A Time of Wisdom and Grace:
2009 Brazil Area Retreat
We held the Sisters’ annual retreat in the Brazil Area from July 26-30 at Casa São José, in Goiânia. The retreat was given by Dom Tomás Balduíno, O.P., Bishop Emeritus of Goiás Velho, (1967-1999). Since 2005, Dom Tomás served on the Permanent Council for the Earth Pastoral Commission (Comissão Pastoral da Terra), which he had helped organize in 1975.
Dom Tomás had recently attended the 12th Interfaith Encounter of the Ecclesial Base Communities in Porto Velho, Rondônia State, in the Amazon Region from July 21- 25. The theme was: “Base Communities: Ecology and Mission – From the Earth’s Womb the Outcry of the Amazon.” Dom Tomás arrived in Goiânia more than inspired to talk to us about “the community of life” as we had asked him to do.
He gave lectures and led us in moments of prayer and sharing. Here are some comments from our Sisters:
“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while..." (Mark 6: 31). Attending to this invitation of Jesus, I report about these days of retreat. This experience was given to us by God who veils and reveals Himself through His word in the universe, in nature and in every creature.
We kept in tune during this time of grace with life in our area and with the mystical body of Christ, in which are present all the members of our Congregation, the poor, the suffering and those who are oppressed in so many different ways.
In the desert there are opportunities, time and space for deeper personal and community reflection. There is time to become more committed to the cause of advocacy for life and to search for the ways to generate compassion and hope in this ill and suffering world.
We are a small group of Sisters and cannot accomplish grandiose things. However, we are committed to responding to the outcries of the marginal, hungry, suffering small people to manifest our solidarity, service, presence and willingness through our witnessing within our preferential option for the poor. May the Holy Trinity strengthen us in wisdom and grace!
- Sister Helena Paula Carvalho
 At the Convent Chapel's window: Toucan couple await morning prayer, as usual! |
What makes us grow is knowing the witnessing of people who truly live God’s year of Merciful Love. We came to know Dom Tomás Balduino, a true prophet, who has even had death threats for standing up for the poor. Dom Tomás told us that he was not fearful in the face of these difficulties because he has had an experience of God that strengthens him in his journey. His prophetic witnessing connected with the theme of our Chapter.
His life example is helpful to me in my search to generate compassion for those who are in most need of our help. Among the suffering we must include the environment which longs for our mercy. We urgently need a new awareness, a new attitude toward the earth, water and air. We need a mystic stance to sustain our practice. Following the example of St. Francis, we need to re-establish a tender relationship with our Mother Earth. Only by doing this will we know what we have to do. |
- Sister Marta Gomes Pedrosa
| This time is always very rich in grace; I am able to listen to God’s voice. In silence I can hear God in nature, which surrounds us as well as in my inner self. The environment at Casa São José is welcoming and gives me the means to allow myself to generate love, compassion and hope in the community of life.
The presence of Dom Tomás completed this time of grace with much wisdom and great knowledge, leading us to see God in our neighbor and in nature in a very simple yet profound way. His quiet, serene attitude kept me very attentive while I listened to his wise, deep and concise input. The moments of silence set aside for personal reflection and inner peace were indeed auspicious and created the environment for a more thorough bonding with God. |
 Casa São José garden: "The environment at Casa Sao Jose is welcoming . . ." |
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Sister Maria Teresinha de Jesus
According to our speaker, the invitation Jesus made to his disciples: “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while… " (Mark 6: 31) was Jesus’ first attempt at having a retreat with them; this did not work out because the crowds got there before them.
Our retreat was really a time of grace. Dom Tomás, this man of God, was so familiar with the Scriptures. It was with much gentleness that he guided us through, inspiring even more within us the wish to deepen our roots and drink from the Source.
I perceived in the comments of each Sister the joy and gratitude for the way we were led. All of us returned to our ministries filled with energy, hope and vigor, with the longing to become better followers of Jesus.
- Sister Maria Lúcia B. de Oliveira
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Dom Tomás emphasized love as compassion as a source which is born from our heart and flows toward all. This is how he spoke to us, though in an indirect way, about the Community of Life.
I was deeply moved by his appreciation of Jesus’ spirituality and his carefully chosen Biblical quotes. Dom Tomás clarified for us the merciful and compassionate face of Jesus and left me feeling that I will also have opportunities and be able to take advantage of them. His input was completely different from all the matters usually dealt with in past retreats, which somewhat have repeated themselves over the years. Maybe this happened because we suggested the theme to our retreat director. But as I see it, even though the theme was somewhat unusual, he prepared himself very well. |
- Sister Daniel M. Meade