Visit of Fr. Dwi, SMM and Fr. Jesus, SMM in Brazil
BRAZIL - From June 13 to 19, 2024, the Superior General, Fr. Yoseph Putra Dwi Darma WATUN, SMM and Fr. Jesús Leopoldo CUCHO PUCHURI, SMM, General Councilor, visited the Montfortian communities in João Monlevade, Minas Gerais and in Atibaia and Perus, São Paulo, Brazil.
There were several activities during the few days of the visit, as we can see below the information for each community.
João Monlevade, Minas Gerais.
The visit of Father Dwi (Superior General of the Montfort Missionaries) and Father Jesús (General Councilor) was a source of great joy for us, with intense moments of fraternity, spirituality and sharing. Our communities, Montfortian and parish, experienced very significant days for our missionary identity, Marian and Montfortian. During the different activities, we were able to welcome, in a renewed and more intense way, the charism of Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort. After a long journey, Father Dwi and Father Jesús were received with joy and gratitude by the parishioners who had already been preparing for this moment of grace.
For Father Dwi, it was his first visit, while for Father Jesús, who already lived in Brazil, it was a return after having previously carried out a mission at “Sitio Agar”, a house founded by Brother Antônio van NOYE, SMM, a Montfortian from the Netherlands, with the objective of welcoming children with HIV and other children who the Justice Department sends to this project due to various situations of great suffering in their families.
For the occasion, we also had a meeting with the lay people of GAMO (Grupo de Amigos do Montfort), consecrated to Jesus through Mary, and representatives of the communities, ministries and movements that exist in the parish. It was a very rich moment of reflection, an opportunity to offer the laity a greater knowledge of the Congregation in the world, in the different places where the Montfortians are present, to gather concerns through questions and to share experiences also from here with parents. In that context, Father Jesús shared a theme about consecration to Jesus through Mary to deepen our spirituality.
The weekend was an opportunity to get to know some of the communities that make up the parish of Saint Louis de Montfort, and the people were very happy with this opportunity. Although very brief, the days of the visit were very meaningful for everyone. We had the opportunity to visit a sanctuary in the Caraça National Park, which is under the responsibility of the Missionários da Caridade, os Vicentinos. For us, it has also been a very good moment of meeting where each one in a very fraternal atmosphere shared their concerns and hopes related to the presence of the Montfortians in Brazil.
Listening to us was also very important for the general house, as Father Dwi shared in relation to the paths taken so far and the processes that are taking place towards the future.
Atibaia, São Paulo.
During the visit of the Superior General of the Montfort Missionaries to our parish of Senhora de Todos os Povos in Atibaia, Father Mauri Sebastião RODRIGUES, SMM was very pleased to have had the distinguished visit of Father Dwi and Father Jesús. For the parish community, it was a moment to share the achievements in the mission here in this city and region, in the diocese of Bragança Paulista. It was also an opportunity for a personal conversation with Father Dwi.
For the faithful parishioners, the presence of Father Dwi and Father Jesús in the parish made them see and feel how the representative of Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort thought about the laity and the future of the Montfortians in Brazil. It is with great faith that the people of the parish and the Chapel of Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort see the Superior General in person. They spoke about the challenge of the Superior General and his decision to choose Atibaia to come and visit; the importance of praying for the Montfortian vocations so that they may raise up more priests with the Montfortian charism; they spoke of the importance of praying for Brother Vitor GALVANIN ARAUJO, SMM who is being trained in Peru; the beauty of internationality where they witnessed priests of different nationalities (Brazil, Holland, India, Peru, Indonesia); they highlighted the companionship of the diocesan priests in the person of Father Messias; finally, the same parishioners of the parish of Senhora de Todos os Povos felt the richness of what it is to be a missionary with the Montfortian Missionaries and that the parish hopes that when it comes, a Montfortian priest will come who is capable of loving them and loving Mary, and transmitting the message of Jesus and affection to them through the Marian spirituality left by Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort here in the parish.
Perus, São Paulo.
The visit of Fr. Dwi was a moment of joy for the parish community of Santa Rosa de Lima in Perus, São Paulo, because as Superior General, he made a long trip to visit us and learn about our reality. It was very meaningful and full of graces. In the short time he was in the house, we had the opportunity to visit some communities. We held a meeting with the parishioners in which he gave an overview of the congregation, spoke a little about his life and his family, and the people who were present asked several questions. He was able to answer these questions with the help of Fr. Jesús, who translated for the people. They gave him a gift and at the end of the meeting, there was a sharing. It was very interesting. As a Montfortian priest, it is always a good idea to welcome the Superior General because it is a strength and a joy for us to be able to count on his presence, to know where we are and how we are doing in the whole world, what we are doing, the challenges, the difficulties and the projections for a better future. According to the Superior General, we are few worldwide because we do not have many vocations. The congregation is growing in Haiti, India, Indonesia and a little in Africa. The number of Montfort lay people is also growing, and through consecration to Jesus through Mary, more people are getting to know our spirituality and our mission in the world. The Superior General is a simple person, close to us, but the language barrier prevented better interaction with the people. Overall, it was a productive visit.
We thank you for the visit and hope you’ll be back soon.
SMM-Brazil
0
reviews