As it does every year, the Street Ministry of the Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte, in which the Sisters’ community participates, celebrated the Holy Week triduum with the homeless. These were days of intense participation and prayer together.
On Holy Thursday, the Supper of Jesus was remembered with an ecumenical celebration, since not all people are Catholic. Most participated in the foot washing, washing each other’s feet.
On Friday we had the Stations of the Cross through the streets of the city. On several occasions, people wrote their pain and joy for their homeless situation and placed it next to the Cross or in their arms. It was very moving to hear from his mouth the pain, in tears, that marks the lives of these people. Everyone received a small cross to hang on their chest.
On Holy Saturday, each group celebrated the Passover of Jesus in their place of life, in the way that each place organized. In the square near our house we had breakfast together. The breakfast was prepared by the Pastoral Ministry of Sobriety, the Apostleship of Prayer and the Sisters’ community. It was very welcoming and, from what they brought, several people were able to take what was left to their place of refuge or to share with those who could not be present.
On Sunday, the Easter Mass was celebrated, presided over by the auxiliary bishop of Belo Horizonte, Dom Joaquim Mol, who is in charge of the Social Pastoral of the Archdiocese. During this mass, five children were baptized, children of a couple who live on the street and who now occupy a house that comes from a project of the Pastoral de la Calle. The father of the children was also baptized. We were struck by how well dressed and prepared the children were. The Bishop invited the couple to prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage, which was accepted. This task will be assumed by the Street Pastoral.
It was a different Easter and the Risen Jesus appeared among us in a different way.
Community of CCV Sisters of Belo Horizonte
