Dear brothers of the Priestly Fraternity of Jesus Caritas,
we experienced the MONTH OF NAZARETH, from January 5th to 29th, in Goiás (GO – Brazil). It was a time of grace, prayer, fraternal fellowship, and profound spiritual renewal. We wish to share with you a brief summary of what the Lord allowed us to experience in this month so fruitful for our priestly journey.
From the beginning, we were invited to revisit our personal and vocational history, recognizing God’s action in our lives.
Bishop Eugênio Rixen helped us to “forge fraternity,” recalling the witness of Saint Charles de Foucauld and so many brothers and sisters who chose to live among the poor, not only helping them, but becoming their brothers and sisters. We learned that evangelizing is more about presence than discourse, more about living together than about deeds, more about listening than about taking the lead. The prayer of abandonment led us to a deep and serene trust in the hands of the Father.
With Fr. Carlos Roberto, we meditated on the fact that we only offer one adoration: we adore Christ in the Word and in the Gospels, we adore Christ in the Eucharist and in Eucharistic adoration, just as we adore Him present in the poor, in the least of the least. The Eucharist extends into charity, therefore, serving our brother is to continue the adoration. We were reminded that a priest cannot live in isolation: fraternity sustains, heals, and animates our mission. We were also called to care for human, emotional, and spiritual health, with rest, spiritual direction, and accompaniment when necessary.
Deacon José Gomes brought to light a delicate and necessary theme: fatigue and psychological suffering in the presbytery. In the light of Moses and Elijah, we realized that even the great prophets experienced exhaustion. God first cares, feeds, and gives rest, and then sends again. We are called to recognize our limits and to allow ourselves to be cared for.
During the Retreat week, Bishop Edson Damian broadened our horizons by meditating with us on the spirituality of integral ecology: creation as the first Gospel and the Common Home as a gift entrusted to us. He reinforced priestly fraternity, communion with the Church, the fight against clericalism, and the preferential option for the poor as concrete criteria for conversion. He reminded us that there is no following of Jesus without simplicity, justice, and commitment to the least fortunate.
Prayer also occupied a central place. We were encouraged to remain before the Lord, for it is from intimacy with Him that mission is born. Without adoration of the Beloved Jesus, our action risks becoming activism.
Finally, the meditation on the Magnificat presented Mary in her humanity: with fears, silence, and trust. She teaches us that God works wonders in smallness. We are called to this “postgraduate course in humility,” where true greatness is to trust and serve.
During the week of the 27th to the 28th, we were joined by Father José de Anchieta, national responsible of the Jesus Caritas Fraternity; Father Anchieta addressed the following themes: The Prophetism of Charles de Foucauld: emphasis was placed on this phrase: “let us not be sleeping sentinels and mute dogs, indifferent shepherds”; the text was taken from the writings of Canon Celso Pedro and José Bizon. Following this, we meditated on the humble means of evangelization. Continuing the formation, Father Anchieta reflected on UNIVERSAL FRATERNITY
Fraternal love for all men: ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. Continuing with the themes, we meditated on the Priestly Fraternity Jesus Caritas in Brazil, historical data, pointed out by Jaime Jongmans and updated by Carlos Roberto); highlighting its beginning in 1951-1962. And finally, Father Anchieta gave us guidelines for the engagement of members in the Priestly Fraternity of Jesus Caritas. With the proper guidance, at the end of the month of Nazareth, the ceremony of “engagement” of the new members was held during Holy Mass.
We leave this month with the conviction that our vocation is to be universal brothers: men of prayer, simple presence, fraternal communion, and real closeness to the poor. More than doing a lot, we are called to love better. More than great projects, to remain with Jesus and with the people.
May Saint Charles de Foucauld help us to live as “brothers to all” and may the Lord strengthen our priestly fraternity.
With fraternal esteem and prayer for each one,
1. Fr. João Paulo Carvalho e Silva. Teresina – Piauí
2. Fr. João Batista Toledo da Silveira. Niterói RJ
3. Fr. Milton Afonso do Nascimento. Marília, SP
4. Fr. Edvaldo Rosário Calazans. São José do Rio Preto, SP
5. Fr. Paulo Leandro da Silva, Diocese of Guarulhos, SP
6. Deacon Florismundo Roderich Maranhão Cavalcante. Recife, PE