Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Brasilia (Agenzia Fides) – "Solidarity Between the Church in Brazil and the Church in Haiti" is the name of the missionary project (see Fides 04/03/2010) that has been undertaken by the Brazilian Bishops' Conference (CNBB), Caritas Brasileira, and the Religious Conference of Brazil (CRB), which has now sent three missionaries to Haiti. According to information received by Fides, this is the first time that the Church in Brazil sends a community of male and female missionaries to Haiti. After three months of preparation by attending the "ad gentes" mission course held at the Mission Cultural Center (JCC), three religious were sent to Haiti on September 13, accompanied by the representative of the CRB, Sister Antonia Mendes.
In sending this small missionary community, composed of three religious congregations (Maria Aparecida dos Santos, of the Congregation of Little Sisters of Divine Providence, Maria Aparecida da Silva Viana, of the Congregation of Divine Providence of Gap, and Maria Marcelina Xavier of the Instituto Maestre Pie Venerini) will begin the project in stages. This first group will serve as a bridge of communication, as a base of Brazil in Haiti.
The head of the missionary commission of the CNBB and assistant for the ad gentes missionary course, Father Jose Altevie, said that before the course the sisters had a special formation course to learn French and Creole (the native language of Haiti). "The project of solidarity between the churches of Brazil and Haiti - said Fr. Altevie - hopes to be a supportive presence in Haiti, seeking to aid in the reconstruction and in supervising the conditions of the poor. With the strength and energy of the people, the project aims to have Haitians themselves help each other, in order to ensure consistent and effective action." (CE) (Agenzia Fides 20/09/2010)
