Brazil Newsletter – Deiz de Fevereiro 2006 - 10th February 2006
Caros Amigos - (Greetings Friends)
This is my first attempt at a Brazilian Newsletter so I hope it arrives all right if not email me at carnew@gmail.com and let me know.
Please print it out for those who are not connected.
THE LAST WEEKEND IN “CURNEW”
I wasn’t allowed to leave Ireland until Shay’s 40th Birthday Party was over, or so he told me on the day I was booking my ticket in the Society’s Office in Kiltegan. So even the “Preaching of The Kingdom of God” was delayed for Shay. {Friendship sake of course!}
{Thanks Patricia, I got your Text Message}
Dinner on Saturday was in Betty’s. He mother’s Bacon Stew as she calls it. {Betty we had bacon, cabbage, rice and beans here the other day – not a patch on yours} We have beans and rice with the dinner every day. I think this is going to take some getting used to, even though we had a kind of stew yesterday with spuds.
I was delighted to see Sean who flew over from London for the day to see me off. Both he and Paddy arrived down in Carnew to collect me on Sunday.
I had my last supper, as you could call it, with the Jameson’s. Then I took my leave of Ned and gang, calling to Betty’s so say goodbye to the gang there.
On our way to Dublin we called to say goodbye to Uncle Mick in the Nursing home. {As promised Uncle Mick my first mass in Brazil was offered for Aunty Gret}.
That night I was a guest of the Tutty clan and we had a great night. {I think you enjoyed as much as I did}.
Sean and I stayed in Paddy’s house in Swords, and woke at 5 am to leave Sean in the airport and I was back in bed and Seán was at the departure gate by 5.30 am. Thank God for Rivervalley. In the morning I went to say goodbye to Eileen in Sybil Hill Nursing home and promised her I would make a tape of what’s happening here as her sight is so bad. I brought a small tape recorder with me, but I had some job asking for blank cassette tapes in the local shop.
At the moment one of the Brazilian priest’s has the tape recorder as he is going to record the words of the mass for me, for I will be expected to say Mass in Portuguese by the end of March, or so I’m told.
Sisters Barbara Rowe and Regina Lambert {John of God – Wexford Hospital} called too see me off, and with Paddy, they brought me to the airport. There by chance we met {my class mate} Billy Flynn bringing Tom Dalton {The new PP of Rathangan} to the airport on his way out to see Sean Devereux on the Mission in The Gambia.
The flight in London was delayed by about two hours as a man got very sick just as we were about to leave and he had to be taken off, but it took the two hours to find his luggage before security would allow us to take off.
I arrived in Guarulhos airport, Sao Paulo at about 810am. There was no one there to meet me, or so I thought! It was only then that I realised I had no phone number, and me supposed to be “mister organised!” I walked up and down for about a half an hour, until I took out the Irish Times, then George Corr saw me and came over to greet me. Despite talking to him a number of times on the phone, I only met George once and that was for five minutes as we walked between two of the buildings in Kiltegan. So neither of us could remember what the other looked like. George is the Superior of The Kiltegan Mission to South America.
REGIONAL HOUSE
This will be my official home until I am appointed to a parish next winter {summer to you guys about June / July}.
“Sociedade São Patricio”
Rua Tomé Afonso de Moura 691
Vila Amélia
02630-000 São Paulo SP
Brazil
Tel: 011 6231 3485 - Fax: 011 6232 6947
The house is very comfortable, only built in the last few months. Each of us living here has our own room. When the guys take a day off from their parish, or come in from the surrounding county side or from far away missions for a few days, this is where they stay.
It is also the “Kiltegan head office for the South American Mission {Paddy it is just a few doors down from the old Regional House which is now a seminary with three Nigerian Students and you friend Jack Rogers is the Director of Formation}
At the back of the house is a protected part of the Forest. The row of trees reminds me of the trees behind our garden in the castle grounds in Carnew. But instead of crows roosting in them we have monkeys and they sound like a herd of pigs.
The Kiltegan Lads are a fine bunch of guys. I have met all of them at this stage, because they had their annual assembly for the first four days of this week. Some flew in from the new mission in Mato Grosso and others from the parishes in the city and one came down from the Recife direction {Up North somewhere?]
RED TAPE
Most of the last week has been spent on RED TAPE. The Brazilian’s operate in triplicate times triplicate. They love documents. I think it is a throwback from their Military Dictatorship days.
First the Brazilian embassy in Dublin made some mistake regarding my visa. I spent one whole day in the Federal Police building only to be eventually told to go to the Ministry of Exterior Relations. Nothing but queues!
There is some kind of amnesty for all the Illegal Peruvians and that’s what made the Federal Police so busy. I now know what our immigrants and asylum seekers in Ireland have to put up with!!! The queue came down two flights of stairs and on to the street. Talk about a sticky heat!
The two guys in the Ministry of Exterior relations were very helpful, both of whom were taught English by an Irish Holy Ghost Priest. So the good will for the Irish extended into Brazilian officialdom. Also all my documents have to be copied and officially notarised at another official place. I had to queue in one building to copy and another building to officially stamp them. As I say nothing but queues!
To date I have called three times to the Federal Police (and twice to the Ministry of External Affairs), and each time computers are down in the Federal Police Station. It seems that if the work load gets too much for the staff the computers are {allegedly / deliberately} overloaded. Hay-Presto no more work today.
In the last visit they informed me that they had a problem with my mothers name on a document from the Dublin Embassy, they don’t recognise the word “nee”, so they sent me to my two new friends in the Ministry of External Affairs. Thank God they speak English. They tell me to get a document proving I my mother's maiden name. I did not bring my Birth Certificate with me thinking I wouldn't need it.
{Paddy fax the birth cert. on to me at 00 55 (0)11 6232 6947 AND send out the original by international courier. This is to be a RUSH JOB as I have only two weeks of my four weeks for registering left.}
This then has to be translated and officially notarised. I cannot register here until my visa is authorised.
On Tuesday I had another visit to the Federal Police specifically to have my finger prints taken, that was some experience!!!
MOBILE PHONE
At the moment I am still receiving text messages on my Irish phone {086 8926260}. {Thanks to Barbara, Paddy, Margaret, Sean and Patricia for their messages.} But for some reason I cannot make a call or send a text. But I will leave it on as it is a very quick way of receiving news from home. So send us your news by text and email and letters too. Even the texts from the bishop’s office are arriving here.
{Paddy one of the priests here has a pay-as-you-go Irish mobile phone and he keeps it open by buying some credit on it every six months and when he goes home to Ireland he has his own phone number and all the credit mounts up for him to use. So maybe you could add €10 or so every six months as this extends the period for keeping the number active} I got the text about the death of Bishop Noel Willoughby from the “Tocker Cross Roads”.
HOUSE PHONE
Brazil at the moment is 2 hours behind Ireland. A good time to ring is between 9-10am and 9-10 pm {11am-12noon and 11pm-midnight Irish Time}. If someone with Portuguese answers just say “Padre Denis Por Favor”.
From Ireland 00 55 (0)11 6231 3485 / Fax 00 55 (0)11 6232 6947 {The Fax is a bit temperamental.}
Cheap Phone calls from Ireland:
1] Outside Dublin: “Tele Stunt” 0818270101. This costs 3.3 cent per minute and the price of a local call. The beauty of this one is that it is charged to your Eircom bill and you don’t need to buy a card.
2] In Dublin: “First National Spirit Card” This is cheaper at 2.5 cent per minute plus a local Dublin call, but you must buy a card first.
3] Via UK: www.moneysavingexpert.com/callchecker (Might be worth a look for all international calls.)
THE OTHER BRAZILIAN RELIGION
Last Saturday I went to Sao Paulo Municipal Football Stadium to see Corinthians beat Bragantino 4:1. Five red cards were issued, but the most entertaining thing was not watching the match but watching the 28,364 spectators’ reactions to the happenings on the pitch. The odd number 64 were the Bragantino supporters and the rest {28,300} seemed to be supporters of the local team, Corinthians. As you may know, Football is the first religion of Brazil and we come a bad second. Dancing and drums are the preferred way of supporting your team here. When there is a “Gooooooooaaaaaalllllllll” you should see the dancing and hear the singing.
BRAZILIAN PEOPLE
At this stage I have been a guest in the homes of three families. I had Sunday dinner with a family of 9 in a small two bedroom flat in a 20 story building. The people are poor bur extremely welcoming. One of our Ferns priests Fr. Michael Byrne brought me. Their 10 year old daughter wore me out by spending the whole afternoon teaching me Portuguese from her English lesson book and I returned the compliment of teaching her English.
A greeting here is not like a limp handshake in Ireland or a nod of the head – it is a big hug and kiss called “Abraço”. {No bad thoughts now!!!}
MATO GROSSO
This is one of the places that was suggested (in Ireland) that I might be sent to. This morning the lads are heading back along with Michael Byrne. It will take a 3 hour flight, followed by a 14 hour bus journey on dirt roads and a 4 hour trip on a dirt track by four-wheel drive. That’s if the rains have not washed the roads away. Who knows, next July I could have to make that trip.
OTHER NEWS
I went into the city on my own for the first time yesterday. As we are living on the outskirts of the city beside the jungle I had to take a bus and a train to get to the centre. The place is full of street sellers selling everything you could imagine. I even saw one guy selling, what I would call mummified hands. Gruesome looking things.
On the train in, the police arrested a young boy selling sweets and I was highly indignant at them arresting a young fellow just trying to make a few pence. But the lads here tell me they weren’t sweets he was selling, but drugs. He looked only about 8 or 9 years old.
On the news here a police man was kicked out of the police force. He was caught on camera helping a young boy preparing drugs to take. He wasn’t arrested only kicked out of the police!
I get a lot of hassle with beggars on the streets. I suppose I look like a tourist, white skin and all that. No sun burn yet, Thank God.
Some poor people spend their day gathering rubbish such as cans and cardboard to sell for a few pence. I was finishing a can of coke in town and I went to throw it in a bin and there was a man rooting in the bin for cans, but I nearly got sick when I realised he was rescuing a half eaten take-away dinner for himself. He also grabbed the can.
PHOTOS
As I get around and get more organised I will send a few photos, but I am conscious that not everyone will be able to download photos. Please let me know and I will send news without the pictures to you.
PERSONAL GREETINGS
Margaret please say hello to Frances, your work colleague, and thank her for her greetings and gift.
Eilish, as promised, I have written you a letter but it will probably take two weeks to get to you, but when it does reply back and tell me your news.
James you are next for a letter but only after Eilish replies!! Can you print out a copy of this email and send it too Sean & Pauline for me and tell them to get an email address.
Ian thanks for the kind letter and gift via Paddy. Your first letter since college???!!! Give my regards to Mary & Barney for me.
Niall & Elaine – good to see you at the party. Maybe Niall when you come to sell to the Brazilian Aircraft Manufacturers maybe you will have time to call?
Shay, Trish and Maura – am praying that all will go well next September!!! Have you moved in to your new home yet? I hope it is still standing after the blessing it got!
Catherine will you send a copy to Betty and Mary for me as I don’t have an email for them.
Margaret you have to look after Ned & Ann. Maybe you could make contact with any of the Tuttys as I have no email for any of them. If they are online give them my email.
Tara Hills and IHCPT’s Amigos are on my Prayer List too. MOB I hope you enjoyed Lourdes on the Feast Day and that Linda looked after you. Text away for the moment I am receiving but cannot reply. John G. could you send this to MOB and tell her to get an email address or ask her should I send it to MOB@WexofordGarda.ie ?????
Tom & Rose, I wonder will you make it here for your wedding anniversary {not sure what number it is now} but we have a “cabana” here too like Florida. I’m like you – trying to organise my own green card!
Hi Sarge got your emails from Texas. Muinto Obrigado {Many Thanks}
Tommy got your text. Look after Billy and Chris. When are you going on line?
Odhrán look after The Gang in the Presbytery and Tommy Conroy with a copy. Tell Jimmy Ryan that Pat Connolly is asking for him. Obrigado {Thanks}. I don’t have an email address for you or JJ so I’m asking John Woodbyrne to furnish you with a copy!
Hello to the Browne Diaspora in Dublin, Sligo, Germany and “down under” {Oz & NZ} or from Brazil I should say “a little over”.
Margaret do you have an email address for Maura Lyons so that I can keep my promise to Aunty Maureen?
Richard accommodation here is cheap and cheerful.
Greetings to my class mate Fr. Pat Mernagh with the Irish Army on United Nations Duty in Liberia. Hope the Peace Keeping is going well and you are keeping safe. I hear you were seen jumping out of a helicopter with some Swedish Soldiers. I suppose some priest will go to any length to convert people.
PRAYER FOR MY FAMILY & FRIENDS
May your heart so reach for the stars
that you need no ladder.
Bençaõ de Deus (God Bless)
Denis.
