A Very Happy Christmas

Greetings and Feliz Natal from the Alto Mission! I hope you are enjoying the Christmas season and as always our prayers are with you. I am happy to say that this was the most beautiful Christmas I have experienced thus far. Brother Francis  Therese has been in America for the past week and a half, and we all miss him.

Katie and Gabi and I spend a few days preparing the convent for the birth of our Lord. A Christmas tree, twinkle lights, a fake fireplace and plenty of paper snowflakes made the place feel just like home. On Christmas Eve, Katie Gabi and I sang in the choir at the Cathedral. It went very well and sounded beautiful. We started Christmas with mass, and then shared a lovely lunch with the Brothers and a few Oblates. We then went to Alto and let the most needy families know that we had food baskets waiting for them in the Church. They were overjoyed, especially the children.  The baskets contained rice, sugar, flour, salt, crackers, and canned fish. The looks on peoples faces when we told them we had food for them was breathtaking. They were so happy to see us, and to share a greeting of “Feliz Natal” (Merry Christmas in Portuguese). One little girl hugged me for about five minutes, and it was really beautiful. We then headed home and had adoration. After adoration the girls did our best to make the dining room look beautiful with candles and twinkle lights. We surprised the Brothers with nice meats and French cheeses.  We went around the table discussing why today was nice for us, and then ended the night with an hour of Christmas Caroling. It was the perfect evening. I apologize for the lack of pictures of Alto. Many of the people living there find it offensive if we take pictures because they feel as if we are trying to broadcast their state in life. I hope you enjoy the blog and pictures and please remember to keep us in your prayers. You are in ours! God Bless!

Gabi, Faith and Katie before singing in the choir at the Cathedral 

The Cathedral Sacristy 

A little bit of North America 

Christmas Dinner! 

Au Revoir, Edouard!

Tragedy struck the mission this week as we bid farewell to our dear friend and fellow missionary, Edouard.  He returned to France this past Thursday , after a lovely “Bon Voyage” party in the Mary Magdalene House in Alto.  

Many of our students, their parents, and people from the community came to wish him off.  His presence, hard work, and his beautiful decorations for adoration will be greatly missed L

This week, we were able to celebrate the advent of the birth of Christ this Gaudate Sunday by seeing some of our dear friends from choir perform a selection of pieces by Beethoven including his “Ode to Joy”.  

It was a fun night for us missionaries all together!

Kara, Gabriel, and Kevin after the concert

  

Lunch with the Oblates

Please keep us in your prayers this Advent season!

SJM & Irma Dulce

"O que fazer para mudar o mundo? Amar. O amor, pode sim, mudar a realidade."

"What to do to change the world? Love. Love can indeed change reality."

                                                                 

                                                                         -Irma Dulce

Exciting news from the missionaries of St. John. We are now working with the Obras Sociasi Irma Dulce (OSID)/social works of Irma Dulce. Let's find out a little more . . . 

Blessed Irma Dulce was a Brazilian sister who worked with the poor of Salvador, Brazil (where we are at now!). Now, 22 years after her death her charitable works in health and education are flourishing more than ever. 

Recently a film came out about her life and has been a hit in Brazil.

Mission of Irma's social works: to love and serve the poor and needy, offering free care in health and social care, innovating educational activities.

Few facts:

4 million outpatient visits a year.

1,005 beds for the care of clinical and surgical pathologies.

10,643,000 surgeries per year (HSA).

1.2 million meals served per year for our patients and 537,000 for our employees

700 children and adolescents in situations of social vulnerability, seen at the Educational Center San Antonio.

Approximately 4,300 employees work in the Sister Dulce Social Work.

Inside the Church where we were privileged to watch the film with other volunteers. And finally we understood the life of one of the most talked about women of Salvador.

Visiting the remains of Irma. Blessed Irma Dulce pray for us!

Side view One of Irma Dulce's social centers where we will be soon giving English classes to adults twice a week, volunteering and also participating in their arts & craft classes. That way we can share our English expertise with the people of Salvador, practice our Portuguese and learn crafts to later teach them to our kids in Alto (the favela). So many win-wins. God is good.

Front view of the Irma Dulce center in Perulinho. Only a ten minute walk from the convent!

Our first craft lesson. Here we have Faith with such artistic precision painting a Christmas tree made out of recyclable materials: old magazines and tape holders.

With the arts and crafts teacher, Cris, who generously shared with the us her knowledge and skills of recycled crafts. Such a lovely soul . . . a picture can never do justice.

Our beautiful finished product. Thank you Cris and thank you Irma :)

Source: http://www.irmadulce.org.br/