Stable Influence Needed

This Christmas, what does the world need?.....................

Feliz Natal de Brasil ~ Happy Christmas from Brazil 2006

To all my relations and friends and supporters.......

Feliz Natal de Brasil

" Nós vimos a sua estrela na Oriente"

"We saw his star in the East"

Mateus / Matthew 2:2

Nollaig Shona

agus Athbhliain faoi Mhaise Duit

Wishing you a Peaceful Christmas and

a Happy New Year

Desejando-te um Natal Cheio de Paz

e um Feliz Ano Novo

Crib in Santo Antônio Church,

Castanheira, Mato Grosso, Brazil ~ 2006

Notice the real grass, which is watered each day, now it is time to cut it.

The was only one problem, someone kidnapped May & Joseph a few weeks ago, but thankfully they were later found.

It seems someone objected to them being placed in the crib before Christmas, especially when crib was put up for the first Sunday in Advent, as is tradition here.

So at the moment Jesus is in protected custody in the crib upstairs in the priest's house.

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;
It makes no noise at all,
but softly gives itself away;
While quite unselfish, it grows small.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A vela de Natal é uma coisa linda;
não faz barulho nenhum,
mas suavemente se dá;
Num espírito de generosidade, ela se gasta.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

God Bless / Deus te Abençoe

Denis

1/8 Overnight Visit to The Assentamentos & 5 Communities

First Overnight Visit to The Assentamentos

& 5 Communities {1 of 8 Pages}

Day 1: Visit to first Community

Novo Canaã {1 of 2}

On another visit to the Assentamentos we were to stay overnight. In the two days we would be visiting five different communities. This time only Padre Derek and I set out. The Parish Sisters were not available. One was on holidays, one was teaching and the other was running the Parish Office in the absence of the secretary who was also on her holidays.

We packed our boxes of things to deliver to the communities, the Mass kit, overnight bags, post, and gallons of the necessary water.

We bring our own drinking water with us as the water in the communities would not be safe for us to drink. The locals might be well used to it, but it would be dangerous to us.

Often when we go out to the communities we have people thumbing a life to visit family and friends. Today, strangely enough, we had no one but plenty of supplies for the different churches, especially since Christmas was around the corner.

Derek and I setting out. {Notice no beard}

The first port of call was "Novo Canaã". The yellow paint from the wooden church was nearly washed off the church. Someone "tricked" the community into buying this paint, and assured them it would last for years. It turned out to be paint for inside not outside in the weather and after only a few months the church looked like it had been painted in years. Now they have to raise the money again to buy new paint. Simple people they might be, they won't be tricked a second time!

After Mass was over this family invited us back to their house for some lunch. Despite the condition of the paint, the locals were a bit sensitive about the pant work and so were glad to see me praising them for their choice of colours, blue and yellow. "Azul e amarelo são as cores da minha cidade!" "Blue and yellow are the colours of my home city". Carnew has now been elevated to the status of "City". They call towns here cities as they often have their own local government.

A young local in front of a not-so-sturdy parish hall!

More of Novo Canaã on next blog ........

2/8 Overnight Visit to The Assentamentos & 5 Communities

First Overnight Visit to The Assentamentos

& 5 Communities {2 of 8 Pages}

Day One: Visit to first Community: "Novo Canaã"

{2 of 2}

INVITATION TO LUNCH

This family invited us back to their house for lunch. Which consisted of rice, beans, chicken, bananas, pineapple, egg and bread pie{?!?}, cake, and some kind of desert made from milk?!? It was all very nice especially the fresh fruit which was picked from their garden as we arrived. You couldn't have fresher than that - Unless you went to Fyffes! Of Course Margaret works there!

With the two padres eating the family out of house and home, these two youngsters found a ready place sit and eat lunch, "in the wheelbarrow!"

"Siesta" is nearly a sacred religion here. Padre Derek was quicker than I was and grabbed the sofa, while I retreated to the shade of a tree outside and in the BREEZE. I also got a guided tour of the fruit garden!

There are loads of different types of bananas here, some for eating or frying or snacking etc... For lunch we had little small bananas that were absolutely gorgeous, and because I made the comment, as we were leaving we were presented with a bunch each, cut from the tree as we watched. Derek was trying to take a picture of me and the hanks of bananas, but they were getting heavier by the minute. My face is saying "hurry up Derek". Needless to say we chomped on them for the next two days of travelling. All I know is that there was very little bananas left when we returned home.

3/8 Overnight Visit to The Assentamentos & 5 Communities

First Overnight Visit to The Assentamentos

& 5 Communities {3 of 8 Pages}

Day one: Visit to second Community "Cristo Rei"

{Christ The King}

This community does not have a church, so we use the parish hall. They do however have half the building bricks and the site for a new church. They buy bricks as they raise money and some day where there is enough bricks the locals will build themselves a church.

Cristo Rei Parish Hall com Church

The Choir

The Women's Side!
One young man on the men's side. The men are actually out of camera shot having a meeting.

A young parishioner

4/8 Overnight Visit to The Assentamentos & 5 Communities

Overnight Visit to The Assentamentos

& 5 Communities {4 of 8 Pages}

Day one: Third Community: Sagrado Coração de Jesus {Sacred Heart of Jesus}

Overnight Stay with Moses & Roberta & Family

Night Mass in Sagrado Coração de Jesus

Derek doing the parish notices. I was the celebrant at this Mass. The blackboard is an indicator that the church is also used as a Sunday School for those preparing for the reception of the Sacraments.

The home of Moses & Roberta and their three sons. This is where we stayed overnight. The window was the room I "tried" to sleep in.

Before we went to bed the mother was preparing the beds she let out a shout. I did not understand what she said, but it started all hands in a hunt around the house, not too unlike hunting a mouse in a house at home. The culprit was caught. It was long insect with about 50 legs and it ran around the house as fast as a mouse would run. But in the end a shoe got the better of it and it ended up out in the yard to be fought over by the hens. It turned out that is was very dangerous and very venomous to humans. That was the last thing I needed to hear before setting off to bed in a house in the middle of the Amazon Forest country.

The eldest son had already put the wind up in me by telling me not to go outside during the night as the dogs were loose and they were keeping guard against an "Onça Pintada" that was loose in the area. An "Onça" to you and me is a Panther or Jaguar, a large cat. There was no going outside to the toilet for me this night!!! Thankfully they had indoor plumbing.

Dawn over the Amazon Forest.

This was a boat engine which has been adapted for many uses:

1] Electricity generator and it charged the batteries for lights and TV at night time.

2] Corn Grater for chicken feed.

3] Coffee grinder

4] Water pump

5] "Mandioca" Grinder {Mandioca is a root similar to a potato, but is a root of a tree!}

6] Cleaned Rice

5/8 Overnight Visit to The Assentamentos & 5 Communities

Overnight Visit to The Assentamentos

& 5 Communities {5 of 8 Pages}

Second Day: Visit to 3rd Community

São Paulo with Five Baptisms & One Wedding

{1 of 2}

We arrived early from our place of lodgings to find that there was such a large crowd that the little Church of São Paulo would not hold everyone so we celebrated Mass in the local hall. As you can see the locals had decorated the place using local greenery, which was also to give shade from the sun.

Today we had five children for Baptisms and one Wedding, all to take part within the monthly celebration of Mass. Two of the children for Baptism were the children of the couple being married. It is a fact of life here that few get married formally either in church or in the local registry office. Some of this has to do with the perceived cost of getting married.

São Paulo parish hall with green palm leaves for decoration and shade from the heat of the morning sun.

The entrance procession consisted of the two priests, the bride and groom and two witnesses, the five children for Baptism and parents and God parents.

Taken at the part of the Mass where Parents and God Parents are asked out their willingness to teach the children about to be baptised about the ways of The Faith. Padre Derek here, questioning the bride and groom with their two children about to be Baptised.

The parents of the two brothers.

The parents of the young man.

Second Day: São Paulo 1 of 2 .... more to follow in next blog......

6/8 Overnight Visit to The Assentamentos & 5 Communities

Overnight Visit to The Assentamentos

& 5 Communities {6 of 8 Pages}

Second Day: Visit to 3rd Community

São Paulo with Five Baptisms & One Wedding

{2 of 2}

Organised mayhem

The little girl being Baptised.

Listening to the Homily and not missing a word!!!!!!!

The Promise

The Wedding Ring.

7/8 Overnight Visit to The Assentamentos & 5 Communities

First Overnight Visit to The Assentamentos

& 5 Communities {Page 7 of 8}

Second Day: 4th Community visit to "São Jorge"

{St. George}

This community is on the cross roads that leads to all of the three assentamento areas.
At this monthly Mass three teenagers made their First Confession and they received their First Holy Communion.

After Mass we were invited to a celebration in the local shop / bar.

Igreja São Jorge

First Communicants {Looks like they could be old enough to make their Confirmation}

I had no problem getting the women to pose for a photo, but the men were long gone and in the pub waiting for the food for the party after Mass.

The First Communion Class with the two priests and their teacher {far right}

Waiting at the local bar for the food, owned by the parents of the two sisters who made their First Holy Communion. I like the table they are all sitting at. A wooden spool that was used for the telephone wire. Necessity is the mother of invention here and very little gets thrown out.

8/8 Overnight Visit to The Assentamentos & 5 Communities

First Overnight Visit to The Assentamentos

& 5 Communities {Page 8 of 8}

Second Day: 5th Community visit to "Santa Eliza"

Santa Eliza is one of the bigger communities in the Settlement / Assentamento area. They are building a new church, which you can see in the background of the second photo. It is also one of the few churches to have Holy Communion reserved as they have a trained Eucharistic Minister.

Because of the new floor was laid in the new church we celebrated our Mass & Adult Reception & Baptisms in the Dance Hall. In fact the builders were sleeping in it during the building. We had 2 adult converts officially received into the church and 3 children baptised. One of the adult converts was already baptised so he was received into the church and the other adult was a mother and she and her baby were baptised during Mass.

Altar set and people present, all except the five for Baptism and Reception and their families and God Parents were waiting outside, out of camera shot, ready for the procession into Mass.

A not so happy baby being Baptised.

Two Adult converts with Padre Derek.

When Mass was over, I went to load up the Jeep, only to find it full for the journey home.

At the end of out-two day visit we had visited 5 communities and celebrated 5 Masses, Received 2 Adult Converts, Baptised 7 Children & 1 Adult, 3 teenagers made their First Holy Communion & First Confession, married a couple, blessed a house, ate 4 lunches, 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts and stayed overnight in the Forest and took us 3 hours to return to base and we never left the parish.

Did you ever see a "Mother Superior" on a Motor Bike?

Sr. Casilda, the superior of the local convent, and myself set out to visit two near-by communities and celebrate Mass. Because it was dry and not too far away we took my little car instead of the 4x4 jeep. On the way we met a group of women heading for Mass, a number of whom were quite elderly so we offered them a lift and Sr. Casilda offered to walk that last few kilometers with the rest of the party.

Between the two Masses we had lunch in the house of José from "Tangará" and he was coming along behind on his bike, and when he saw the "Mother Superior" walking he insisted she take a lift, and with luck I had my camera in hand for her arrival!

Sr. Casilda and José Tangará arriving from Mass.

Diocesan of Juina Assembly 2006

Every year for a full weekend Friday to Sunday the Parish Laity Representatives, Bishop, Priests, and Religious of the Diocese of Juina come together for an Assembly. This group sets the direction for the work of the diocese and parishes for the coming year.

It is considered so important that Masses are cancelled for that Sunday and a "Culto" {Celebration of God's Word} is celebrated in parishes in its place. Some people took nearly 18 hours to get to the gathering.

Theme: "We are all Disciples and Missionaries for Jesus."
Slogan: "Christian Family members are Disciples of Jesus."

The Results of the Assembly: “Propostas de Ação as Prioridades:”
{In order of importance}

Pastoral Família [102 Votos]
Dízimo [93 Votos] – Finance for the new diocese.
S.A.V. [Vocations - 46 Votos]
Groupo de Reflexão e CEBS? [32 Votos] – Prayer Groups
Pastoral Jovem [Youth – 23 Votos]
Catequese [20 Votos] - Catechism
C.P.T. [5 Votos – “Terra” Land Reform Issues]
Cáritas [Charity – 4 Votos]

The main result of the weekend of workshops was to reinforce again the importance of family and family life and for us all to support, encourage and help where we can. To reinvigorate the Diocesan “Pastoral Família” which is a programme that is up a running in every parish?

As always with the Brazilians, Dance and Music are important and so it is put to good effect as a warm up for the first meeting of the day.

Dom Franco Dalla Valla addressing the gathering. Bishop Franco is an Italian. I'm in the back row, not understanding one word. It was going to be a long weekend for me!

Feeding Time!

Paudie in his new shirt, it is a good job no one can read English only Derek and I.

Dom Franco celebrating Mass in the new Retreat / Meeting Centre of the diocese.