Building Bridges

Yesterday at Mary Magdalene House we built a bridge - one that will make it easier and safer to reach the second floor of the house.  I thought it was a neat metaphor for what we are doing here in Alto da Esperança.

A bridge is not much of a place in and of itself, but it connects two places that are otherwise separated by a deep divide.  Traversing that space without a bridge would be perilous and difficult if not impossible.

In this sense, Mary Magdalene House is a bridge.  It will allow the residents of Alto who are seeking a connection with God, who are seeking to learn skills they will need to develop as human beings, who are seeking refuge and calm in the midst of the difficulties and chaos that reign in the favela, to do so quickly and safely.

Beyond the metaphor of Mary Magdalene House serving as a bridge to connect the people of Alto with the spiritual, we could see our evangelical vocation as becoming ourselves bridges for others to meet Christ.  The Sovereign Pontiff even bears "bridge," in his name.

How do we become bridges for others?  Well, it is quite simple.  St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us that thought we cannot believe for someone else, or love for someone else - both of these acts depend upon the freedom of the individual - we can in fact hope for someone else.  Divine Hope is what allows us to lean on God even when we know it is impossible to succeed by ourselves, "For man it is impossible, but for God all thing are possible."  We can thus become a divine bridge for others - hoping for them in the face of seemingly impossible situations.

life so far

So much has happened and in so little time. Where do I begin?                  

I suppose I should just describe where I am working at, I could take a picture, but I’m not at a zoo, I am working with people. The first day I stepped into the Favela I was not greeted by anyone. People said hello and it seemed like they did not smile much.  A favela is a community of many people that live in a very small space, so small that the only way to build is up. Every window and door in the favela is barred. Apparently everyone knows everyone in the Favela. So if there is a Gringo/outsider/me, everyone wants to know who this person is, why he is here, and will he cause problems.

When I first arrived, I was being watched. Not too far from the community center that we are building are a group of men that stand outside everyday all day. These men pass out special herbs, and spices in baggies, to special people in the Favela. These men asked Fabio a friend in the Favela who I was where I came from.

Every Friday there was a 2 hour long stations in the cross in the streets of the favela. It seems kinda boring on the outside. This past Friday, (like most I would assume) was crazy, Father Patrick has a megaphone and we start praying loud, with a big cross. All the while people are on drugs getting drunk, small 7 year old kids are playing in the streets, we start with 3 people and by the end of the prayers we end with 20, mostly women, mostly mothers. I see mothers praying for the future of the kids that are going to be raised in this neighborhood, I see mothers fighting against the darkness, the drugs, the violence. I was touched, by the way this was done. People want change, people do want a better world. Life is a struggle, life is fight.

Father Patrick is a brother from Cameroon. Every time we walk in to the Favela he has to say hi to everyone. He has to start a conversation with at least 3 families. It’s kind of beautiful as week walk down the Favela people are 3 houses away and they yell, “padre Patrick!!” I remember when I was in El Salvador helping another community and people would yell, “Padre Bob!” It’s the love you put in, it’s looking at people struggle and going down to struggle with them. 

Stabilizing

Last week Joao, Leo, Favio and I were at Mary Magdalene House to stabilize it before demolishing a non-structural concrete part of the second floor.  Here are some photos!

My First Impressions

It has been a little over a week that I have been in Salvador Brazil and it seems like my Portuguese is getting better. Living in the convent/monastery has been good to me. Its giving me a peaceful outlook on life I have a chance to place myself before God every day, three times a day. I've gotten used to waking up early.

I’m working alongside another volunteer, Marion, she’s French. It seems wherever I go there will always be at least one French. One day I’ll learn the language just not today :P

It seems there is a machismo(macho-man) factor here in Brazil. A lot of the “mans” work is left to the men. Marion even though she does not mind getting a little dirty, is not allowed to work with the heavy lifting and the very dirty stuff.

My mission here in Brazil is getting a little clearer. There is a community center in one of the Favelas, and we need clean it, fix it up, and get it ready for use. I’m thinking the favela will be a central point for the community to get together for prayer, community discussion, and stuff like that. A Place community kids can do homework peacefully, or maybe just hang out with future volunteers. Whatever it is first thing is first, it has to get done.

In closing life is good here in Brazil, there are certain street rules that you have to follow, like you do in any urban city. Don’t go into something with naivety but courage. I don’t think I will be a nurse in Brazil, but I don’t mind, I suppose God calls us for different things we just have to be able to say, “Ok God, Lead the way.” 

Mary Magdalene House Renovations - Day One - Cleanup

 Here is a shot of Leo - we found out to our great surprise that his name was written on the wall - I hadn't realized that earlier!  This was right before we started the cleaning up.

Here is a shot of Ricardo moving out an old dust covered oven.  We'll be getting new appliances, so no need to keep this thing around!

 We continued in front of the house after removing everything.  Some of the old iron will be sold, all the plants and trash and accumulated dirt were removed so we can be ready to start moving in the building materials.

 Here's Favio breaking down some old pieces of roofing.

And the finished product in front!  All trash out, and the ground scraped clean!

Side view, rid of all the trash and (unauthorized) improvised chicken coup!

We were expecting to take several days to get this work done, but got it done in just one morning!  Many hands makes light work - what a blessings!

Missionary Arrives! Work Begins!

It has been a long time coming, but we are glad to welcome Leonardo de La Garza from Laredo, Texas to Salvador Brazil!  He arrived last Thursday morning on a flight from Miami and has been settling in - we hope to have him spend a month in a parish to immerse himself in the language.  The brothers are so grateful for all the hoops he has jumped through in order to get his visa, and the various sacrifices he has made to come here and serve.

Here are a few photos from last night's adoration in Alto:

After Adoration, we had a meeting with community leaders about starting the work on Mary Magdalene House.  We will be starting with a blessing of the house on Sunday (02/24/13), and then we will begin preparing the house for renovations on Monday (taking out trash and remnants of old furniture).  The first phase of renovations will begin in about a week - after things have been picked up and cleaned out - and will involve more technical and structural repairs.  The first phase should last about a month, and will be followed by a second phase that will include refinishing the walls, painting, and moving in furniture.  The second phase is projected to last about two months, which means we plan to be finished by the beginning of June.

We entrust this first moment of work to your prayers through the intercession of the Virgin Mary and St. Mary Magdalene!  God Bless!

The Universal Church

It is hard to believe that just a week ago, I was sitting in the Catedral Basilica de Salvador in Brazil. Never in my wildest dreams, did I imagine that I would be there especially as a witness to the diaconal ordination of my son, Br. Francis Therese! It has been a journey for not only him, but for all his family and friends.

Although, as Catholics, we grow up with the notion of the Universal Church, nothing brings it home quite like attending Mass in a foreign country in a foreign language! In that space we are all brothers and sisters worshiping the same God. The outpouring of support and celebration from the local people and his fellow brothers as well as Bishop Gilson Andrade da Silva, lifted my heart and confirmed that my boy is in the place where God wants him to be. It is hard to have one of your children so far away no matter how old or independent they are. This grand occasion of his ordination and the obvious love of the people in Salvador for him make my own desire for his presence a little easier to bear.

There were many adventures for us to enjoy but when asked, "What was your favorite part?" I have to say that it was all the people that we got to meet. To be able to put faces with the names of the people in the convent, in Salvador and the favela, Alto da Esperança, changes everything! Of course, I have supported my son's fundraising efforts to reconstruct the Mary Magdalene House in Alto. Now I know the people whose lives will be directly affected when the work is completed. These people are filled with hope that this building will once again be a center of community where they can gather and support one another. Our tour guide in the favela remembers what the building used to be and what a difference it made in their lives. She was so proud to show us the chapel where they attend Mass. The people there helped to construct it and take good care of the building. I am sure that the same will be true for the Mary Magdalene House!

There are so many blessings I received during my visit to Salvador. I am thankful for safe travels, for all the Community of St. John, for the gift of my son and his vocation, and for my Catholic faith. I am still thinking about how thankful I am for the extra five pounds I gained eating the most delicious food!

Please join me in prayer for the continued success of the mission in Salvador. I promised I would return for the dedication of the new Mary Magdalene House and I need to travel when I am still young enough to get there!