Walk for Peace in Brasilandia
Wishing
you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from São Paulo, Brazil.
The weather here is about 90 to 100 so it does not feel too much like
Christmas. And yet there are lights and decorations hanging throughout the city.
One theme that has always been
important for me especially during Christmas is peace. This year I am reminded in profound
ways of what that really means.
The city of São Paulo has had a surge in
violence in the last few months.
The people have seen so much death and now are asking for and praying
for peace. Catherine a Lay
Missioner and my roommate, Fr. Dan, a Maryknoll Priest and I participated in a
peace walk through the area of Brasilandia, which is a part of the city that
has been hit hard with violence.
We all work with folks from this neighborhood. The peace walk was lead by the World Youth Day Cross, which
is traveling throughout Brazil prior to the event in Rio next summer.
It was a moving experience to walk the
roads of a community and to see the faces of the people who struggle everyday
with the violence in their neighborhoods.
It was wonderful to walk in solidarity with folks who are willing to
take a stand for peace. Some of
the youth wrote the word peace on our foreheads as you can see in the picture
above.
The Two Faces of Sao Paulo
 
and the city
|
My Ministry & Work
Prison
Ministry I have been accompanying
Kathy
Bond a Maryknoll Lay Missioner who works with
woman’s groups in the
prisons. The picture on the
right
is in front of a prison were we offer a health class
for elderly woman. We also visit another prison and
hold a
health class for foreigners and pregnant Brazilians. We work with the prison
ministry of the Archdiocese of
São Paulo. This time is so important to the woman
because it helps them understand their health better
and it also provides time
for us to listen to them, pray
with them, and let them know they are valued.
Woman’s Prayer Group I participate in a prayer group
in Brasilandia in
one of the parishes that Catherine works
in. It is an important time for these women to come
together to
build community, discuss topics important to
their lives and to have some
sacred time for themselves.
Center
for Juventude (Center for Youth) I
am now
working with teens in a center that offers the Liberal Arts.
In Brazil school is for half the
day. The center offers a safe
and
positive environment where kids can come and receive
education they would not
get any other place. I help with
courses in Communication, Culture and Language. I am told
only 15% of kids are able to go to college in the
city. Without
the courses the
center offers the kids would have no chance to continue their education. I am so happy to be a part of giving these kids a fighting chance for a future where they can dream and become
anything they want. Also, the
staff and teens help
me so much with my language skills and they teach me as
much
as I teach them.
PLEASE
CONSIDER SUPPORTING ME IN MISSION!
Please remember that MKLM
funds my travel, medical, and living expenses, and other costs associated with
keeping me in mission. I ask that you consider donating to the Maryknoll Lay
Missioners so that I, and missioners like me, can continue to serve those in
need worldwide.
You can now directly support my mission work with MKLM. Funds
donated will either be applied directly to support my work, education, and ministries
or used to support the general fund of MKLM. Financial Support can be sent to
MKLM, P.O. Box 307, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0307 or online by going to https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/MaryknollLayMissioners/OnlineDonation.html?approach=5936 - Carolyn Trumble&contents=of Carolyn Trumble in mission. Please write “Carolyn Trumble- Mission
Account” in the memo line or intention box to support me in mission.
All contributions are tax deductible. Also, if you are able to donate it would be great if you let me know that you have donated. Since my mission account is new I would like to follow up to make sure all is recorded properly. Thank You.
No comments:
Post a Comment