A week into my new parish we headed out for my first visit to The Assentamentos or New Settlements.
The word "Assentamento" means "Registration". This is the local expression for a parcel of land settled with the official approval and assistance of the state government. People on the land have official documents showing their ownership. This is the direct opposite to where people, usually the poorest, have invaded unused {state and private owned} land and the forest and set themselves up as owners of the land. They have no papers of ownership. In the Assentamentos the government also assisted by giving building materials to build a house.
Some of course were greedy and got the land free and the building material free and sold the lot and moved on. Others got land in the names of a number of different members of their families and so end up with a number of small alotments while others have nothing. Others, more out of poverty, sold the building materials and never built a proper house and now they cannot get anymore assistance from the state as the government inspectors have reported that they never built a house with the original grant. So until a house is built, no more grants!
I think it was government policy not so long ago to encourage people to move inland and away from the crowded coast. I am not sure if it still is, as Europe and the USA are putting a lot of pressure on the Brazilian government to save the forest from more destruction. One thing that can be said about "The Interior" here in Mato Gross State is that there is a lot of space but few people.
On this visit we are to call to two communities. São João Batista [St. John the Baptist] in the morning and São Rafael [St. Raphael] in the afternoon.
I was along mostly for the drive and experience as Padre Derek said the Mass and Sister Rose looked after community notices, messages and organising the reception of The Sacraments etc. Once I am more experienced and comfortable with the roads and know the way to the communities, Padre Derek won't be travelling with me, but one or two of the sisters will be coming along. Especially to translate for me along with doing their own parish work.
Preparation is very important. You don’t just step out of the house and get into the Jeep and head on out the road. Petrol, Tyres, Spare Tyre, Engine, Water etc are checked. A couple of gallons of drinking water and some eats are loaded up. Mass Kits, breads and wine. Public notices, even post. There is no postal delivery to the Assentamentos, so some people use the parish post office box number as their address and on our monthly visit we bring the post for that community out with us. It can be a long wait for a letter!
The first Mass today is in São João Batista and it also includes an adult Baptism. The rains have arrived and news has reached us that a new road has been cut in the forest and the old road is flooded out ~ so I hope we don’t get lost!
On this visit we are to call to two communities. São João Batista [St. John the Baptist] in the morning and São Rafael [St. Raphael] in the afternoon.
I was along mostly for the drive and experience as Padre Derek said the Mass and Sister Rose looked after community notices, messages and organising the reception of The Sacraments etc. Once I am more experienced and comfortable with the roads and know the way to the communities, Padre Derek won't be travelling with me, but one or two of the sisters will be coming along. Especially to translate for me along with doing their own parish work.
Preparation is very important. You don’t just step out of the house and get into the Jeep and head on out the road. Petrol, Tyres, Spare Tyre, Engine, Water etc are checked. A couple of gallons of drinking water and some eats are loaded up. Mass Kits, breads and wine. Public notices, even post. There is no postal delivery to the Assentamentos, so some people use the parish post office box number as their address and on our monthly visit we bring the post for that community out with us. It can be a long wait for a letter!
The first Mass today is in São João Batista and it also includes an adult Baptism. The rains have arrived and news has reached us that a new road has been cut in the forest and the old road is flooded out ~ so I hope we don’t get lost!
Igreja {Church} São João Batista
Mother and Daughter
Young Man for Baptism
Two young lads peeping out the church window [no glass yet] and a little bit shy around the new priest.
When I saw this bridge I reckoned that an Our Father prayer was necessary to cross in safety. I had to direct Derek across and I really did say an Our Father. So I christened it the “Pai Nosso Ponte” {Our Father Bridge} much to the great amusement of the locals all standing up on the back and not even bothering to get down in case…….to this day when I meet some of the locals they always talk about the “Pai Nosso Ponte”!
More on São João Batista in next blog.........
