Peace and all good things!

Sisters Marta, Maria Helena, Tânia, Goretti, Rosemary, Daniel Marie, myself and Jurandir have participated in the "11th Pilgrimage of the Earth and the Waters," promoted by the Diocese of Jataí and the Earth Pastoral Commission, which took place in the city of Mineiros, Goiás, on July 26, at 3:00-9:00 p.m.

In preparation for the pilgrimage, our community prepared three celebrations organized by that Commission with the Street Evangelization groups, including the one in which we participate. The group from Pires do Rio went to join the group from Goiânia, then to Jataí and ultimately to Mineiros. The pilgrimage gathered people coming from the most different directions. There was even a delegation of Italians!

At a certain point on our way, starting at 3:00 p.m., we began walking toward the center of the city. There were several stops on the way with demonstrations regarding the issues in focus. The group gathered at the square in front of the church where some cultural events took place. Included in the program there was a moment we stopped to listen to a recording of a speech by Dom Erich, the late Benedictine monk who distinguished himself in the struggle of raising the awareness of public authorities regarding the erosion of the soil and the deforestation of the springs of the rivers in that municipality.

The highest point was a very beautiful Eucharistic Celebration enriched by very creative symbols and by the participation of the town's people. I have a short history of "Romarias", as pilgrimages are called in the tradition of popular religiosity in Brazil, followed by some data on the city of Mineiros which I am faxing to you. I am also going to ask the Benedictine monks for copies of the pictures they took of the event, as well as articles in English so as to ease out our translator's work.

I am sending you as well a copy of our Project "Planting in Order to Harvest" which is still under consideration at City Hall. As you know, President Lula has launched the "Zero Hunger Campaign" and we wish to participate in this nationally-wide effort. Our goals, however, stem from our Congregational Charism and the scope is to try to improve life conditions within the community and feed the people.

Some of our Sisters, together with some of our Associates and other persons who are interested in joining us, have begun the project by visiting the families living in Parque Santana (St. Ann's Park), a neighborhood in Pires do Rio, to collect some data. After evaluation, we suggested to the people that they put their own idle backyards to use and we also asked the City to donate a plot it owns to cultivate vegetables, which has finally been granted. We still need, however, a few items to accomplish the project. The project consists of the cultivation of a community garden for which we already have gotten technical assistance from an agricultural school nearby. Whoever is interested in knowing more about it will receive a copy of the project which is being sent to you.

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