The long-awaited week of preparation for the ordination of Deacon Manoel Gomes da Silva Filho, ssp, took place from August 12 to 16, in the Parish of Calçado, diocese of Garanhuns/PE, his hometown.
Missionary work teams were formed in advance, covering the city and nine rural communities with chapels, while the others participated in chapels closer to their realities.
I was on a mission in 3 rural communities, moving from one to another. We visited families, prayed and reflected on the Word of God, where we addressed the issue of vocations and encouraged participation in the great day of ordination. Rural schools were also visited with their own dynamics, according to the different ages. The enthusiasm was great and there was a lot of participation.
It was an experience of great harmony, joy and peace. We encountered many challenges, difficulties with health, transportation, compliance with public policies, political rivalries and other things... But above all, we also had good things, the strong desire to experience this experience of participating in a priestly ordination. For the first time, the Parish was preparing for a celebration never seen before, because, despite having local priests, they were all ordained elsewhere. It was exciting and the people were able to live the experience.
The team I took part in, traveling through the communities, was made up of: Father Danilo, SSP, the seminarian Vinícius, SSP and myself. People who made up the team were already waiting for us in the communities, accompanying us and helping us. Father Danilo went out with Eucharistic ministers, visiting and caring for the bedridden sick. Vinicius, with two people from the community, covered part of the territory and I, Sister Béte, with two other people covered another part. And so we traveled the path, carrying out the mission in the communities: Pitombeiras; Lajeado dos Pintos; Mine de Baixo and Mine de Cima. During these days I remembered a lot about our missionary, Sister Eugênia Pedroza, of fond memory, because where I was is on the border with the municipality of Canhotinho, her hometown. Someone from the first community commented on her saying: her cousin told me that she passed away at the beginning of the year and that she was a very missionary Sister. Everything was ready: those who were able to travel had the rewarding experience of witnessing a priestly ordination. Father Manoel's first mass was in the São José community, rural area – Melancias, where he was baptized, had his first communion and confirmation catechesis, and engaged in pastoral work. This celebration ended with a tribute from his catechists, and what a tribute!
I am happy to be able to participate in this significant moment as a Pauline Family and let us thank God for this new vocation that the Master Shepherd has granted us.
Sr. Elisabéte Martins, sjbp
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