Each year all the "Kiltegan" Priest's and Volunteers meet for an Annual Assembly in the Central House in São Paulo. This year it was held the week following Easter Sunday.
Paudie, Derek and I made the long journey from Mato Grosso and Tony flew in from Recife. The two African students made the journey down from their Language School in Brasilia, the same school I went to last year. The rest of the lads are living and working in the greater São Paulo area. The leader of the group Fr. Tommy Hayden (Member of Kiltegan Leadership Team) came out from Ireland to direct proceedings. Two Religious Sisters made the way from their respective parts of Brazil to help out and share their experience of Inter-Cultural Living.
This year the theme followed on from last year's theme of "Inter-Cultural Living." This was made more important for the Kiltegan lads as they ordained their first African Members of the society earlier this year. This was one of the reasons the Annual Assembly was later this year as some of the lads went to Africa for the Ordinations and to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Kiltegan's first mission in Africa and the world. Some of the lads here have also worked in Africa.
A picture of the group taken by yours truly. The two women are religious sisters, one (right) is American {Holy Rosary Sisters} and the other (left) is Brazilian {Medical Missionaries of Mary}, both of whom helped in our deliberations. The student on the left is from Kenya and the one in the middle is from Nigeria and is coming to work with us in Castanheira after his Language School in June. Fr. Tommy Hayden came out from Ireland (center wearing a very African shirt)
Society Member Fr. Neil Cromby from Scotland led Mass on one of the days.
The congregation in the little oratory in the Central House came from many different cultures and countries: Nigeria, Kenya, Ireland North & South, USA, Scotland, and Brazil.
