The Province of Brazil South has a very active missionary presence in different parts of the country.
In our journey through our global mission, we will discover a little bit of the history of the province, watch the video that shows various realities of the country and the mission, and accompany the commitment of the sisters in defense of the rights of indigenous peoples.
Protection of the Earth, Environment and Concern for Livelihood
With this sense of belonging to the Congregation, we, Sisters Aurélia and Madalena, were again present at the 52nd General Assembly of the Indigenous Peoples of Roraima, held from March 11 to 14, 2023, at the Regional Center, Lake Caracaranã, on the Indian land called Raposa Serra do Sol, with the theme: “Protection of the Earth, Environment and Concern for Livelihood”.
For us SSpS, working in the mission here in Roraima, in the northern part of Brazil, the Amazon region, it is of fundamental importance to participate actively and fully in all the activities and events of the indigenous peoples (Indian tribes), at the community, regional, state and, if possible, national level.
SSpS Sisters with other religious and lay pastoral agents also at the service of the indigenous cause.The Assembly was attended by the Macuxi, Wapichana, Sapará, Taurepang, Patamona, Wai Wai, Ye’kuana, Yanomami and Ingaricó ethnic tribes. Each indigenous tribe had the opportunity to report on their activities and life plans, as well as to evaluate their journey of organization in the context of the federal, state and local scenario in the last four years. It is clear that there are several common points between the different regions, such as: traditional medicine, PGTA (Plans for Organize and Plan on Territories and Conservation) and also protection through the GPVIT Indigenous Territorial Protection and Oversight Group, the monitoring of the Native American Territory.
The responsible representatives of the Yanomami tribes emphasized the current cruel and inhuman situation they are going through, highlighting the pollution and death of waters – rivers, forests, soils and the large number of human deaths, especially of children. There was a strong cry to save the human lives of the Yanomami tribes, who in recent years have gone through and are still going through a process of extinction. Their hope is the response and action of the present government, which has set up a large national task force to reverse this death situation, which has been exacerbated by the general relaxation of the regulation of gold and mineral wealth extraction, also by uncontrolled deforestation. It is the great consensus of the entire indigenous Indian movement and of every social movement that all intruders, especially the gold-diggers who have already caused so much tragedy to Mother Earth, should be removed.
A very powerful and important moment took place on the third day of the Assembly. On that day, the main programme was the presence of the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, accompanied by the First Lady Janjy and several ministers. In his speech, the President reaffirmed his commitment, his oath, to remove all miners, gold miners and invaders from the indigenous territories of the Yanomami tribes and from all indigenous territories throughout Brazil. He pointed out that only 14% of Brazil is occupied by indigenous Indian tribes-populations and 100% of Brazilian territory once belonged to these indigenous Indian tribes-populations. President Lula also visited and appreciated the agricultural fair held during the 52nd Assembly, where he could see the richness of 100% organic and native production. He pledged to unleash investment for the products from the Indigenous lands of the Indians and on their own way of producing their products.
All the security for the President and his associates was provided by the Native American Territorial Protection Group. The indigenous movement did not accept the security apparatus offered by the county government in Roraima. From the hands of a young indigenous Indian woman and child, a letter was delivered to the President with the demands of the indigenous people of Roraima, referring to health, education, traditional medicine, territorial protection, the removal of miners and gold miners, the appreciation of culture, tradition, territory and indigenous sustainability.
Land is essential to indigenous peoples
For us, the Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit, attending this gathering of the Indigenous Indian people of Roraima, has always been a powerful moment of tremendous and new experiences, partnership, spirituality and empowerment for the advocacy of rights for those who have no voice or whose voice is silenced. The Indian tribes here in Brazil, want and fight for the one thing that is most essential for them: the LAND. It is impossible to live without it!
The struggle continues, united we will win!
Indigenous blood, not a drop more!
People united, they will never be defeated!
Tell the people to move forward, we will move forward!
If God is for us, who can be against us!
Marking, mapping the earth, come on!
These were and are the cries of the Indians, signifying strength, courage in continuing the struggle for justice!
The SSpS Community of Alto Alegre in RoraimaWe Missionary Sisters here in the community, four at the moment: Sisters Madalena, Elvini, Ivani and Aurélia, are in this struggle and on the journey together with the indigenous people. May the Spirit of God always guide and accompany us, faithful and encouraged by the witness that where there is one SSpS sister, there are always and all present!
Sr. Aurélia Prihodová, SSpS and Sr. Maria Madalena Hoffmann, SSpS
Alto Alegre – Roraima, Brasil = Amazon, from BRS Province
History of the Divine Wisdom Province – South Brazil
The Divine Wisdom Province was created in 1963. The headquarters was established at Sant’Ana College in Ponta Grossa-PR. In 1972. With the construction of the Holy Spirit Convent, it was transferred to the neighbourhood of Tarobá/Uvaranas Park.
Since 2021, it has been located in the centre of the city of Paraná. Sister Meinradine Bütterhoff was provincial coordinator from 1963 to 1968. She had as advisors Sisters Dulce Menezes, Inviolata Mühl, Trindade Campos and Dulcemira Trigueiro.
From the very beginning of the Province, the Sisters dedicated themselves to assisting the families by visiting them in their homes. According to the chronicle of the time, Sister Dulce Menezes was the first to visit families in the neighborhood, even before the Convent was built, in September 1973, with the arrival of Sister Gáudia.
She, in her great missionary zeal, visited and travelled through the village, inviting people to the Sunday celebration in the São Francisco chapel and to participate in the adult literacy course. The accompaniment of families and children resulted in the creation of the Arnaldo Janssen Centre of Human Promotion, which today is the Saint Arnald´s School.
At present the community of the Holy Spirit Convent, carries out various activities, such as retreats (also for lay groups), provincial assemblies, provincial chapters, sectoral meetings of ongoing formation, and formation meetings for different groups.
The Brazil South Province is organised today into 20 communities spread over 7 States (Roraima, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul), with a total of 99 sisters, 4 junior sisters and 2 novices. The missionary activities in the Province are carried out in the fields of education, pastoral work and health.
by Sr. Zélia Cordeiro, SSpS – Communication Coordinator of Brazil
Learn more about our mission in the SSpS Province – South Brazil watching the video:
