Lenten Theme 2007 Save The Amazon 1/3

Each year the church in Brazil has a special theme for the season of Lent. Last year it was about care and respect for the disabled or "deficiente" as they are called here. This year the theme was about caring and respecting the earth, the water and The Amazon Forest and its wildlife. So the youth club put on a mime drama in the Matriz {Mother Church} after Mass on Ash Wednesday night.

This theme will continue throughout the season of Lent.

The Drama starts with people living and sleeping peacefully in the Amazon Forest. Note the backdrop of plants and animal and bird pictures.

A closer view of the forest views.

In comes the armed men representing those who have destroyed the forest in this local. This diocese of "Juina" is about one and a half times the size of the island of Ireland and it was all forest only 30 years ago. It turned out the arms they used in the drama were real guns, all homemade, and on loan form the local police station.

Every one is dead and the forest is destroyed.

An attentive audience. We have had a few dramas performed by the youth club in the church and the youngsters all make their way to the front to observe what is happening.

Lenten Theme 2007 Save The Amazon 2/3

The story continues ....

So now for a little while the Destroyers of the Forest rule. But just for a little while!

Now that the forest is dead and all its creatures the armed men die too! For they too need the air and water it provides. I read recently that the Amazon Forest provides over 20% of the worlds fresh water and oxygen. There are about 3000 different fruits in the world, the Amazon Indians eats about 2000 different fruits in their diet while the rest of the world makes do with about 200 different fruits in our diet.

Soaking the message all in. The drama was in mime, music and dance so even I understood with my little grasp of the language.

Along comes the angel of God, representing creation and the second chance God gives us all and she breaths life back into the creatures of the Forest. The message here that it is never too late to start saving the forest.

Now that life has returned the creatures of the forest and its destroyers dance a dance of peace and harmony.

Lenten Theme 2007 Save The Amazon 3/3

And so the story comes to an end....

Peace and harmony between Forest and Man. but the destruction is all around us and the rubbish pollutes what is left.

Note the Full "Lixo" Box. "Lixo" means rubbish and so now it is time to clean up out act. This is the message and theme for Lent 2007 in all of Brazil.

An interested young onlooker.

A baby is held up high. The baby represents the newness of life that our actions to protect the Forest and its creatures and its land and water, can bring to us all.

A full church that night. The "Matriz" / Mother Church of the parish is called after Santo Antonio / St. Anthony.

~o~o~O~o~o~

What I take from all this is that it is good to see that the people here are concerned about their local Amazon Forest. Some of whom were responsible in the first place for its destruction. But a new will is prevailing. The Brazilian Government has banned most logging, even though I constantly meet lorry loads of wood leaving the area in the dead of night. Corrupt officials often issue false permits. But the locals tell me it is not as bad as it used to be. Of course if you and I continue to buy wooden products from the amazon and other Forests around the world we are as responsible for its destruction too, as if we took the chainsaw to the tree itself. [End of Sermon!!!]

Abandoned Trip to the Communities 1/2

After weeks of rain we tried the other day to reach a few of our communities in the "Assentamentos / Legal Settlements" but the rain had washed away the roads or turned them into mud holes. After getting stuck a few times we came across a huge hole in the ground, nearly as big as the jeep. We tried a number of times to get through but eventually we had to turn back. This was my first time to abandon a trip.

Grande Buraco - A Big Hole.

A closer look. The hole was so big that the front of the jeep was hitting the sides stopping the wheels getting a grip to climb out.

Try Try Again

And again

And again.

At this stage a local came along on a motor bike and informed us that even the "milk lorry" had not been down that road for over a week. So I decided it was time to turn back and face into the mud holes we had gotten stuck in on the way out.

more on next blog.....

Abandoned Trip to the Communities 2/2

On the way back we came across a local farmer stuck in the mud, so we offered to help and tow him out.


The muck was knee-deep! Yer man lost his shoes!


I nearly burnt out the clutch trying to pull him out but no luck.


Sorry Boss!
He had to walk back to a local farm to see if they had a tractor.

The Long Road Home, at least it had stopped raining.

St. Patrick's Day In-House Celebration

In honour of the arrival in the post, of St. Patrick's Day Decorations from Mary O'Brien in Mulrankin we had a pizza party, an excuse really. So we invited the nuns and their Mother General who was visiting and a few good friends to celebrate Festa São Patricio.

Mother General {green} of The Sacramentinas on the right. They are listening to Derek singing!

Do you like my decorations? An Irish calendar cut up to make a wall display. "When your on the missions you have to make do!"

Novice Renanta in our little kitchen.

Irish for the day.

Sisters L-R: Yvonne, Cascilda {local boss}, Hermenegilda {big boss}

"Try and pronounce her name!"

Nossa Senhora Imaculada {First Visit}

The Community of The Immaculate Conception is a small community on the so-called-main road out of Castanheira towards Juina city. This was my first visit.

The parish hall. A little shook I think!

The men's' side of the church.

Me trying to explain something, not sure what.

It reminds me of the joke Bishop Brendan told of Fr. Tony Scallon when he went out to visit him while he was working in Brazil. Fr. Tony said "Dom Brendan will say a few words {in English} and you will not understand. And then Padre Tony will translate for you and you will still not understand!" God Bless the people for their patience with my poor Portuguese.

Leaving after Mass.

Everyone at Mass that day.

Religious practice here is very low.

Nossa Senhora da Eucaristia {First Visit}

Our Lady of The Eucharist. The only one of our 28 communities who do not to have a church, so we celebrated Mass in one of the local farmers houses. This was my first visit to this community.

With the altar in the background. The young lads prepare the readings with me. Often it is the younger people who read at Mass as many of the adults cannot read or write.

Inside the house, Sister Casilda {with guitar} prepares the singing. The floor is painted concrete. Generally people enter the houses in bare feet.

The owner of the farm house {right} and his neighbour, waiting for Mass to start.

Lads waiting in the scullery!

Local meninas / girls.

St. Patrick's Day 2007 in Juruena 1/6

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Beannachtí ná Féile Padraig

Feliz dia São Patricio

Since two of our parishes are manned by Irish priest's from St. Patrick's Missionary Society, a tradition has grown up here, where each parish takes a turn to host a St. Patrick's Day celebration. This year it was the turn of our neighbours in Juruena.

So at 630am on St. Patrick's Day, forty people, parishioners young and old, priests and nuns set out for The Festa / Party in Juruena.

The going was very tough taking four and a half hours to get there on the dirt roads of Mato Grosso, and a puncture did not help. In fact we spent more time on the bus than at the party.

The Bus! Just to let you know we travelled in style!! No air-conditioning, or bumpers or cover for the escape hatch on the roof, and it was a hot day!!! The bus cost the equivalent of two months wages!!!!

A bus load wearing my home-made shamrock.

The obligatory "Pit Stop" at a wooden shack on the road to Juruena.

A little man in big boots.

Some of the younger crowd.

St. Patrick's Day 2007 in Juruena 2/6

The bus Journey continues, but not for long......

The Parish Priest and his overworked???? Curate!!!

Puncture on the dirt road, all out to have a look!

Shade is very important.

The spare was only a little better than the one they were taking off.

More shade - it was a hot day.