Missionary Practice of Fraternidade attracts volunteers of all ages

Impelled by the intention of doing good to the neediest, 37 volunteers of several parts of Brazil and of other countries participated in the 39th Missionary Practice that Fraternidade – International Humanitarian Federation (FIHF) – organized in Carmo da Cachoeira, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The response was very broad, as the participants ranged from the age of 18 to 78.

Many of them were present for the first time. Others had already lived the experience in previous editions. Among all, they gathered abilities and will to serve, to transcend difficulties and focus on a single objective: to give a response to the needs of others.

Cleaning of the area of the outdoor showers in Creative Life

“An inner call always impelled me to serve. And I did that in my country. But this time, it was something harder for me. To leave everything to come to a far away and unknown place without knowing what I would find. And having to do it, remembering time and again the reaction that my friends had when I told them: “you are crazy, what will you do there, you can also serve here…”. I recognize that I got on the plane with fear, I arrived with fear and I continue with fear, but I try to face my fears because I have everything in life, whereas there are people who have nothing”, shared Jeison Bedoya, a 28-year-old youth that came from Colombia.

In the same line, Juliana, Faria Gismonti, 22, coming from Rio de Janeiro, commented that “this Missionary Practice gave me the opportunity of living what I theoretically already knew, that through service I could feel this love that I want to distribute”.

“The intense experiences of service made us feel among brothers and sisters. It is something that brings a joy that is born deep down our being”, confirmed Fatima Gonçalves Cavalcante, 56, also from Rio de Janeiro.

Hydra of Lerna

A task in a vegetable garden of the House of Welcome of Saint Joseph

In the inauguration meeting, held last November 15, the participants had contact with the 12 works of Hercules contained in the book Hora de Crescer Interiormente – O Mito de Hercules Hoje (Time to Grow Internally – The Myth of Hercules Today, in free translation), by José Trigueirinho Netto. They watched a video and then shared a group reflection about the eighth task of Hercules: Raising the Hydra of Lerna. She symbolizes, explains the author in his work, the facing of the lower nature of the human being, which can only be dominated by means of a humble surrender to a Higher Will, expressed through the soul.

On Nov 16, Friday, the activities began with a liturgy in the Marian Center of Figueira and then four groups of tasks were created: one to make bread in the bakery of House of Light on the Hill and in the House of Welcome of Saint Joseph (232 loaves); another conducted a volunteer group service in the House of Welcome; a third group supported the fixing of food in the communitarian refectory of House of Light on the Hill; the fourth group made the selection and fixing of things donated for their future distribution in the Hut of Saint Joseph.

Humanitarian Missions

Distribution of bread to needy families

On Nov 17, Saturday, the Missionary Practice was carried out in the Hut of Saint Joseph, with the delivery of donations to the needy population of the region, and then paid home visits to humble dwellings of Carmo da Cachoeira, for the distribution of the bread prepared the day before. They also visited the sick people of the public hospital of the city. The day ended with a presentation, with videos, of Humanitarian Roraima Mission, which Fraternidade – International Humanitarian Federation – carries out in the North of Brazil, in support to the Venezuelan immigrants.

On Nov 18, Sunday, the enthusiastic volunteers joined the first volunteer group service of Saint Joseph, which took place in Creative Life, one of the lodging places of the Community-of-Light of Figueira. They also paid a visit to the Home for the Elderly Saint Vincent of Paul. They finished the day participating in a session of questions and answers about the Humanitarian Missions of Fraternidade, with the manager of the institution, Friar Luciano, of Grace Mercy Order.

Area of the outdoor showers in Creative Life

On Nov 19, Monday, the meeting of the final evaluation of the 39thMissionary Practice took place, when the participants shared their impressions, finished the study of the eighth work of Hercules: Raising the Hydra of Lerna and watched videos about Humanitarian Colombia Mission. Then they all went to the Meeting with the Most Chaste Heart of Saint Joseph, a program transmitted by Mercy Mary TV, via the internet.

Next Missionary Practice will be conducted from December 7 to 11, Friday to Tuesday, 2018.

Information and Enrolement

Cell Phone and WhatsApp: (+55) (35) 99914-1200

inscricaoeventos@fraterinternacional.org