Aid to the Church in Need: Brazil: New Life for Old Cloisters

Brazil: New Life for Old Cloisters

Posted by Press release on 30/9/2009, 11:54 am
Board Administrator

ACN News: Wednesday, 30th September 2009 – BRAZIL

New Life for Old Cloisters

By John Newton

DEMAND for education in the Christian faith from people in Brazil has paved the way for the transformation of one of the country’s most historic Church buildings.
The Benedictine monastery in João Pessoa, the capital of Paraíba state, north-east Brazil, is being developed into the Archdiocesan Formation Centre, with help from Aid to the Church in Need of just under $40,000.
The monastery was founded in 1596, and ranks as one of the oldest colonial buildings in the country. The adjoining church was built in the 1724.
An update on the work’s progress was given to ACN earlier this month during the visit of Archbishop Aldo Pagotto and Monsignor Neuredo Henrique, from the Archdiocese of Paraíba.
The church authorities worked closely with government officials to ensure the heritage of the monastery was not lost as part of the building work.
Now that these issues have been resolved, redecoration is underway and the work is due for completion by the end of October.
Archbishop Pagotto stressed the need for the formation centre in the local Church, especially for the laity.
An ACN report following the archbishop’s visit states: “Archbishop Pagotto emphasised an increase of enthusiasm for formation to enable the faithful to have a deeper experience of God.”
Part of the Formation centre has already been completed and is home to the diocesan propedeutic seminary – where the candidates for priesthood are prepared for one year before entering the major seminary.
These studies are led by a priest from Comunidade Doce Mãe de Deus (Community of the Sweet Mother of God).
This is a 20-year old community that grew out of Catholic Charismatic Renewal, which brings together laity, clergy and religious for pastoral work and evangelisation.
Fifteen young propedeutic students started formation in the diocese this year, after a rigorous selection, nine of them will be going forwards to study at the Major Seminary.
ACN has given more than $20,000 in aid for the formation of 34 major seminarians during 2009.
In 1921 the monks left the monastery in João Pessoa but its building has been used by several Catholic groups since then.
Prior to its renovation the Monastery was used, among other things, by liberation theology groups who promoted radical left-wing parties.
Archbishop Pagotto wants to take advantage of the renovation to use the building for religious formation and to strengthen the new evangelization.
The Church in Brazil is one of the highest recipients of ACN aid. Last year, the charity provided more than $6.2 million to help the Church there.

Editor’s Notes:

Directly under the Holy See, Aid to the Church in Need supports the faithful wherever they are persecuted, oppressed or in pastoral need. ACN is a Catholic charity – helping to bring Christ to the world through prayer, information and action.

Founded in 1947 by Fr Werenfried van Straaten, whom Pope John Paul II named “An outstanding Apostle of Charity”, the organisation is now at work in about 130 countries throughout the world.

The charity undertakes thousands of projects every year including providing transport for clergy and lay Church workers, construction of church buildings, funding for priests and nuns and help to train seminarians. Since the initiative’s launch in 1979, 46.5 million Aid to the Church in Need Child’s Bibles have been distributed worldwide.

For more information, please contact the Australian office of ACN on (02) 9679-1929. e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org or write to Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148. Web: www.aidtochurch.org

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Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148 ABN: 62 418 911 594
Ph/Fax (02) 9679-1929 e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org web: www.aidtochurch.org