By: Fr. Noel Octavio, CICM
Just Beginning
I am completing my 10th month in the parish, my second assignment since I arrived last March 1989. This parish is located in the municipality of Itupiranga, state a Para in the Northern region of Brazil.
Virgin Forests
This villa, or center, together with more than twenty-four rural communities comprises the whole pastoral region which is situated along the Transamazonian road. Twenty years ago this region was all virgin forest, then it started to grow with people when the government constructed a national Road cutting the immense forest of more than 3,000 kilometer’s length. The region opened to all kinds of migrations both legal and illegal. Appropration of land; mineral mining, especially gold; logging activities and other types of commerce, turned the place upside down.
Immigrants
The majority of the populations are immigrants coming from other stated basically in search of land and better conditions of life. Only few succeed due to high cost of living, neglect by the government and tropical diseases which plague them. Education, transportation and employment are direly needed.
Our Response
We try to respond to these problems. Apart from formation of lay leaders, we coordinate also the pastoral health and encounters or courses of conscientization to help the people become aware of their rights and attain unity.
Multinational Team
Two Brazillian sisters, an Indonesian confrere and myself make up our pastoral them. It’s small enough, given the large region that we have to animate. There some communities which we can visit only two or three times a year because of the distance and terrible roads conditions.
Sleeping in Hammocks
To survive in this area I’ve learned to amount horses, walk for three to four hours climbing rugged mountains, sleep in the hammock and bathe in the rivers which are I abundance in this region.
Hospitable
In spite of difficulties I like the place, especially the people in the communities who are very hospitable and always willing to collaborate in the pastoral works.