Father received the vows of a
novice at the Monastery of St. Joseph's in Mineiros. St. Joseph's
Monastery was founded by St. Benedict's Abbey, Atchison, Ks in 1962.
While in Brazil, Father Owen visited friends and acquaintances
he made over the course of five other visits to the same area.
Two children from Mineiros have been adopted through the Christian
Foundation for Children in Kansas City. The support of these young
people was initiated as a result of the fourth annual Kelly Youth Rally.
Father Owen visited with the children and their families and
presenting them with funds raised from the quilt raffle at St. Mary's
Parish.
Messages from Father Owen as he traveled in Brazil
Messages are listed in order of most recent first, by message number.Message #26: Looking forward to coming home. Sunday,
February 03, 2002
It is Sunday, 10:30 AM exactly here. You all are making that final
effort to toll out for the Mass at St. Mary’s. The rain comes down here,
not hard, but last night, the power was out for some time. Amid the
goings on I am ready to come home, right now. I am packed and would need
10 minutes to wrap it all up. Tomorrow we are off to Goiania, a
churrasca, visit at a Franciscan Convent, Mass at the House of Studies
on Tuesday. The house is not far from the airport and so I will begin my
journey home at 6:30 Tuesday PM from Goiania and will land at KCI Wed AM
at 9:27. One of the monks will pick me up. After some rest and visiting
at the abbey I will return to St. Mary’s before lunch on Thursday. It
will be good for me to be home again.
I do look forward to seeing the rectory at St. Mary’s which people have
been working on -- but most of all, I have missed the people in all the
parishes. The renovation of the rectory has been truly a "labor of love"
in addition to being good stewardship.
A final note: That people have taken the time to read what I have
written makes me very glad. It can be information and education. Most of
all, the material is an attempt of a friend to share with friends. But
do understand that, lest I come off as the "Ugly American" who spends a
month in a country and sounds like an instant expert, what I have
written are simply my own observations. Some might withstand close
scrutiny and others not. Any errors are all mine! It is another wonder
of this Cyber Age we are living in, like it or not, that we could share
at all. Letters from Brazil take sometimes 10 days. Radios are
unpredictable, and the phone – it’s far too expensive. I have been in
touch with some of you individually and not with so many others. For one
thing, I did not take all the addresses I wanted. If any have been
neglected, I apologize. We will have to be satisfied with greeting in
person. In the last analysis that is much better. This will be most
likely my final message from here. More next Sunday!
Love to all. Fr. Owen
Message #25: Remembering others who’ve served here,
Saturday morning, February 2, 2002
I had thought that things would wind down toward the end here. By the
way, I will be landing (God Willing) at KCI about 9:30 AM Wed, probably
stay the night at the abbey and return to St. Mary’s probably Thursday
AM -- ready to jump (climb) back into the saddle again. It will be a
pleasure. I have had some experience in climbing (with help) into the
saddle.
Yesterday the Governor of the State of Goias paid us a visit. His name
is Marconi Perillo and he is a member of the PMDB. The PMDB is a right
of center party (there are about 20 political parties here) and that
party is not in power in Mineiros. He wants mightily to win it back in
his second quest for the governorship. He is popular. Hence, this was a
definitely political visit. It will be covered in the papers today. We
get "O Popular" from Goiania at the monastery. There were lots of
pictures taken and I was included in some of them.
The meeting took place in our community room and lasted about a half
hour. There were the usual police there and armed, political buddies,
the Federal Deputy (representative) from our area, a woman and long time
politician, Lucia Vania, the State Sec. of Agriculture -- who was Fr.
Eric´s doctor and discovered his cancer, the Governor’s secretary, Fr.
Kieran, Fr. Joaquim, and I and others. Joaquim asked the Governor for a
new machine to process milk or to get the present one fixed. He also
asked about a monument to Fr. Eric. Kieran brought up how mismanaged the
tourism bureau was here. In fact, it is an obstacle to tourists who wish
to visit the Parque Das Emas! This is bad for the city. W e served
Guarana and Coke (cola i.e.). Afterwards we all shook hands, mentioned
several obrigados (thanks) or muito prazer ( with great pleasure). It
was all quite interesting.
On the way upstairs I mentioned to Kieran that it has become more and
more apparent to me that Eric made a massive difference in the life of
this city. He agreed but added that sometimes that work overshadows the
other great work done by Frs. Matthias, Abbot Ralph, Fr. Henry, Fr.
Duane, Fr. Jude Burbach, and others. I see that his statement could be
absolutely true. It need to be remembered that Abbot Ralph built up the
community of St. John in the older part of the city, built a church both
there and at Santa Rita (Heeta) which he took care of for 8 years.
Heroic work indeed. Fr. Henry was also the pastor at St. John’s and
worked in the mother church as well. I believe that apart from Fr.
Henry’s very dry humor, he is remembered for starting the charismatics
in Mineiros, with bible study and prayer groups. They are still
flourishing. People still ask about Dom Enrique (en-hi-kee) and Dom
Rafael (Ha-fy-el)(Ralph.).
This looks like a calm day but who knows what might happen. I will go
with Fr. Kieran tonight for Mass at the Matrix (Mother Church) and also
there tomorrow night. Tomorrow I will get serious about packing up ,
making a list and checking it twice -- because the pastor at a distance
is coming home. I am so glad that Sr. M. Beth was there for all of you.
-- Love, Fr. Owen
Message #24
As we say here, Gracas a Deus! I am so happy that the pics arrived. This
technology is really something. There are more, of course, but we will
stop for now and act when I get back home. The little boy’s name is
Luciano. In the other picture the young man is Juvino, the other boy
being helped by the Youth Rally/ Quilting effort. Then there is the
vaquero on the horse! He is "acima a cabalo" – or, on top of the horse.
The Governor of the State of Goias was on the local radio and he will be
coming here at 6:30 P.M. today. His party is not in power here.
Yesterday the police were here again for what is called "seguranca" or
security check. This was the second time a security team was here. The
ones yesterday were plain clothes Military Police both of whom carried
concealed weapons stuck in their belt. They had on sports shirts and
jeans. The guns actually were obvious and Kieran kidded then about being
careful that they do not hurt themselves. The local bank was robbed last
week of some 150000 Reais and so the police are a bit jumpy. That is one
reason we were stopped, I am sure, at the town of Chapadao de Ceu a
couple of weeks ago The Policia Militar (Military Police) wear black
uniforms normally, are armed heavily, and drive black Chevy suburban
type vehicles. They are very intimidating to the people. They have a
Battalion Headquarters here in Mineiros. Such is life here where there
are not the protections for human rights we have in the USA. They are
precious possessions and we ought to be wary of any invasions of them by
whomever. E.g. the poorer laborer can be arbitrarily fired and has
little or no recourse. The country is just making a beginning in such
areas as small claims courts. Of course that kind of abuse is everywhere
but pretty blatant in this country. Money sets some persons above the
law. But that can happen at home as well. People are people.
I spoke a couple of days ago about visiting a place where fish are
raised and that we were given a couple of packages of fillets! We have
eaten those and they were so good, particularly today, not fried but
boiled with spice that made a great sauce and served with the rice.
Mighty good stuff. !
I will close for now with love for all. -- Fr. Owen
Message #23: Friday morning, February 1, 2002
There is not a lot to report today. It makes me happy indeed that
folks have been able to use this website for me to exchange information
about this trip and land. Some pictures should be on the way soon and i
have plenty of individual photos for all to share.
Fr. Kieran and and I will leave here Monday Am at 9:00 so that will be
my last use of this computer. I am sorry for Kansas City and the ice
storm, people without power; etc. Quite the opposite here, of course.
Love to all. -- Fr. Owen
Message #22: Thursday morning, January 31, 2002
While I hear of maybe up to 15" of snow in Kansas, I cannot say I
miss it although it does have its beauty. Here in Brazil it is hot in
the sun. Yesterday we had a short but mighty wind and rain storm as well
but in an hour your would not know it but for the leaves on the ground
etc. The wind did send in some water where it was not wanted.
I thought that yesterday would be a quiet, simple day. However, Fr.
Josias told me that we had 10 pictures left on the
camera. Fr. Josias is a monk here who is a really wonderful person, very
sharp, well read, a real character in his own
right and very generous. He uses little English but nonetheless he and I
have gotten along very well on this trip. I think we are becoming closer
friends. With my limping Portuguese and his even more limping English,
we manage very well though perhaps we both "fake it" some of the time.
But back to the narrative of how the "short" trip to finish off 10
photos turned out to be three hours of taking some 34 pictures.
We started at the single tallest building in town, then to floors of
condominiums. From the roof we took some 7 pictures, all of which ought
to be real good. We then went to the Massey Ferguson dealership and took
some pictures of a tractor
and a combine. We did get the prices but I do not have them now. The
machines are comparable to ours and made in Brazil. The workers and the
owner know Josias and so we visited there a while. Then to the John
Deere dealership where we met the owner as well and were given Brazilian
John Deere caps! We got some pictures there as well. We had gotten more
film by now.
On the way to take pictures of some of the many armazems (grain
elevators) in the area we stopped at the Father Eric J.
Deitchman School. This is a primary school named after our Fr. Eric who
was a monk here for 35 years. He is revered
here. There are plans to put up a statue to him as well. He was also
declared an honorary citizen of the State of Goias.
Why? Brace yourselves! He founded the co-op which is called COMIVA and
was the first president. this coop is
flourishing and has provided work for so many, processes milk into
cheese. He is remembered for his ministry as well but
if anyone is to get credit for starting the very large (an
understatement) cultivation of soybeans and corn here, it is Eric.
He helped change the face of the earth here. he also founded the
National Park of the Emas. I have written on that. The
other day Fr. Kieran and I visited his grave here and prayed. I had
known him since 1951. We have pictures as well.
Next we went to the huge elevators owned by CARAMARU. This company has
elevators all over but this one dedicated to
drying and storing corn is the largest in the state of Goias. We got the
grand tour complete with hard hats. They dry corn
using wood and gas as fuel. Plenty of pictures here as well. We also
went to the elevators of COMIVA, the very first one
in the area. Now Bunge, Cargill, ADM are all here. Globalization!!!
Some miles away we went to a place where they raise fish commercially.
Fr. Josias knew the people there as well. We have good pictures of this
as well. We also came away with two packages of fillets of a fish called
caranha. We do not have it in the USA as I understand it.
Well, that is all for now. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?
Love to all. -- Fr. Owen
Message #21: Wednesday, January 30, 2002
A week from today I (hopefully) will be landing in KC and I hope the
weather conditions are not like what I am hearing about today. Alas, it
is warm here but we have some cloud cover which helps.
The days are ordinary in that I am spending my time talking, reading,
writing down some reflections. I have begun to pack in a small way.
Usually I go to town with Fr. Kieran on his business trips. Today we
stopped in two homes of persons who want to be Oblates, affiliates with
the Order of St. Benedict. These were very poor homes by our standards
with asbestos roofs and no ceilings . They were clean as were the
people. But these would be wealthy places by comparison to the homes,
particularly the one home, we visited Saturday.
Right after that Kieran took be to see the outside of some of the most
beautiful homes that I have ever seen. They would fit in most wealthy
suburbs in the USA, I think. To top that off, these folks have lovely
places on the ranch, the fazenda. Yes, mainly soybean farmers and
catttlemen.
It's time for dinner now with prayers following. After that -- some
"horizontal meditation."
Until the next time, love to all.
-- Fr. Owen
Message #20: Monday noon, January 28, 2002
Things are quiet here in that there are three of us here in the house.
The large group went to Goiania to the house of studies. I will visit
there Monda, God willing. Cristina from the Christian Foundation gave me
some more information on Luciano (the girl who is the recipient of the
Kelly Youth Rally and quilt raffle benefit) which I will pass on. Alas
the members of the family do have a place to relieve themselves. A
luxury?
I am getting some reading done on the monastic Life and having some good
conversations with Kieran, of course. With Josias as well. My
understanding of Portuguese is a bit better and I am able to piece
together combinations of words too.
I do hope my Yahoo email service clears up as I am wanting to get to the
messages which might be there. But as the Brasilians say, "Se Deus
quizer" -- or if God wants it.
Love to all.
-- Fr. Owen
Message #19: Sunday afternoon, January 27, 2002
Try as I will, it seems that I just cannot get into Yahoo. This
sometimes happens in the US but this is the third time here.
This evening I will go with Fr. Kieran to the 7 PM Mass at Sao Bento
where we had the vows. It is a lovely place and a good place just to
"be." Monday, Feb. 4, I will leave here for Goiania on the bus with
Kieran. We will have some churrasca, stay the night at the Franciscan
Sisters’ place, Dan Damiano. The next day he will get me to the airport
where I catch the flight to Sao Paulo and then to Atlanta. I believe
that I am ready for all that.
Love to all. Fr. Owen
Message #18: Saturday morning, January 26, 2002
-- Friday Night Circus and Saturday Morning reality!
Last night, Josias and I went to the circus here in Mineiros. Like
former days in the US, these small and relatively simple circuses travel
around the country and bring live entertainment largely with the
crianceas (children) in mind. This one, named Real de Madrid, perhaps
translated the Royal Madrid, had the big top, the tigers, balancing
acts, dogs, horses, popcorn (pipoca), potato chips (batatas),Guarana,
Cioke, cotton candy, etc. The cost was 4 Reais or about $2.50. Kids are
free and it was fun to watch their reactions, especially to the clowns,
which are named palhaço in Portuguese. The acts were simple. But
Ringling Brothers was not what I was expecting to see. The people were
pleased as we were. Afterwards we met the Owner, Manager, and
Ringmaster. He spoke very good English and had worked in Las Vegas. In
fact one of the acts had been in Circus Circus, a famous place in Las
Vegas. The performance lasted two hours with an intermission. There will
be performances both today and Sunday. Then they are off to Jatai, Rio
Verde, Quirinoplois and finally to the capital, Goiania. The manager
wanted to get there because he felt that there would be an abundance of
money that will come from the soybean harvest! By the way, the soybeans
(soja) are in various stages of growth. Some are up to my waist, as you
will see in pictures later. The manager asked me it the quality of the
Brazilian beans measured up to ours. I said that I was not sure. He
actually doubted that the Brazilian beans were of as good a quality. We
are having roasting ears by the way! This was our dose of a kind of make
believe.
Now to stark reality.
This morning, Fr. Kieran and I went to the parish Training Center to
meet the main persons involved in the Christian Foundation. I will give
just their first names. Cristina is a coordinator of one group and our
Jovino is in her group. Lucelia is in charge of Luciano`s group. Maria
Louisa is the overall executive Secretary. At the Center we introduced,
sat around a table and talked. Fr. Kieran filled everyone in on the
background of our effort, the facts on the Kelly Youth Rally, the quilt
raffle, of the amount of money in Reais which amounts to R1610.00 from
the $793 deposited in the states which will be accessible to the
Foundation through the Brasilian Account at the abbey. Kieran will
transmit the monies as needed. None is ever given directly to the
families and the record keeping is very careful. There is also
supervision from the USA. Lucelia had her daughter along and so we went
in two cars for the on-site visits.
Pictures were taken as were many others as we did out visiting. We may
not be able to transmit them and so I will likely wait until I get home
which will not be too long now.
We first went to the home of Jovino. It would be quite poor by our
standards. I doubt that any of us would find it comfortable or want to
live there. Jovino is 15 and is in the 7th grade. He has been in the
Christian Foundaton program one year. His family has immigrated to
Mineiros from Bahia in the North East. The family has been here 3 years.
There was a little brother present. The grandmother met us because the
father, a bricklayer, was working and the mother was visiting in Bahia.
The father earns the equilvalent of about $300 per month. That puts food
on the table and allows nothing for insurance, medical care. The road in
front of the home was red dirt and deeply rutted. The house was small
and yet seemed to serve five persons. It was clean and had a TV, very
small kitchen, and small bedrooms. We did not pry any, yet the pictures
will be revealing. Jovino likes PE in school because he loves what the
Brazilians call "futebol" pronounced foo-tchee-bol" -- which we call
soccer. There are two stadiums in Mineiros and people wear jerseys of
the big teams in Rio or Sao Paulo like we wear Chief´s shirts.
Our next trip was clear across the city to the district of Santa Luzia
about a mile from the monastery. The home of Luciano is in plain terms,
shack that houses six persons. It would have been too embarassing to go
inside. There was no kitchen, no icebox, no stove, and no bathroom. The
six children and the mother live there. Her name is Doraci´. The father
is mentally ill, cannot work, wanders the streets and comes home on
occasion. Dorac´ works as what is called a "public funcionary", i.,e,
she is a street sweeper. Luciano works in the garden of a lawyer for 40
Reais per month but because of that he misses a lot of school. Here you
can see the cycle of poverty, a real "Catch 22." He likes soccer, as do
all Brazilians. The family has received the cards, medals, and rosary
some both from Corning and Kelly. They are very proud of them. It was a
welcome sight for me to see those cards, recognize the names, read them,
see the picture of Laurie Niehues and St. Bede´s Church. If any of you
wondered whether or not the money collected at the Rally or spent on
chances for the quilt was worth it, you would have wished that you could
have spent ten times a s much! The yard is a shambles and the cooking is
done outside on a wood stove. Imagine the mess there when we have had
those rains I have written about? But there are pictures to see. There
is a lovely 20-year-old daughter who looks bout 16. I do not know much
about her except that she is lovely. One sees all these contrasts. I
hope you all do understand that I am just an observer and no expert on
anything -- let alone an expert on this lovely country. These people
seem happy -- and Doraci´ was hugging a bashful child as we were
leaving. This was not done for our benefit. It is doubtful, according to
Kieran, that the parents had any education at all.
Our group had a meeting in the street and we thought it best to leave
the disposition of the money to the Foundation. I understand that all
the boards in Luciano´s yard were being gathered to build another room
on the shack to relieve congestion. So the money might go there. Lucelia,
the one whose group Luciano is in, seems like a wise person and has been
involved in the CF for many years.
That is all for now. This evening I will go with Kieran to the Mass at
the mother church and then go to the home of Prior Joaquim´s parents
for, you guessed it! -- churrasca and guarana!!! I will have to go Cold
Turkey when I get back home. I was thinking of bringing a bottle of
Guarana back to Kansas and may yet. Tomorrow Kieran, Josias and I will
take the Benedictine Sisters out for the noon meal. I hope there is some
churrasca. I think it would be easy to make some of those skewers, salt
down some meat, cut up some limes, rub a little garlic or get some
garlic salt and have one at home. But that would be for the summer time.
I hope all is well. I remember you all in my prayers as this time moves
along. I will leave Mineiros a week from today with Kieran.
Love, -- Fr. Owen
Message #17: Thursday morning, January 24, 2002
Back at home after a really great trip yesterday to Costa Rica, the
hometown of our Fr. Josias da Costa. Da Costa is a very common name in
Brazil. Kind of like Jones, etc. Costa Rica is a new town of about
20,000 persons with wide streets, very clean and busy. The center of
things is agriculture and cattle raising. You may think that I am
exercising the Fisherman´s inclination to stretch the truth but again we
passed corn and soja fields that were miles long. Once we got out of the
car to stretch at an elevated place and all I could see were soja
fields. They are so big that work roads are cut into them to cut down on
travel time for the combines. Some harvesting of corn is now taking
place. Large buses (onibus) go into the cities and bring out, let us
say, 50 workers. Just what they do I am not sure and they are paid not a
large wage.
In Costa Rica we visited the parish church, rather large and dedicated
to St. Anthony of Padua. Josias tells me that he is known in Portugal as
S. Anthony of Lisbon, but only there. He was Portuguese. The priest is
responsible for 18 chapels. Of course there are many, many teams of lay
people who are empowered to do things that cannot be done in the states.
His nearest neighbor is 60 km away. Fr. Carlos took us to a (you guessed
it) a churrasca i.e. BBQ. This was the regular one with lots if veggies,
etc and with several kinds of meat -- e.g. chicken hearts, various cuts
of beef, pork and sausage. The guy keeps on coming until you say "No!"
Coca Cola is very popular here and I saw several tables with 2 litre
bottles on them.
We then went to a baleaineiro, i.e. a Public Swimming Pool built by the
county (municipio). It is really lovely. Outside the attendant the only
others there were three boys, Josias says abandoned boys. We have lots
of pictures of them -- the lovely waterfalls at a distance and close up.
We climbed down lot and lots of stairs to get closer to the falls and to
the river. We got a picture of a guy fishing there complete with a nice
rod and open-faced reel! I am happy to say that the walk back up, a very
long way, went very well. Good news, I’d say! The boys went somewhere
and Josias and I got a Guarana (my favorite soda) at the concession
stand. We made a couple of more calls. One stop at a convent and another
with a family who lived right next to Josias´ father’s small farm.
Josias used to work there as a kid, along with his 9 brothers and
sisters. Josias is a remarkable person who seems to know things of
nature, etc. The family friends live on neighboring place, grow soja,
raise cattle, chickens, etc. There are 12 in the family. The patriarch
is blind and yet worked along with the rest when he was able. He is 82
now. They grow their own coffee and so some was ground fresh and made. I
did not take any because of a very bad experience in 1990 because of
cups washed only on cold water. But I did eat three sort of pretzel
things made of eggs and manioca root. Very good. A young man there was
there who said in Portuguese that I looked like his uncle who died 6
months ago. I said back in Portuguese “Eu so reincarnacao!” or “I am a
reincarnation!” All got a kick out of that. That same man had a
motorcycle with the sticker "Bull Rider" on it. He had no idea what it
meant at all. I tried to tell him even with gestures. That reminds be of
the story I heard of a secretary who wore a shirt to work one day with
an American four letter work emblazoned on the front. Bishop Matthias
drew her aside, translated the word. She immediately went home for a
change. Apparently the folks like the sound of the name without knowing
the meaning.
On the way home we took another route this time through the huge ranch
called the Chapadao do Ceu (The Land from Heaven). It is something like
the King Ranch in Texas. The Portuguese, the former colonizers of the
Brazilians, are the butt of jokes. So a Texan and a Portuguese met. The
Texan said, “I have a Jeep” (pronounced 'Jeepie’) …”and that it takes me
a whole day just to drive around my ranch.” The Portuguese man who was
also a rancher said, "I have a Jeep too." This is compliments of Josias,
though probably something is lost in translation.
We arrived at the town named after the fazenda and were stopped by the
Policia Civil. There was a policeman armed with a rifle in the rear of
the police car. The officer asked for Josias´papers. They were in order.
The man also recognized Fr. Josias so we were home free. Fr. Kieran says
that when the police stop you, one does not know if they are going to
help you or kill you. I admit being a bit apprehensive.
The drive home was a long one, some asphalt roads and 50 kms of
terrible, dirt roads, washed out by the rain. But we arrived home safely
and you can bet that I had a very good sleep. I hope this arrives in as
good a shape.
Many thanks and love to all. -- Fr. Owen
Message #16: Tuesday afternoon, January 22, 2002
I am pleased to know that the photos have made it to Kansas and are
posted on the St. Mary’s website. I hope everyone enjoys them; I know
they will enhance the website.
Hearing of the warm temperatures back in Kansas make me happy as well in
that we can avoid the heating fuel bills. It is hot and humid here now.
Tomorrow I will go to the birthplace of our Fr. Josias and town on the
edge of the county and near the State of Matto Grosso. The name of the
town is Costa Rica -- and not to be confused with the country by the
same name!
The country is disturbed by the kidnapping and killing of the second
Worker’s Party Prefect (mayor) in three months. Most believe that it is
the right wing and perhaps the Brazilian mafia who are behind it.
Politics here seem to be rough and ready and the power plays and the
corruption are more open than in the USA.
I will see the children that have been adopted through the Children’s
Christian League on Saturday at 9 AM. We will hopefully get more photos
then.
All for now and the best to everyone. Fr. Owen
Message #15: Monday morning, 8:00 in Brazil; 4 a.m. in
Kansas: January 21, 2002
It is 8:00 a.m. here, Monday. Yesterday was a full and wonderful day.
The whole Mass was a touching event and took easily an hour and a half.
The church was full and the singing was joyful. I will attempt to get a
tape of it. Also Bishop Herbert Hermes from our abbey in Atchison
brought a digital camera and so we will be able to send some pictures.
He will be here for five days. We grew up together in the abbey and know
each other very well. I preached at his 25th ordination. I received the
vows as a delegate of Abbot Barnabas and gave the homily in this way: I
spoke an English sentence and Bro. Rodrigo spoke in Portuguese. It went
smoothly and seemed well received. Afterwards there was a BBQ at the
parish center that holds 1500. Wonderful beef roasted on skewers to
perfection and sometimes eaten with lime juice. The cooks here use salt
and a little garlic. Whole steers are not cooked but they are
dismembered, cut into chunks, put on skewers. The skewers are then laid
in racks and turned from time to time. The meat is sliced off and the
slice then cut into small chunks for easy eating. The lime and the salty
flavor go well -- a la Margarita!!
There is nothing special for today but since Bishop Herbert is here,
there is a lot to talk about. He is a bishop serving the area north of
us, about 700 miles away in the state of Tocantins. His diocese contains
the largest inland island in the world, the Ilha de Bananal. The
Araguaia River splits and goes around it. It is largely an Indian
reservation but the large cattlemen have appropriated much of the land
for themselves. A sorry situation. I was there with Fr. Kieran in l992.
While there we sat in an Indian gathering while the cacique (chief) told
some stories. I could not understand at all even though he apparently
spoke in Portuguese, but the experience was fun.
So look for some pictures, sometime, maybe. Fr. Kieran just told me this
computer will not send them.
More later and love to all.
-- Fr. Owen
Message #14: Friday afternoon, January 18, 2002
This morning, Fr. Josias and I spent 4 hours traveling around and
getting pictures. We first went to a middle sized fazenda (ranch) owned
by his sister Fausta and her husband Everaldo. They are dairy farmers
only. We took lots of pictures of the house, the dairy barn, the water
supply, which is fascinating to me. We also went to an orchard behind
the house where there were figs, pineapple, oranges, lemons, limes,
mango, etc. They also grow their own pepper, i.e. peppercorns -- some of
which are black and some are yellow. Fausta makes sweets (dozes) and
sells them. The brand name is Fauevre after her and her husband. We also
got some good pictures of the serrado before the plows hit it and we saw
and heard parrots fly over. Monkeys and rheas in the area as well. The
soybeans up close look good as does the corn.
Next we went to a very, very large and wealthy fazenda. The owner has
this huge place and also another place that has 9000 hectares. I saw on this place two John Deere
combines and a couple of MF tractors. We got a lot of pictures here as
well.
Josias also took a rowboat ride on a private lake. We skipped a swim in
the lovely swimming pool and did not play soccer on the well kept and
private soccer field. A truly remarkable place that is used mainly on
weekends!! The owner was in Mineiros at a funeral. He has two other
places in Mineiros.
The contrasts in wealth here are very visible. Again we have pictures.
We are getting ready for the vows. I will receive them and preach in
English and Rodrigo will read the same sentence in Portuguese. Prior
Joaquim will be the celebrant of the Mass. Tomorrow Fr. Kieran I and I
go to the Mount Sisters for lunch. The house is full of the seminarians
who will go to Goiania on Monday.
Soon Fr. Kieran and I will go to town to get some sorvete (ice cream) at
the best place in town called “Bar Rita”, that is -- Rita´s bar -- but
it is strictly ice cream. There is another place here called “O Pit Dog”
and that is a hot dog place. There was another called “Life Time.” The
Brasilians apparently like the sound of the name.
More later.
-- Fr. Owen
Message #13: Thursday evening, January 17, 2002
This afternoon Fr. Josias, Polycarp and I went out to take pictures.
Feature me on a horse! We have some photos of a very poor place in the
country, the town of Cedro settled by slaves. The people there sure
seemed happy. There is a government-sponsored lab in the same town
devoted to herbal meds. They have plants for all sorts of things like to
reduce cholesterol.
We even met two wonderful kids named Einstein and Jefferson. Their
father’s name is Zeze and the horse’s name is Rozinha. The mother is
Cynthia. We have pictures and will get some more tomorrow. This is a
great opportunity for us all. There is a man here named Eisenhower and
one named Lyndon Johnson.
More, later,
- Fr. Owen
Message #12. 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 15, 2002
It continues to rain off and on. I am doing the regular things as I
described before. The place is getting more active as we approach the
vow celebration. After that we will be few here. In the morning, as I
wrote earlier, I often go to town with Fr. Kieran. He is the business
manager and needs to shop, go to the bank, the post office etc. Along
the way I have met some fine folks.
It is not easy to drive in the city. The pedestrian has no right. In the
traffic you will find, people walking, cars, buses, Mercedes Benz or
Scania trucks, horses, motorcycles, motor bikes, bicycles. Often we
drive out to one of the "setors" or divisions of this city of some
40,000 persons. Some are very poor and some are very wealthy places.
There is a lot of Gov´t housing which will provide at least something.
The people are paid in "salaries" i.e. the government yearly sets the
amount of money for a “minimum” salary. This year a salary is worth $100
Reais, which is little less than $100.00 in US dollars. One salary will
allow a small family to get by but just get by with no savings,
insurance etc. There is protection from arbitrary firing but as I heard
that something can be contrived against a person if the employer wants
to fire and the employee has little recourse. There are cases in the
larger cities where the police help the criminals.
Everything seems to be pegged to the dollar and the comparison of the
Real to the Dollar is a part of the news each night. Last night it was
2.49 to one dollar. Even the black market exchange is given on TV. It is
called the "paralelo." There is also one given which is named "turista"
which exchange rate applies to those leaving the country as tourists.
This morning while I was waiting at the Post Office -- a man? or a
woman? dressed in women´s clothing anyway was sort of raving on the
sidewalk. This person must be a local character. No one paid attention.
Each society has its persons who are exceptional. While in a store this
morning, I met the woman in charge of the Christian Foundation that is
the contact for the children we have adopted. The meeting date has been
changed to Jan. 28. Any details will be determined there. E.g. how the
money can be best spent to help the children. The medals and chains came
a couple of days ago. Lauria Niehues and Connie Winkler will want to
know this.
Today at dinner we had a very good meal -- though all are good -- of
rice, beans, broccoli, roasting ears, very tasty chicken breast roasted
with onions, lettuce and tomatoes. Always there is a "doce" -- a sweet
of some sort -- and so we had a coconut pudding with the "cafezinho" or
strong black coffee. Not Nescafe though I admit I was shocked to see
that on the table before. In Brazil? Yes, in Brazil! I hear that the
best of the Brazilian coffee is exported! The Second world has to pay
its debts to the First world. At supper we usually have left overs and
very good soup. Breakfast is usually bread and coffee, fruit, or fancy
bread. Oddly enough cereal is expensive.
One news channel (canal) seems to be filled with crime news or a lot of
its offering is that. The other we watch better. Most of the anchors are
women, very attractive, bright smiles and very clear diction. That is
very helpful for one like me. After the news there is a "novella" an
evening soap opera. Millions watch these all over the country. They are
very popular among the poor who watch a life style portrayed totally
different than their own. One is called "O Clone" or The Clone. I have
not watched enough to get the story and because I do not know the
language so I am content to leave after a while and read. I might add
that the offerings are much less censored than in the USA. One would not
need to know the language to appreciate that! But even so, the time is
too precious to spend it on TV. Fr. Kieran usually leaves then as well
and without his presence I am a bit lost as to what is going on. For
example, President Bush could be on and I would not know what he is
saying very well. As an aside, Kieran and I drove out toward the town of
Portelandia to see the highway washed away by the rains. There were
dozens of trucks ahead of us. We turned around and returned to the city
and on the way were passed by at least 20 of those big trucks mentioned
above. The roads are not of the quality of ours and those trucks beat
the roads to death. Many of the trucks have signs on the. One this AM
had in Portuguese "Peace is on the Road,” another I saw said, "Jesus
Christ is the reason for my success." Another "So Catolico." I am a
Catholic.
There are lots of protestant churches in Brazil. One demands only $50 to
sit in the same church that Jesus did! This is a powerful church that
owns the TV news station we watch. There are many Assembly of God
churches, Presbyterian, Lutheran, etc. All this is just fascinating as I
try to observe as much as I can. The desire to share all this is making
me more observant. There are times when I wish I had a camera or a small
TV Cam and yet again I would just not want to poke into scenes where
people are just living their lives day by day as best they can.
More later of course. Abbot Barnabas sent the homily he preached for
Bro. John Kaighin´s funeral. Very good as usual! I will miss him.
Love to all. Fr. Owen
PS: As we were coming back to Mineiros after checking out the highway. I
saw a thatch hut built off the road about 25 yards. It was about the
size of the kitchen at St. Mary’s and a woman washing clothes outside. A
child was in the yard. This is a country so beautiful and so full of
contrasts.
Message #11, 7:45 a.m., Tuesday, January 15, 2002
I have had trouble bringing up Yahoo email and so cannot check my
messages nor transmit via Yahoo. The time differential is about 4 hours
earlier in Seneca so it is 3:45 a.m. there. This difficulty with Yahoo
has happened before.
We had a couple here -- the wife from Holland and the husband from
England. They were trying to see as many National Parks in South America
as possible. One would call them "Ecotourists." They bought a Jeep in
San Diego and had traveled from there to the tip of Argentina. On the
way to Rio, where they hoped to sell the 1987 Jeep, they stopped here to
see the Parque das Emas. Dennis Niehues please note! The birds are
really Rheas. So they joined us for lunch and we showed them a video
(BBC) of the very park. An interesting pair. Their next step will be to
emigrate to Australia. He is a petroleum engineer and she an ecologist.
Today looks like a regular day. Tomorrow Fr. Kieran and I will go by bus
to Santa Helena to visit some people there. A day trip of about 4 hours.
Tomorrow the place will begin to fill up with guests for the vow
ceremony Sunday.
MORE LATER, (I hope).
Love, Fr. Owen
Message #10, 8:15 a.m., Monday, January 14, 2002
It is Monday AM here about 8:15. Cloudy today but little rain. After the
feijoada completa and the anointings yesterday, Fr. Kieran and I went to
Mass at Sao Bento. (St. Benedict). That is the new church which Kieran
had a big part in building. It is a wonderful place and architecturally
a gem for the city. I will bring some postcards of it though I have sent
some already.
Again I read the gospel that I find easier and easier. But best of all,
after Mass the family of one of our children, Luciano, stopped to visit.
The family smiles a lot and seems very pleasant. This was a real stroke
of good luck. There is a very popular Sunday TV program called "fantastics."
Most people like it and so we watched. It is a combination of serious
news, investigative reporting, humor, interviews etc. It is mostly
light.
Today I have nothing unusual planned. After typing this message, I will
do some Bible reading and other reading. Very likely I will go for a
short walk and perhaps take the rosary along.
Fr. Kieran goes to the city every day for mail etc and I will go with
him. We have lunch at 12 followed by Midday prayer. Then a siesta, more
reading, evening prayer at 5:30 and then a walk with Kieran. A simple
life thus far. Yesterday I jumped when the phone rang. Habit I guess.
Soon the prior, Joaquim, will be back and serious plans will be made for
the profession of vows that will be next Sunday. There will be some role
for me. After the 21st most of the folks will go to Goiania and we will
be two or three here.
Happy to report that there was no stomach kickback from the feijoada.
Wisely I did pass up what might once have been a pig snout, tail, or
ear! Bon Appetite!
Amor e paz a todos. Love and peace to all.
-- Fr. Owen
Message #9. Sunday afternoon, January 13, 2002
Back from the feijoada completa and I need to make a correction from an
earlier comment. The only meat in the dish is pork. This dish originated
with slaves in the colonial days and consists --since they got the worst
parts of the hog -- of pigs’ feet, snouts, noses and ears. They put some
sausage in as well. This is served over rice with well-seasoned black
beans. Orange slices, some lettuce, chopped up tomatoes, onions and
other veggies are also served. When we parked the car outside you could
smell it cooking. Very good! It was an “all you can eat” event but I
confined myself to one good helping. Afterward I went with Fr. Kieran to
anoint a 70 plus year-old woman in a very poor part of town. She is
dying of cancer. Next we went to the hospital to see a younger woman who
is having an equilibrium problem. There are five hospitals here.
We also went to pay a visit to the Monasteiro de mae Deus, the monastery
founded by the Sisters from the Mount. Two Americans are there --the
former Mother Noreen who is temporary and Sr. Mary Mel, one of the
founders. There are three Brasilians. This evening, Fr. Kieran and I go
to the new church, Sao Bento, for a 7 PM Mass.
My best to all. Fr. Owen
Message #8. 8:00 p.m., Saturday, January 12, 2002
Mineiros is about the distance equal to the distance from KC to St.
Louis from Goiania, the capital city of the state of Goias, Brazil. Our
bishop lives in Jatai. A beautiful park -- the Parque das Emas -- is
south and west of us.
Mineiros is named thus because the founders some 65 years ago were from
the state of Minas Gerais which is south and east of Goias, our state.
The family reunion that I wrote about earlier was that of the Rezende
family, one of the founding families.
The larger part of the population is made up of what are called
"gauchos." These are people from the South of the country e.g. Rio
Grande du Sul or Santa Catarina. Coming home we saw two "vaqueros" i.e.
cowboys. They still exist here but are not normally armed.
The Mass tonight was lots of fun with great singing. I did read the
Gospel and it all went very well.
Tomorrow is the feijoada completa. It is a meal built around black
beans, sausage, chicken, beef, pigs feet all cooked together and put
over rice. As I said before, it is an event not only a meal. I have had
it twice. This is not a meal for two but a meal for a very large crowd.
I will write afterward if I am able. The best to all.
-Fr. Owen
Message #7, 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 12, 2002
This morning at about 10:30 we went to the Women’s retreat place way out
in the country. It is called Emmaus. There is one for men on the Arguaia
River. I have been there.
On the way, about 40 kilometers we passed some of the largest soybean
fields I have ever seen. We will try to get some pictures later. Also
saw Cebu (Brahama) cattle grazing. This retreat facility was being used
by a family for a reunion. About 200 were there -- of all ages and
sizes. A couple was in charge and appointed the year before to arrange
the reunion. Just like in Nemaha County. I was introduced and met some
very pleasant folks. But soon after the introductions my Portuguese
seems to run out.
For anyone who wanted there was a sort of Karaoke available. I.e. there
was a music video with words and people took turns singing, mostly the
younger people and they were having lots of fun. Beverages of all sorts
were available. Plenty of Skol beer and some harder stuff mostly taken
as "shots." The Brasilians like Coca Cola a lot but I have seen neither
diet coke here nor Pepsi. I went for the “grarana” which I like a lot.
We went into the kitchen and watched the BBQ. The cooks will use a whole
steer and all of the meat but the muscle. They cut the meat into chunks
of what looked like 2 pounds. They do not marinate or use sauce. All
they do is salt down 40 lbs of meat with one lb of salt. Believe me, the
meat is delicious. It is cut up into small chunks of an inch to two
inches square, or into strips. It tasted as good an anything I have ever
eaten in the USA. Some sausages with squares of cheese are passed around
as appetizers and before the meal platters of meat are also passed
around. The meat is served at the full meal along with more sausages.
There are beans and rice, salads, fried chunks of bananas sprinkled with
meal, carrots, etc. The dessert was something made of coconut. We left
about 2:00 p.m. as the priests have Masses tonight. I will just go along
for the ride this evening and tomorrow. Both Masses are at 7:00 PM.
Sunday at lunch we will go for “feijoada completa” at an event sponsored
by the association for the divorced and separated. It is not just a meal
-- but also an event -- but more on that later.
The weather has settled down. This time away is really refreshing in
that there is time to rest, read, pray, talk to Fr. Kieran. It is a joy
to be able to share all this. We will try to get some pictures sometime
soon as well.
More later.
Amor e paz, Fr. Owen
Message #6: Saturday, January 12, 2002
I am hearing good reports on the bulletins on the website. E bom!
(That’s good.) I am happy for that. Let me bring things up to date. I
must correct myself in that there will be only 3 steers roasted on the
20th, which will include then some 500 lbs of meat put on skewers and
roasted over the pits. There will likely be some 1500-2000 persons
attending the celebration. Of course there will be plenty of cerveja,
Guarana, (tastes like cream soda sort of) juices, water, and perhaps
some cachasca, a strong drink made from fermented cane. There will be
the ever present rice and beans which are so good; salads, veggies, and
afterward, some dulce (sweets) followed by coffee which is very good as
well. We have it in the AM with hot milk. Today we had some cheese bread
for breakfast. Muito gostosso! i.e. very good.
I spoke of the cold weather. A cold front came in during the rain and it
was penetrating. Last PM I used two blankets even though the temp was
65-70. That has passed and the sun is out. I stepped out of the
monastery this AM to take a walk with Fr. Kieran and I felt like I was
in the Brazil I had always known. A bit cool, sunshine and lovely light.
Soon Kieran and I will be going to a family celebration of the young man
making vows on Jan 20. We will stay a few hours. Of course there will be
the BBQ and beans and rice. There is a dance in the PM but Fr. Kieran
and I will be at Mass at 7:00 PM at the Chapel of St. Joseph the Worker.
I have been there many times. It is one of the 20 plus chapels we serve
but all do not have Sunday Mass. There are lots of lay helpers who do
communion services. There are two deacons. One does all the weddings and
the other all the baptisms. Who says Third World countries are not up to
date?
Time to send this alone. More later. Love to all.
-- Fr. Owen
Message #5: 7:30 a.m., Friday, January 11, 2002
It has literally been raining all night. It is 7:30 AM here as I write
this. Last night, the temperature threatened to drop into the 60s and so
we all got out blankets! The cold here is wet and penetrating. There are
floods around he country but in the south, in the state of Santa
Catalina, there is drought. Brazil is a huge country, nearly the size of
the USA. In fact, it is three countries so to speak -- the north around
the Amazon, etc; the middle, where we are, the Great Plains, and the
South, where it is colder with snow and ice some of the time. The
inhabitants include many of German and Italian descent. There are many
Japanese in the country also. A few live in this area. .
I was shocked last PM to receive notice of the death of our Bro. John
Kaighin. He was a teacher and a gardener. I used to work with him a lot
especially the year before I came to St. Mary’s. He, Bro. Tony, and
Robert Heiman stayed twice with me in 1996-1997. A massive heart attack
apparently in his mid 50s. He also generously took care of the abbey
dogs, a couple of loving mutts who provided therapy for many of us. A
part of their life is gone as well.
The day is not complicated, as I have no heavy obligations. Kind of nice
actually. More later certainly! Mineiros is south and west of Goiania,
the capital of the state of Goias and east of
the state of Mato Grosso which is east of Bolivia.
The best to all. Until the next time.
-- Fr. Owen PS: The website has turned into a wonderful vehicle.
Message #4: Sent at 2:43 a.m., January 10, 2002
On January 22 I will meet the kids for whom the quilt raffle was
promoted. It will be a joy to do that. We will have pictures eventually.
I do not know if there are the capabilities to send photos from the
monastery or not. We will see.
Fr. Kieran and I will take a trip to a family gathering on Saturday and
have couple of other things planned which I will share. Meanwhile it is a
lovely time away from the routine.
I hear good things about the renovation of the rectory at St. Benedict
and will be glad to see it. So many persons have been so good. My love to
all.
-- Father Owen
Message #3: Sent at 2:35 a.m., January 10, 2002
The main reason I have come here is to R & R, a mini sabbatical sort of
thing. The rest is very welcome. Yesterday amid lots of noise coming
from the removal of some cypress trees, etc., I went dead away in sleep
and have not done that in a long time. Perhaps the main focus is that on
Jan 20 we will have the first profession of bro. Lenilson Rezende
pronounced (hey-zen-gee). He is here and seems like a great person,
about 22. There is also a postulant, age 26, named
Giason, pronounced Jason. He also is a good guy. Both work around the
church a lot and live here. I try to engage them in simple conversation.
It has got to be simple with the Portuguese I know.
The vows are on Jan. 20, the feast of St. Sebastian. It will be a grand
day with lots of food and drink. There will be 6 or 8 steers roasted
over BBQ pits plus lots of other foods. People can attend for 3 Reais
which is about $1.25.
By way of comparison, when I lost my bags in Sao Paulo (they are now
returned), I had to buy clothes. I spent 73 Reais for a pair of jeans,
underwear, two shirts, toothbrush, shaving cream (for about $30). By the
way we shower and shave with just on the edge of luke warm water here. I
think you get used to it.
- Father Owen
Message #2: Sent at 2:13 a.m., January 10, 2002
It is 7 years since I have been here and lots have changed. The city is
expanded to the north and there are more paved streets. Like a lot of
what I have seen of Brazil there is a lot of street life, people
visiting, shopping at the "super mercado" or super market. There are
lots of "lojas" or little shops around and a seemingly endless supply of
places labeled "auto peces" or auto parts. Along with that there are
many signs for "borracharia" or auto repair shops.
As in the USA there are favorite places to “hang out.” There are lots of
small eating-places for "lonches" or places called "bars" where one can
get whatever! I like what is called "Guarana' -- a sort of soda pop made
from the fruit of that name. It tastes like cream soda. Quite popular.
The food here at the monastery is very good and healthy with some meat
but lots of good soup and veggies. Always wonderful -- rice and
delicious beans. Breakfast consists of bread and good coffee. Recently
we have had "pamonha" which is like sweet tamale without the stuffing.
Very good indeed! There is always a dessert of some kind and, of course,
coffee.
I am going to send this now again because of perhaps another power
failure!
- Father Owen
Message #1. Sent at 2:02 a.m., January 10, 2002
Greetings from south of the equator where it is Summer and raining
buckets full. Great for the soja (soy beans) here. I have seen hundreds
of acres, perhaps thousands acres, and hundreds of hectares of beans
about a foot high. These will be followed by corn or cane (cana). Saw
some Massey Ferguson tractors, etc the other day. And I will bring back
the Brazilian version of the Farm Journal. It’s the same general style
of publication. A lot of the land (the large farms) is privately owned
but some of the farms are in the hands of corporations. There are lots
of elevators along the highway. They are called armazems; some are owned
by multi-national corporations.
By the way I will be sending short paragraphs because it is dangerous to
have the computer on long because of electrical failures which happen
here more often than at home.
I will return after sending this, as I do not want to loose what I’ve
typed so far.
Mais tarde (More later). -- Fr. Owen