Inspired by Mary

List News

18/08/2021 - Brazil

Jeanne Marie Chavoin and her daughters on Mission in a time of pandemic.

The Marist Sisters’ community of Belo Horizonte recently provided this reflection on their ministry.

"How do we respond and live the mission in times of pandemic?

Pope Francis, in his great sensitivity, provided a hint.

“Inspired by Mary, we want to listen to the voice of God in the small signs of life, which call us to announce, denounce and witness to the hope of the Kingdom in the dark night of the socio-economic and political reality of our peoples”. (277 - Fratelli Tutti).

Our mission and presence with homeless people have led us to seek partnerships with other Christian Churches.

We would like to share with you two experiences which we were, as the great Brazilian educator, Paulo Freire, described as " being a sign of hopeful hope!" We pray with the psalmist: “Waiting, I waited… Waiting, we waited… (Ps 39(40).

We share two new experiences or accompanying people needing drug rehabilitation.

The 37-year-old, who’d been married 9 years, father of two children, although a very hardworking and responsible man, after the death of his mother, got involved in the world of drugs and ended up on the street. In his street trajectory, he met a 29-year-old woman, mother, wife who also had the same history of involvement with drugs. They fell in love and started sharing the same space. In December of last year his wife was admitted and we sisters visited her at the hospital several times. In January of this year, she was hospitalized with covid19 and died. We could not say goodbye to this lovely woman, and we don't even know where her body was taken. From then onwards, the drama only increased for her young husband. He slept in front of the sisters' house, because according to him he found safety there and was protected. One day he asked on his knees that he could no longer stand that life of suffering. And it was amazing how God heard his despair and the next day the lights started to appear and he was soon being prepared for his hospitalization in the clinic.

A unique experience of welcoming someone who had fallen into living on the street, helping with his bath and preparing their belongings in order to have a place where they could rest and have a little dignity. But arriving at the clinic, to our surprise, he also tested positive for covid 19. And Mary always giving us strength to hope that despite the fragility of the young man and the fact that he would share this space with 40 other men, it was possible to stay in isolation and a month later we returned to the place for a special visit that, according to the coordinator of the house, was scheduled for 2.00 pm but at 8.00 am he was already dressed and waiting for us.

Together we sing: The Lord works in us Wonders and Holy is His Name.

It has already been 4 months of struggle, challenges, and achievements. Our arduous and happy mission is now being the contact with his family. We have already managed to locate brothers, the 82-year-old elderly father and we are looking forward to meeting his two children aged 5 and 8 with great anticipation.

The second person to be admitted was more recent, less than a month ago. 54-year-old Ms. Marisa mother of children, but the family unable to cope asked her to leave the house. After spending 2 years on the street, and when she felt the strength and could manage, she would come to lunch at the sisters' house. At other times, when food was not brought to her, she would go for days without eating. She also asked us for help, as she couldn't stand life on the street anymore. A beautiful day like any other day, we were surprised to find a vacancy and the moment was very emotional, as two children came to meet the sisters and hug the mother, having lived in the hope that this moment would come.

This experience took place on the eve of the feast of our foundress and it confirms that we must trust because God is not dead! And with Pope Francis, we want to say that when looking to the past, we have the feeling of GRATITUDE. Because many lives we managed to touch and be touched, a lot of solidarity, many people joined us in the mission and long journeys. Many fears, anguish, challenges, and experienced joys! As we look at the present, the ardour of PASSION takes us to commitment to the justice of the Kingdom of God announced by Jesus of Nazareth. Regarding the future, we embrace it with the motivation of HOPE in the Lord of Life, Who does not forsake us!

Certain that the hope of the presence of the Marist Sisters among the poor and vulnerable makes creativity and boldness in the Mission grow in the Church and in society, being increasingly unknown and hidden in the world, doing great things for God, as our venerable Fr. Colin invites us.

Together we can respond to the world and not just react to the world.