Cheers from the woman echoed through the street as we,
myself and fellow missioner Catherine get off the bus in Brasilandia. The woman waited at the bus stop for us
so we could walk together through the streets of the favela in Brazil in order
to pray the novena. The novena is
a ritual the woman of Brazil practice many times during the year and today we
journey together through Advent.
We weave through the streets of the favela, streets that
just weeks ago were paralyzed by fear from the violence between the police and
the gangs but are now alive with the rhythm of life. Children run through the streets with the strings of a kite
in their hands, dogs run next to the children, teens huddle together on a
doorstep talking and laughing, men stand and talk to one another, and a group
of young men are setting off firecrackers still celebrating the win of their
beloved soccer team. The woman
stroll together laughing and catching up on the weekly news of their lives.
We reach the door of our hostess Celma and she greets us
with hugs and kisses. So happy to have us visit her home. Gathered this evening are nine woman
who have worked all day, traveled several hours on a bus to get home, in order
to cook for their families, before carving out a little bit of time for
themselves to meet and pray.
Prayer meetings in Brasilandia begin around 8pm. Which is the earliest that folks can
get to the church.
We begin to pray the novena. I struggle to follow the Portuguese since I am still a new
missioner. I know the prayers are
about Mary’s journey to Bethlehem.
We reflect on Mary’s courage and her strength. I look around the room and I can see the same strength in
the woman gathered. I am very conscious
of the noise and things happening around us. Outside the front gate fireworks continue to go off. The smell of sulfur fills the
room. Somewhere close by someone
has their stereo on and the music bounces off the walls of the house. Preteen boys run though the house and
two girls about seven run up and down the stairs and through the middle of the
group several times. And yet the
prayer never stops, never slows.
The woman roll with all the things happening around us. I wonder if they even notice them like
I do.
I reflect on how with all the commotion, with all the
challenges and difficulties that these woman encounter they remain steadfast in
their faith. I think about
Mary the Mother of Jesus and how much commotion she must have experienced in
her life. Living faith is not
always quiet. It happens in the
mist of life. I am so impressed by
the strong convection of these woman in Brazil who in all the ciaos and demands
of their lives remain fervent in their faith. And this night when the women
sing “Ava Maria” suddenly all the noise that had once been so profound is no
longer apparent. In a favela in
Brazil, woman’s voices join in solidarity praying for joy and for peace.
