Birthday Remembrance of Fr. Tom Curran S.P.M.S. {R.I.P.} 1st Jan 2007

When the New Year arrived we went to visit the grave of Fr. Tom Curran {RIP} [1/1/1928 - 19/10/2000]. The occasion was his birthday, but also to bless a newly placed grave stone. He is the only "Kiltegan" priest buried in Brazil, others have died and are buried at home.

We also remembered all priests who have served here and have died, including "Ferns" priests' Fr. Tony Scallon and Fr. Greg Byrne.

An old Tomb in the Cemetery.

This was a vary old and historic Cemetery in the centre of São Paulo. The grave space itself was donated to the Society by a Religious Order who have left the shores of Brazil.

The new grave stone with the inscription "Sociedade Missionaria Sao Patricio" {St. Patrick's Missionary Society}. The S.P.M.S. "Crest" is also on the stone and Fr. Tom Curran's Date of Birth & Death.

Fr. Geroge Corr, S.P.M.S. South American Superior, leading the prayers which were in four languages.

The Prayers for the Dead were in Portuguese; The Scripture Reading was in English; The Rosary was in Irish; and The Final Hymn "Salve Regina" was in Latin.

Some of the other Tombs in another part of the Cemetery. Some are the size of little houses and are of far better construction than some of the cardboard huts that many of the locals have to live in the "favells" {Shanty Towns}!

L-R: Gerry McCluskey, Leo Dolan {Clifdon Diocese}, Seán Smith {Vice Regional}, Cathal ?{Former Member}, Pat Connolly, Seán McGrath, Jack Rodgers, Tommy Scott, Aidan Fallon, Tony Conry {Elphin Diocese}, Denis Browne {Ferns Diocese}. Behind the camera: George Corr {Regional Superior} and Noel Ryan who was in the car unable to maneuver the steps.

Happy Birthday Uncle Mick {90} & Siobhán {18}

Happy 90th Birthday to my Uncle Mick. Sorry to have missed the party, but I did try four times on the phone to make contact. So maybe some good Christian could pass on the message for me!

And a Happy 18th Birthday to his Grand Daughter Siobhán.

Since I have no pictures of the gang here is one of Carnew Castle, well known to Mick, it is from around 1880-1900.

{Note: The "Spire" on the Church in the background ~ it's not there now!}

Congratulations to Sean & Pauline on their Engagement

Congratulations to

Sean & Pauline

on their Engagement this

Christmas Day.

Pauline, "is there any truth in the rumor that Sean left the ring wrapped up for Christmas under the tree for a few days?"

Or was he tongue tied and on one knee?

This is just to let you know that I am all dressed up and no where to go and that I have a special rate for brother's weddings!!!!

Provide you fly me out of the Jungle!!!!

Best Wishes

Denis

xxxx

Happy New Year 2007 from the Parish Community of Santa Paulina, São Paulo 1/2

For both Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, I visited two different communities in Fr. George's parish in São Paulo. In both communities we celebrated Mass in a family garage. I forgot my camera on Christmas Day, but I remembered to take it with me on New Year's Eve.

On the way we passed these houses, built on top of each other. As families grow, they just build another house or flat upstairs. I only hope the foundations are good! The people here are a little bit better off than the people in the Favellas {Shanty Towns}. I think the town planners at home would have a fit!

The pictures in the next two blogs are from the community called Santa Paulina.

George standing outside The Garage Church of Santa Paulina Community

The Sermon in Action

Public prayers during Mass. People are not shy here to stand up during the Prayers of The Faithful and offer their prayers out loud!

Santa Paulina was a local saint, who was born in Italy in 1865. When she was 9 years old, to escape their poverty her family emigrated to Brazil. She worked as a Religious all her life and was canonised by Pope John Paul II on the 19 of May 2002 and she is considered as Brazil's first saint.

Sister Paulina is the only saint known to have suffered with diabetes. In 1938 her eyesight began to fail and a cut on her finger led to gangrene and amputation of the finger. The gangrene continued to progress and her hand was amputated, then her arm. After these bouts of surgery, Sister Paulina also became blind. It was a combination of lung cancer and diabetes that eventually killed her, in 1942.

"The presence of God is so intimate to me that it seems impossible for me to lose it; and such presence gives my soul a joy which I can not describe." -Saint Paulina

More on the next blog ........

Happy New Year 2007 from the Parish Community of Santa Paulina, São Paulo 2/2

After Mass was over, we wished each other "Feliz Ano Novo" {Happy New Year}. And it wasn't a limp handshake like at home, but rather a "Grande Abraço" {Big Hug}.

In fact this is the normal way of greeting people you know, not a handshake, but a big hug, and if it is not a "Firm" hug, the women are not slow in telling you;

"I want to feel your whole body"!!!!!!

Feliz Ano Novo e Paz {Peace}

The city in the background

The Road home ~ at least there is a bit of tar here, unlike Mato Grosso.

The community has just purchased this hilly site for their new church. Both the Kiltegan Fathers and The German Catholic Church helped in purchasing this land, approx. BR$80,000 {€30,000}. The land is on a steep hill, on a site big enough for two houses. It will take a lot of work before it is even ready to build on. The site will have to be shored up as the earth is removed and then built up with reinforced concrete to protect the houses above it. São Paulo is a city of hills!

Once the community has a church building or community centre to call their own, this will help to attract more people to join the church community, especially some of the large percentage of Catholics who do not attend church. It has already started with the few who gather in their garage to pray every week, not too unlike the the Faithful who gathered in the "Upper Room" on the Day of Pentecost.

Feliz Ano Novo to you all.

~~~~~~~~~~

The new year,

like a new born child,

is placed in our hands as the old year passes away.

The days and weeks to come are God's gift;

they carry God's blessing.

As a blessing we welcome them.

Our hope for the year ending is that all that was good in it remain with us

and all that was harmful be left behind.

~~~~~~~~~~

Genesis 1;1-5

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.The earth was a vast waste,darkness covered the deep,and the spirit of God hovered over the surface of the water.God said: "Let there be light,"and there was light;and God saw the light was good,and he separated the light from darkness.He called the light day,and the darkness night. So evening came, and morning came;it was the first day.

~~~~~~~~~~

Bless us, O Lord,

and bless the time and seasons yet to come.

Teach us to number our days a right,

that we may gain wisdom of heart.

And fill this new year with your kindness,

that we may be glad and rejoice

all the days of our life.

~~~~~~~~~~

And so 2006 comes to an end. For me it was a very different but interesting year. It was a tough year not without its struggles and frustrations, especially with the new language and culture. But like all challenges, we are a better person when both God and us surmount them.

"The most difficult mountain to climb is the one within ourselves."

God is good and the New Year will bring many new and wonderful experiences and an encounter with a happy and simple people who will teach me more about God and Faith, than I could ever teach them!

Tchau for now and God Bless,

Denis.

St. Stephen's Day visit to The "Polícia Federal" & the old Jesuit Mission in "Carapicuíbe" {1/2}

St. Stephen's Day is a working day here. So Fr. George {The Boss} & I took the opportunity to visit the "Polícia Federal" to get my all important "Work-Visa" in order.

That was the whole reason I left my parish before Christmas to travel to São Paulo to organise my visa before the year was out. Documents arrived from Ireland by D.H.L. and we brought them to the Polícia Federal. Sadly we had to have them translated into Portuguese. This meant I was not able to renew my visa. But they did me give another chance provided I pay a fine of over BR$200. I think it is all a racked to get money out of the foreigners! {I wonder is it the same in Ireland?}

The Polícia Federal building.

A building I know only too well and have visited it on numerous occasions. I spent most of last February visiting this building. When my Work-Visa is in order this January it will only be valid for this new year and I will have to go through it all over again in January 2008.

Outside of the police building many people are looking for your business. They charge a fee to help with documents. For those who can't read or write they will help them to fill out their forms. This man with his typewriters will fill out forms for a small fee. At the moment I have Thirty Two {32} documents for the Polícia Federal and am awaiting the three other documents that came from Ireland to be translated. All documents have to be officially notarised and witnessed.

Speaking of not being able to read or write. I wondered why many of the readers at our Masses were young people and few, if any, older people read at Mass. The answer is simply that a vast number of adults never went to school or had little schooling and therefore cannot read or write. Often it is the teenagers of the home who fill out forms etc. for the parents.

We met this man on the road. He is one of thousands here in São Paulo and other cities of Brazil who make their living from gathering recyclable rubbish. The carts move under the power of "man" not even "horse power!"

The good thing is that most motorists are respectfully and patient towards these men on the roads. I suppose they are thankful that it is not them.

When we were in the area, we put on our "Reporters Hat" and paid a visit to the old Jesuit Mission in "Carapicuíbe" where one of the Kiltegan priests worked and the "Africa Magazine" wanted a few pictures for their next edition. {You saw them here first!}

Church and square in "Carapicuíbe".

A view from inside the church of a lazy square on a hot afternoon, with the obligatory lazy dog. Its swummer here at the moment.

more on next blog........

St. Stephen's Day visit to The "Polícia Federal" & the old Jesuit Mission in "Carapicuíbe" {2/2}

The Old Jesuit Mission in "Carapicuíbe" is also an Indigenous Museum of sorts. The church is still functioning and seems to be very popular for weddings, given that it is in a private city square in the middle of one of the few green areas in São Paulo City.

Inside of the Church

Some local saint {from behind the altar}, whose name I can't remember.

A Local hut!

George outside the local Police Station.

A local meeting hut!