20/07/2020 - Brazil

The moment is complex!

The pain generated by this terrible virus, from Covid-19, only continues to grow. Every day we feel it more, when we receive news from family, neighbours, friends, people in the neighbourhood, the ecclesial community, who are infected or have died as a result of this evil. And we feel it even inside our home.

In our experiences of listening to people, to the reality near and far from us, we need to keep our “eyes fixed on Jesus”, to strengthen ourselves and to encourage those who seek us in search of a word of comfort, strength and hope.

For years, our Marist community has been a place where there is always a welcome for the homeless people on the street, as well as other pilgrims who pass by and ask for food, where there is the sharing of joy, pain and suffering. However, in this time of pandemic the number has grown and is even frightening for so many men and women who live in the streets. Greater Belo Horizonte had 4,000 homeless people by April 2020. However, with this Pandemic, in late June the number had risen to 7,000. As we know, there are several situations that take them to the street, among them today are the lack of work and mental illness. So the number of people coming for help to our Marist Community is increasing.  There is a need for creativity and to seek guidance in prayer. So, we seek wisdom through our Marist spirituality and we trust in Divine Providence - and the “potato miracle” of our foundress happens daily. Every day we have a solidarity clothesline in front of our house, where people who pass by on the streets, are moved to perform simple gestures they donate food, personal hygiene material, clothes, masks, shoes and also express a lot of gratitude in being able to give and receive signs of hope. People from far and wide come looking for ways to contribute. We have a monthly donation of 20 basic baskets from the Jesuit Theology community, which we share among the families we accompany. Similarly there are donations of basic baskets from the parish itself. Young singers from the parish came together and performed a live concert in order to collect food and help with the Sisters' project. There are so many generous hearts opening up to share!

Among the various demands that have emerged, a request for help was made from the Parish, (São Francisco Xavier) where the new parish priest (José dos Passos) welcomed the Sisters with much affection, responsibility and gratitude for the initiative, and we are doing work according to what is allowed by the Health Agency. We guarantee daily lunch at our residence, as well as a weekly activity in the community Nossa Senhora de Fátima. Street dwellers themselves help us to open up horizons and point out ways to live the gospel today. How many times do we find ourselves in difficulties - when someone asks for a packet of beans, one wonders will they exchange it for drugs? And when we are asked for 3 tablespoons of oil, or a cup of rice? All of this leads us to rediscover the beauty of being a creature of God: “Lord, what is man that you will remember him and treat him with such affection?” (Ps 8.5).

They also help us to reflect being Marist. How to understand and welcome those who are invisible to society? Where many tell us to beware - they live on the street and may have Covid-19. And as Marists, we are called to go where no one or only a few can go.

And gratitude is expressed with a smile when they receive a plate of food and can take another half for those who stayed at home. Or even sharing a packet of eggs bought for the money that sold cans and cardboard and brought to contribute to the Sisters.

The Marist Sisters have been given a new title: "good workers in times of war" - it was given by Dona Sônia, a 75-year-old lady who lives in extreme poverty and has difficulty walking due to having suffered a stroke; she was found on the street by Roberto, a gentleman who also lives on the street and walks with the aid of a walker. He introduced her to us. Since then D. Sônia comes every day from the neighbouring area to guarantee at least one meal a day.

 And it is with this name that many come to us, saying that they want to join us in this network. This awareness in sharing and solidarity has strengthened our own community in its desire to extend our work and mission as Marist Sisters.

The solidarity clothesline has already been extended to the community of Nossa Senhora de Fátima, where some laypeople took over with the Sisters, there it happens every week. Then we accepted the request of the Madre São José Community Center. There, work was carried out inside the Center.

And on July 16th we will have work at ABAFE (Community Association of Bairro Felicidade). Both regions quite poor.

“God is good. God is good all the time!”

 And so, in the footsteps of Master Jesus, we will continue helping and being helped by the poor who show us the Merciful face of God. As Pope Francis points out in his ministry as guide and pastor of the Church, he outlined his vision for the Church and for the world today. He strongly sees “wounded humanity” in need of mercy and he wants us, members of the Church, to participate in this vision, sharing it: this reality is still present and not yet concluded. I believe that this is the time of mercy - the Marian Church as Fr. Colin prophesied well - showing her maternal figure, her mother figure, to wounded humanity.

The Marian Church does not wait for the wounded to knock on her door, but meets them on the road, welcomes them, embraces them, heals them, makes them feel loved.

... I am more and more convinced that this is a "kairós", our time is a "kairós" of mercy, an opportune time. (Pope Francis)

Maria Aparecida Cangussú
Belo Horizonte Community

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