• HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
    • History
    • Dominican Spirituality
    • Life and Mission
    • Associates
      • Ireland
      • South Africa
      • Associates Stories
        • Mary Mc Crae
        • Niamh Smith
        • Janice Mc Garry
    • Dominican Saints
      • Saint Dominic
      • Thomas Aquinas
      • Saint Catherine
      • Fra Angelico
      • St. Agnes of Montepulciano
      • St. John Macias
      • A poem for Jubilee Year
    • Books
    • Child Safeguarding Policy
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Ecology
      • An Tairseach- Dominican Farm and Ecology Centre
      • 2022 – Programme of events
    • Justice
    • Education
      • Dominican Ethos in Schools
      • Secondary Schools ROI
      • Secondary Schools NI
      • Primary Schools
      • Special Schools
      • Third Level
      • Lumen Dominican Centre Sion Hill
        • Lumen Dominican Centre
    • Sacred Preaching Space
    • Ecumenism
    • Pastoral Care
    • Other Ministries
  • WHERE WE ARE
    • Ireland
    • North America – Louisiana
    • Latin America
    • South Africa
    • Portugal
      • Archives
  • VOCATIONS
    • Becoming a Dominican Sister
    • Vocation Stories
      • Sr Margaret MacCurtain OP
      • Sr Bridget O’Driscoll OP
      • Sr Francis Cosgrove OP
      • Sr. Aedris Coates OP
      • Sr. Margaret Kelly OP
      • Sr. Joan O’Donovan OP
      • Sr Sabine Schratz OP
      • Sr. Liz Smyth OP
      • Sr. Eileen O’Connell
      • Sr. Edel Murphy OP
      • Sr. Kathleen Fitzsimons OP
      • Sr. Rose McLarnon OP
      • Sr. Eileen McCarthy OP
  • SAFEGUARDING
    • Child Safeguarding Policy
    • Child Safeguarding Statement
    • Contact Details
  • TV
    • NEWS
      • ChurchTV
      • Photo Gallery
  • CONTACT
    • GDPR
    • Data Retention and Erasure Policy
    • Privacy Notice
    • Web Privacy Statement
    • User Agreement
    • Cookie Policy
facebook
twitter

Recent

22
DEC
2014

Christmas Greetings from Cananéia – S.P. Brasil

Posted By : Orla Benson
Comments : Off

Christmas is almost at the door step and we are at the end of another year, they seem to come around faster and faster!

As we look back we remember the people who have been part of our lives and express our gratitude to God for all the suffering, the losses, the joys and blessings we have received and shared throughout the year. Thanks to you we have been able to alleviate hardship and bring about a little more dignity, joy and love in the lives of the people around us particularly those in need.

As the year comes to a close there are many special activities evaluations and celebrations such as:
On November 21st we celebrated `Consciencia Negra’ Day, in the parish, we have two quilombola communities where descendants of African slaves live and keep alive some of their African traditions. There were many workshops and activities throughout the day which came to a close with an open air Afro-Brazilian Mass during which we remembered and prayed for the people of Africa especially those suffering from Wars and the dreadful disease of Ebola. It seems that the G8s and 20’s of this world have little interest in alleviating such tragedies.
A lot of mission activities took place this year which was a response to the appeal by Pope Francis to go out to the high ways and bye ways. One of the highlights was the large number of young people who went on mission to the neighbouring communities and parishes. They visited the homes, prayed with the people and shared their stories.

In Brazil September is Bible month and this year the gospel Matthew was studied, the theme being – Missionary Disciples — with the mandate “Go out to the whole world ” Mt 28, 19

Two community kitchens were built in the parish this year, while there was a builder, electrician and; engineer responsible for the overall construction, the people of the community got together like a `meitheal” in the old days. They cleared the site, dug the foundation and put on the roof. This brought great joy as the kitchen, like in any home, is the heart of the community.

22
At the end of our neighbourhood there is a growing Guarani village or aldeia’. Being a nomadic people there is constant migration from Argentina, Paraguay, Chile and south of Brazil to the “terra sem males”(Cananéia and Region) due to reservation rights, preservation of culture and peoples etc. Our community has a long standing relationship with the Guarani and each month we visit the village to accompany the mothers and children. The visit by the local women is greatly valued, respecting and learning from each other’s culture, song, dance, arts and crafts, stories are told, and food is shared as well as concern for the well-being of the children.
In 2015 we celebrate 40 years of the diocese of Registro. Our bishop Dom José Luiz who retires in three years’ time says as he won’t be around for the 50th so he wants to be able to celebrate with the people now. The commemorations begin in February with the 17 parishes going on Pilgrimage to the national Shrine of N.S Aparecida. There are over 300 going from our parish alone! As we write Dom Jose is having radium treatment, he is an extremely pastoral man and very dedicated (a pope Francis type of man), pray for him. At parish level we have a new parish priest, Fr Alessandro who is from the neighbouring town and the first diocesan Brazilian ever in the parish. He is a very talented young man who believes in team work and we work very well together attending to the many demands of the parish. However all this is about to change as Bridget, after 21 years of service and commitment to the people of the Diocese of Registro, will be returning to Ireland in the beginning of the year, a little earlier than planned due to a congregational appointment. Ann will stay on in the parish until the end of the year and then move to Sao Paulo.
If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies’ .
We wish to thank you for your prayers, generosity and interest in our mission, also those who came to visit. May you and yours be blessed with good health, joy and wisdom “for unto us a Child is born…”0191_001

Love and best wishes,

Sr. Bridget O’Driscoll OP and Sr. Ann Griffin MSHR

About the Author

Social Share

Reflections on the Irish Dominicans in Portugal

July 06, 2022

Sr Columbia OP - Reflection for a Nun's Life Ministry

April 01, 2021

Advent Calendar' - a poem by Dr Rowan Williams narrated by Sr Eileen O Connell OP

December 14, 2020
  • Posts
  • Categories
  • Tags
  • Celebrating Sr Macrina, RIP
  • Reception Day for Sr Anne
  • CODALC 2023
  • Book launch of “My Life in Brazil” by Sr. Padraigín McKenna OP
  • Visit from the Congregation Justice Office
  • New Congregation Justice Office
  • Launch of The Parish as Oasis, a new book by Kevin Hargaden SJ
  • Film Screening of ‘The Letter’
  • An Tairseach Calendar now on Sale
  • An Tairseach presents Advent Reflection Day with Arlene Flaherty OP
  • An Tairseach (32)
  • Dominican Associates (3)
  • Dominican News (266)
  • Education (75)
  • Events (89)
  • Good News (78)
  • Highlights (26)
  • Home Page Slider (18)
  • Ireland (80)
  • Justice (68)
  • Latin America (29)
  • Louisiana (17)
  • News (393)
  • Our Regions (8)
  • Poems (5)
  • Portugal (15)
  • Prayers (17)
  • Proclaiming (7)
  • Professions (4)
  • Reflections (12)
  • Rest Of The World (5)
  • Sacred Space (4)
  • South Africa (23)
  • Stories (21)
  • Uncategorized (298)
  • Vatican II- Remembering (7)
  • Vocations (14)
  • Women Preachers (12)
Dominican Women South Africa Reflection Vatican II Mission and Ministry God An Tairseach Baptism Art Chaplain Hello Logo Pauline Hospital Portugal Louisiana Ireland Mindfulness in Education Froebel College of Education The Woman at the Well Lay participation in Parish Life Compassion illness RIP Rest In Peace Mary Magdalen Spring

Twitter

  • RT @BA_McShane: Join me in conversation with Alan Hayes of @ArlenHouse on Saturday to pay tribute to the late, great Dr Margaret MacCurtain… over a year ago
  • RT @rogerchilds2u: @sinead_mccoole @UCC @DominicanSrsCab @UCDHistory @burnslibrary @ArlenHouse Thank you for such an elegant, touching and… over a year ago
  • RT @sinead_mccoole: Dr Margaret MacCurtain's life spanned 9 decades, 1000s of lives were enriched @UCC @DominicanSrsCab @UCDHistory @burnsl… over a year ago

Search Our Site

Recent Posts

  • Celebrating Sr Macrina, RIP
  • Reception Day for Sr Anne
  • CODALC 2023
  • Book launch of “My Life in Brazil” by Sr. Padraigín McKenna OP
  • Visit from the Congregation Justice Office

Dominican Links

  • Dominican Ecology Centre
  • Dominican Contemplative Nuns at the Monastery of St Catherine of Siena
  • Order of Preachers
  • Dominican Friars
  • AMRI
  • Lay Dominicans Ireland

Our Ministries

  • Dominican Ecology Centre
  • Contemplative Outreach
  • Dominican Sisters International
  • Irish Archives Resource

Contact Us

  1. Name *
    * Please enter your name
  2. Email *
    * Please enter a valid email address
  3. Message *
    * Please enter message
Copyright © 2020 Dominican Sisters Cabra. All Rights Reserved. Please click GDPR Information.
Web DesignbyOrbit Technologies