"The Wind blows where it wills..." Jn 3:8
"The Kingdom is like a mustard seed..." Mk 4:30

THE MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM AND GOD ARE REVEALED AS WE JOURNEY ON!

When we visit a community of Sisters of St. Joseph few questions arise in our mind. Why THEM?  Why in Cicero Dantas? Humanly speaking it is difficult to answer, for it is unknown and "unimportant" place, even for Brazilians. However, this place welcomed 47 years ago a community of the Sisters of St. Joseph, who has sown "seed of the Charism of Communion"!

On May 23, 1975, the young Italian Srs. Gabriela Canavesio, Dolores Ferrero and Paula Sacchetto arrived in Cicero Dantas.  Since then for 47 years, many other courageous sisters from Italy and from this very region, with missionary zeal, have given their precious lives, and energy for evangelization and to give life and dignity to the poor of the region.

Difficulties with the language or cultural differences, among others, did not prevent the Sisters to assume immediately the work of evangelization. Sisters involved themselves in social movements which aimed at creating ‘Rural Workers' Unions’, for the land, health and social security.

THEY CONTINUED WORKING WHOLEHEARTEDLY IN THE MISSION

Sisters always worked to combat the effects of drought (cisterns, soil conservation...) etc. in the same spirit, they worked in partnership to create the Family Agricultural School and Schools. But they were equally engaged in the evangelizing work of the diocese and/or parishes: catechesis, youth, social pastoral etc. and sharing of the charism of the Congregation with lay people.

At present Srs. Gabriela Canavesio (76) and Angelina Giugliano (80) from Italy and Sr. Jaqueline Conceição dos Santos (38) from Brazil are in Cicero Dantas. They continue to work wholeheartedly in the mission to build communion among people and with God through evangelization. They do the work of evangelization in the rural communities and peripheries with the youth and the settlers and campers. They give Training Program for Catechists and animators in different parishes and communities.

MANY STRUGGLES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Sisters are also responsible:
For five Little Schools, which has eight class rooms. Around 250 Children from 3 to 5- year- old come to these schools from the rural area and neighbourhoods.

For the School Support Centres: they give tuition in 12 centres which has 22 class rooms. 500 children 7 to 13-year-old benefit from these centres.

 Some of these Schools or Tuition Centres which are more than 30 km away from the city have difficult access roads. For these two activities, namely School and Tuition, 50 people are engaged.

What are the fruits of this untiring missionary presence? Many people are involved in social movements and pastoral work. There are many struggles and achievements, such as: land settlements, women's organizations, improvements in health, education, housing, and food. People involve themselves in different ministries of the church.

TO WHOM DO WE SUPPORT?   

When we describe about our powerful missionary presence, we find that this mission is supported, encouraged and strengthened by a network of solidarity, sharing and love. Many Italian families sponsor children and/or families. Italian parishes and associations also share their resources and goods with the Sisters in Cicero Dantas for the social projects.

What does this say to us Brazilians, whose country has great possibilities?  Do we ask ourselves: to whom do we support?

Sorry dear sisters for being too frank in this article, but I would like to invite other sisters, Associates, lay missionaries to come and "plant" more seeds in this sacred soil, of north-east of Bahia.    

Note (The mission in Cicero Dantas was started by the congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Pinerolo which merged with Chambery in July 2021)         

Photos: Mission of different groups in Cicero Dantas.
Dominga Zolet, Cicero Dantas, BA