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Threshold Winter 2009
Capela and Chacara: Giving Witness in Brazil
by Barbara Ann Mayer, OSB
Sisters Grace Malaney and Anne Shepard on a spring visit to
Sisters Eliene Gouvea, Gisélia Morais, Joselaine Ferreira,
Maria das Graças Silva, and postulant Ironide Nunez (in front)
The sisters in Mineiros offer hope to all who come to their door. Our five sisters in Mineiros, Brazil, live very simply and work very hard. They have recently begun construction of several store fronts on their property to rent to small business owners, and to help them become more financially stable.
Sister Giselia (left), a musician, works with the choir groups in all 20 capelas (chapels) in the area. Besides training, she provides the poorer communities with CDs of liturgical music to teach them the hymns for Mass. She currently teaches a course in liturgical music at St. Benedict’s parish for all the choirs.
Sister Giselia also manages a 23-acre chacara (farm) and is very conscientious about ecological issues. They are now planting a new orchard, since many of their fruit trees are old and need to be replaced. They are planting trees native to the region, many of which are in danger of extinction. They want to make the chacara a place of beauty where people can come for retreats and rest. There is currently no adequate structure to offer hospitality for groups. One of their dreams for the future is to build a quiet place for people to come and enjoy nature.
Sister Maria das Gracas, who teaches in the high school, incorporates justice issues in her classes, and also whenever possible in meetings with youth groups, parents and teachers. She and Ironide, a postulant, help a very poor community with para-liturgical celebrations and catechesis. Ironide just finished high school and will enter the novitiate in January.
Sister Joselaine, who has made first vows, recently finished her bachelor’s degree. She helps with the radio Mass and liturgies at St. Benedict parish and Divine Holy Spirit parish. She also is involved in Confirmation preparation and vocation ministry.
“Father Vinicios, one of the monks, and I are trying to increase vocation awareness in Mineiros,” she said. “We are on the diocesan team for the promotion of vocations.”
Sister Eliene, the coordinator, mentors teachers at the State Secretariate of Education and the college in Mineiros. She also provides workshops for catechists in nearby cities and offers catechesis for various communities.
Although the sisters are not involved in formal social justice ministry, they share their farm produce, especially milk and eggs, with those in need and provide clothing and medical assistance when possible. The sisters believe in the power of prayer and include all the people who come to them in their daily prayers.
“We welcome and attend to all who come to our door,” Sister Eliene said. “We strive to offer them hopeful words, words of encouragement, whether they are rich or poor. We also cover the expenses of those who enter our monastery, whether they stay or not. We believe that investing in their education makes them better people wherever they go. And we pay a just salary to those we hire for services.”
“Each one of us in our various ministries tries to bring the love of Christ to every person we encounter, trying to pass on Christian values,” the sisters said. “We try to demonstrate that there is still hope in a world dominated by egoism, individualism and indifference.”
Sister Joselaine at the farm
Construction is under way on the second floor
and store front additions to the monastery.
.