Institución Teresiana - archivo de noticias - St. Pedro Poveda Community of Taquaritinga, Brazil: It all started with a dream

Details: Published: 10 February 2017

TAQUARITINGA, San Pablo State, Brasil.
And it all started with a dream. A young priest, José Adalberto Salvini, returned to Brazil after sharing the fervor and joy at the canonization of St. Pedro Poveda on May 4, 2003. He came back with a remarkable devotion and admiration for a martyr of an unparalleled charism. As the new parish priest of Santa Lucía, in Taquaritinga, a city north of the state of São Paulo, he wanted to make Poveda the patron saint of a peripheral area, which would grow rapidly and become a community. And so it happened.

0210-1 He began his pastoral work visiting homes to get to know the neighborhood and its inhabitants. The first Mass was celebrated on May 31 of that year, and he proposed that St. Pedro Poveda would be the patron of the community. The people agreed with great enthusiasm and this saint was officially appointed their patron saint.

On April 4, 2004, the "Cruzeiro do Compromisso" (a large commemorative cross) was erected in “Plaza del Jatobá,” which currently bears the name "Praça São Pedro Poveda".

That same year, the couple Airton and Janeide took on the coordination of the community. A triduum was organized in preparation for July 28, liturgical feast of St. Pedro Poveda, and the first feast of the community. Masses were celebrated in homes.

In November, land was purchased, which was paid over ten years, for the construction of the Evangelization Center and Saint Pedro Poveda Church.

Given the growth in population and their permanent settlement in the area, it was necessary to build a temporary chapel. The women worked hard selling homemade baked goods at masses to raise money for the building materials. And the most interesting thing is that the same members of the community raised the walls.

It is also worth mentioning the Mass to bless the beginning of the building of Saint Pedro Poveda Church in 2011. It was attended by members of the Teresian Association, who accompany us spiritually with their prayers and friendship, as well as with some financial collaboration.

Over the years there were six other coordinators and the community began to be structured. With the help of various experts in pastoral work, today we offer all the levels of catechesis.

There were also various solidarity projects, praying the Holy Rosary in the homes, and missionary work with the help of the Franciscan Sisters of Penance. The community now spans four neighborhoods and today it represents a strong pastoral part of the parish.

In 2014, the area was reorganized and the Parish of the Holy Family of Nazareth was created. Father Adalberto was appointed its parish priest and the community belonged to it. At the end of 2016 there was a change of pastors and, now, the head of the parish is Father Hamilton César Stempniewiski, who has expressed his desire to continue the friendship with the Teresian Association. But we can never forget Father Adalberto, who introduced us and shared the enormous love for Pedro Poveda, a love that he is now bringing to his new parish.

In short, everything continues to be a dream and a commitment to be more and more salt and light for the people, just as the first Christians were and as Saint Pedro Poveda was in those small Spanish cities.

The community must give thanks for the many graces received in all these years! We will continue dreaming ...

Text and Photos: Nicole Gomes da Silva, Saint Pedro Poveda Community,Taquaritinga, Brazil.

Facebook of the youth group of Saint Pedro Poveda community: https://www.facebook.com/jovenspoveda/

News of the laying of the first stone in the ecclesial community of Saint Pedro Poveda: http://www.institucionteresiana.org

Poem in Portuguese: July 28o
28 de Julho não é dia simples  e desde 1936, simples nunca será,  Quando tentaram calar uma voz   Voz que nunca se calará!    Em plena Guerra Civil Espanhola  Numa fria e dura perseguição,  Padre Poveda se preocupou  Em amar, servir e ajudar o irmão.     Uma árdua busca pelo direito  "Por que menina não pode estudar?"   Comida, roupa, dignidade e respeito  À suas crianças não podia faltar.    Foi "preciso mostrar com obras"  Que fé e ciência juntas caminham   Foi necessário se por a serviço,  Amparando aqueles que nada tinham.     Jamais se esqueceu da igualdade  "Mulher também pode trabalhar!"  "Mansidão, doçura e afabilidade,   São virtudes para o mundo conquistar!"	E através da ternura e da esperança  Do cultivo da cultura e e educação,  Em tempos difíceis de intolerância  Poveda fundou uma Instituição.    Preferia ver sua obra acabada,  Obra que sua vida dedicou  Do que a não devoção à Imaculada,  Mãe que sempre o acompanhou.    Era importante a espiritualidade,  Espelhava-se no Senhor Jesus  Com misericórdia e caridade  Na escuridão, Poveda foi luz!    Mas por muitos incompreendido,  Julgado, injustiçado e mal visto  Por dois tiros, cruelmente ferido  Foi morto o "Sacerdote de Cristo".     Sua missão, porém não teve fim  São Pedro Poveda não acabou  Trinta países ele alcançou assim  E o seu belo trabalho frutificou.	De todos os frutos de irmandade  Germinados no sangue do fundador,  Encanta-me ver nossa comunidade  Criando raízes e unida no amor!     Taquaritinga, a imagem de Guadix  Que no século XIX, Poveda cuidou  Que possamos olhar nossos pobres  Como aos ciganos, São Pedro olhou.     Que tenhamos essa alma sonhadora  De querer doar a vida mais e mais,   E sermos capazes de amar sem medidas  Semeando justiça e colhendo a paz.     Hoje o mundo conhece o padre,   Que tudo fazia com seu coração  Carismático mártir da humildade  Que hoje inspira essa minha canção...   28 de julho não é dia simples  E desde 1936, simples nunca será  Quando tentaram calar uma voz  Voz que nunca se calará!

Nicole Gomes da Silva, 16 años
Comunidade São Pedro Poveda, Taquaritinga, San Pablo, Brasil.