Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) The Communities of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of Our Lady of Penha Province (BRJ) accept the invitation of the Provincial, Sr. Ana Teresa Pinto, who encourages the FMA communities to recount the experiences they are living in this time of the Covid-19 Pandemic, to feel in communion within the charismatic mission they are called to keep alive:
“The time we are living calls for creativity and daring to re-invent ourselves in seeking alternatives to maintain access to hope and solidarity. What we are experiencing confirms that isolation does not distance us, that the suspension of ‘face to face’ activities does not impede communication, that technology does not substitute human intelligence, and the capacity to be in harmony with the transcendent, which is not lacking, because we are beings gifted with the power of love.”
One experience is that of Bethany Home of St. John Bosco Community in Belford Roxo (RJ) which is carrying out the project ‘To grow together’ in collaboration with the Youth Pastoral of Rio de Janeiro, Providence Bank, and the social entities, Ekloos Institute and Phi Institute. The FMA, together with the Social Works Volunteers, have succeeded in delivering two packages of food and basic food products to the families of the 160 children, teenagers, and young people who are the recipients of the project. Thus, each family was able to re-kindle hope that makes it possible to believe that this difficult situation will pass.
Another initiative is that of Don Bosco Home of St. John Bosco Community of Linhares , who in the month of April 2020, when the contagion of Covid-19 spread in Brazil, ideated a place of sharing and of fraternity with the slogan ‘Infected by hope’, recalling the words of Pope Francis. Thanks to the generosity of benefactors, they were able to distribute to families in difficulty, 250 rolls of bread a week received from the Celestrine oven, 25 packages of food received from St. John Paul II Parish, 267 kits with an Easter Egg, and other materials donated to them. In addition, the FMA through Sr. Antonia L. Venturim, donated to the families the liquid soap produced in the Community.
The educators of the project for street children Villagindo, of Mary Immaculate Community of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, are involved in producing Online activities with messages of support and hope to encourage responsibility and productivity, to furnish health information, and to try to reduce the effects of idleness on the children and young people. Each day, an educator gives the Good Morning, while others publish cultural games, playful activities, narrations, testimonies, contests, etc. The educators are also dedicated to making protective masks and soap made at home to donate them to the families who are the Project recipients. In addition, Villagindo made available a social assistant to support the families and clarify doubts about the Pandemic.
