... I just started work on a new building multifunctional, according to current needs probably become a center of spirituality.
• Besides all these activities of the parish, Father Luke has made considerable efforts in the prison ministry at the diocesan level, Don Daniel attended a refresher course in the university four mornings a week and once a week by a radio broadcast and I'm going to perfect the language to class one morning each week and taking advantage of several opportunities to speak with people.
The climate in the parish house and rectory is peaceful and there is always room to pray, reflect, study, play, welcome people celebrate without getting caught up in a hurry ... I think the priestly fraternity really help us to build something that is not just our doing, but because it is something that comes in the fraternity, is the "work of God."
two simple experiences to reflect :
• There are still many houses of straw and mud, though now most are now of brick, plastered and without doors (sometimes instead of doors there are tents) . The services are outside the house and there are no sewers. The power is there if you pay the bill. All have at least a small TV. One day later in a house inhabited by her husband, wife and three children. I see a little room with two beds and wonder: "This is the children's room?" The mother looks at me with a smile of "compassion" and says, "Oh no! We all slept in this room! "
• 15 and 16 July: Pilgrimage of the Diocese of Zé Doca in Maranhão, a city of the interior, to reflect and pray over the issues of Earth and Water. Let's start with a coach paid for 2 / 3 by Italian soldiers, to facilitate the participation of the people. The road seems rally, full of potholes and bumpy. After 6 hours of travel we arrive, after lunch, everyone had brought, and a shower, organized by the usual knowledge of Italian (the Sisters of the Holy Family), it is the providence of cooking dinner for another group that had not arrived. And thank goodness, because money in the pockets of our parishioners there were none. All night, from 8 pm to 10 am was held in thoughts, prayers, singing, walking, mass. A wealth of unique content, but also a considerable physical and mental effort. On the return trip, stop autogrill, seeing that some do not buy anything to eat or not much, the temptation to offer " was strong. A series of reflections are at once entered my head: I have to play the part of foreigners that has a lot of money and pay for all? Should I hide and eat alone? I have to offer just a few? Eventually I bought a little something to eat for me and I got a bit 'of sweets and biscuits for all, how do you even in Italy tours. I do not know if I did good or bad, but certainly coexist with poverty directly helps convert some 'his life! Thank God!
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