AMERICA/BRAZIL - Manifestation of faith and hope of the Rio Negro indigenous communities during Holy Week

São Gabriel da Cachoeira (Agenzia Fides) - "The experience of the mystery of Passion, death and resurrection of the Lord manifests itself in different ways in the Brazilian region of Rio Negro, in the diocese of São Gabriel da Cachoeira - the ecclesiastical circumscription with the highest percentage of the indigenous population in Brazil, over 90%. But one of the things that practically all the communities in the inland areas have in common is the absence of ordained ministers, often their presence is limited to sporadic visits throughout the year, which is difficult to carry out during Holy Week. In those places there are catechists who, moved by their good will, try to help the people celebrate the central mystery of the Christian faith". This is what Fr. Luis Miguel Modino, a Spanish fidei donum missionary, told Agenzia Fides, who works in this diocese in the state of Amazonas, in Brazil, following the life of the indigenous peoples scattered along the Rio Negro and Xie rivers.
"In the cities and in many places of the parishes - the missionary continues - the presence of the indigenous at the liturgical celebrations is quite high. Indeed, their participation in the sacramental life is one of the common denominators in many regions of this diocese".
One of the moments in which their presence is most significant is during the Via Crucis, which has become a local tradition in many places. During the Via Crucis, which is celebrated in the diocese on the morning of Good Friday, thousands of people accompany this moment with devotion to the stations that lead to the famous Morro de la Buena Esperanza. This year the celebration was presided over by the local Bishop, Msgr. Edson Damian, who speaking to Fides called this moment 'a touching demonstration of faith and hope'."
Following the theme of the Fraternity Campaign, which has been celebrated for more than 50 years during Lent in Brazil, this year the Vía Crucis, in the various parishes and communities, was the occasion to meditate on the theme of violence, so present in Brazilian society, and in whose victims one can discover the face of the Crucified.
"This faith and this hope, present in the celebration - underlined the local Bishop to Agenzia Fides - are an element that animates the life of the indigenous peoples of the Amazon region, often persecuted, who are starting to prepare themselves for the Synod of Bishops of the Pan-Amazon, in search of new paths for a Church in search of a full life for all". (LMM/LG) (Agenzia Fides, 6/4/2018)

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