Accompaniment: Brazil

Fransiskus Bram Tulusan, MSC. Rome to Rio de Janeiro. I would like to share my experience of accompaniment in Brazil (08/03 – 06/04). We arrived in Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 8 March 2024. We went to the MSC community in Niteroi. There were three community members: Humberto, Joaquin, and Xico. In the evening, we went to Christ the Redeemer to attend the 100th anniversary celebration of the Eucharistic Youth Movement in Brazil. The next day, I attended the lay meeting of the Chevalier family of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart parish in Niteroi. During the meeting, we introduced ourselves and shared our experiences about each other’s ministries. It was interesting to hear the sharing of people who had just joined a pastoral program in one of the parishes. They joyfully shared their experiences of visiting families.

Celebration of 200th Anniversary of Jules Chevalier – Aparecida. On Monday afternoon (11/03), we travelled to Aparecida to attend the 200th anniversary of the birth of Fr Jules Chevalier. The congress was attended by approximately 100 members of the Chevalier family in Brazil. On this occasion, three main themes were explored: ‘Jules Chevalier: person, congregation, restoration of his history’ (Mgr Maristelo MSC). ‘Devotion to the sacred heart of Jesus, disciples of the heart’ (Sr Fabilene FDNSC) ‘Chevalier: vocation, calling, mystic’ (Humberto Henrique MSC) The congress closed on Friday, 15 March, with a Eucharistic celebration at the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida.

Aspirancy – Pirasunungga (Sao Paulo Province). I arrived in Pirasunungga on Friday (15/03) afternoon with Wederson, Luis (Deacon), and Erick (Scholastic). Currently, in aspirancy there are six formandi (Christian, Marcelo, Mateus, Wagner, Jo, Gua) with Benedito Angelo Cortez MSC, Wederson MSC, Luis Claudio MSC as their formators and a senior confrere Humberto Capobianco. The meeting with them was very interesting. I was happy to hear their enthusiasm and joy in following the Lord as missionaries. The same thing happened in the meeting with the coaches. We shared our experiences and the latest information about the congregation, especially the Emmaus document. The formators are aware of their responsibilities and live them with total commitment.

Theologate – Sao Paulo. I arrived at the Theologate Vila Formosa – Sao Paulo on Monday (20/03). There were eight community members, Lucemir Alves MSC (formator) and the formandi: Jefferson, Igor, Valmir, Yordy, Guilherme, Erick, and Miguel. The interesting thing about meeting with the theologians was listening to them share that their pastoral work is a community task and part of the mission to proclaim God’s love to many people. The next day, we went to the MSC Sao Paulo provincialate to meet the members of the community and follow the election of the new local superior, who had moved from Rodrigo to Elinaldo. The next day (22/03), in the morning, I attended the concelebration mass in the chapel and afterwards continued my journey to Itajuba.

Novitiate – Itajuba. The journey to Itajuba was very pleasant as I was treated to a beautiful view of the mountains in the Minas Gerais area. The MSC Novitiate in Itajuba is the common formation house for the three MSC provinces in Brazil (Curitiba, Sao Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro). Currently, there are three novices (Joao, Ronaldo, Guilherme) together with Gilberto MSC (Formator) and Jetulio MSC I was touched by the reflections of some novices who thanked me for the formation. The formation made them recognise and accept their reality more and more. The experience of facing inner wounds made them more mature, and through the experience, they felt how important the experience of being loved and loving others is. This is the purpose of the MSC mission, the call to love one another.

Pre-Novitiate-San Gonzalo. After the Semana Santa and Easter celebrations in Niteroi, the accompaniment continued at the Pre-Novitiate community – San Gonzalo. Like the novitiate, the pre-novitiate is also a common formation house of the three MSC provinces in Brazil. There are four formandi (Danrley, Adriano, Reginaldo, and Caio) who are accompanied by Bruno Cesar MSC (Formator). During the meeting, apart from talking about vocations, they also discussed some current issues, such as the environment, clericalism and the protection of minors. They were very aware of these issues and gave some positive responses for formation, such as the importance of human formation, sexual education and dealing with inner wounds.

Aspirancy-Vila Velha. The last community I accompanied was aspirancy in Vila Velha. This community comprises five formandi (Derlano, Gustavo, Giovani, Marlon, and Bruno) and Rafael Lima MSC as the formator. The meeting with the formandi took place in the afternoon. They shared their life experiences in aspirancy and their motivation to become MSCs. On that occasion, besides introducing myself and sharing some of the latest information about the congregation, I also reminded them about the central identity of MSCs, which is religious. We are religious brothers and priests. After a refreshment break, I continued the meeting with Rafael. The accompaniment ended with a Eucharist, and after supper, we returned to Niteroi.

Gratidão. I am very grateful for the experience in Brazil. The experience of meeting many people taught me many things. I am grateful to experience the Brazilian people’s joy, kindness, enthusiasm, creativity, faithfulness, and happiness. Thanks to all the MSC confreres there for the togetherness, laughing, helping and many more during the accompaniment. A big thank you to the confreres who helped with the translations, especially Humberto Henrique MSC, Erik Bryan MSC and Miguel Ibarra MSC. Furthermore, I would like to express my gratitude to Ronnie Diniz MSC (Provincial of Rio De Janeiro Province) and Luis Carlos MSC (Provincial of Sao Paulo Province) for their willingness to facilitate this accompaniment. Muito obrigado.