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Because of changed political conditions it became impossible to send brothers to Indonesia in the year 1956. At the popes request and contacts with the Franciscan Third Order Regular this fact resulted in a new foundation. At the 28th of February 1957 the General Council decided to start in the interior of Brasil, namely in Cáceres, Matto Grosso.
Manaus city
Top ↑Cáceres (1958 - now)
On the 19th of October 1957 the first three brothers (Pamphilius, Bertrand and Guisseppe) left the harbour of Antwerp to start a journey of about three weeks to Santos (Sao Paolo). There they got the opportunity to adjust themselves with total different expressions of culture and religion until the 5th of January 1958. On that day they continued their journey. After three days and a flight of 1615 km they arrived on the 8th of Januari at Cáceres. One month later school started with 129 pupils. More than thirty years the school enjoyed the leadership and musical talents of Br. Willibrod Feijen as its headmaster.
Cáceres 1958 opening of the school
When the new building was constructed in 1962 the possibility of professional training (printing and carpentry) was one of the aims. Although a school for that purpose had never been founded before quite a lot of youngsters got a professional skill training as carpenter in the workshop of Br. Lambertus. Br. Bertrand also developed his skills at the service of others. The house of the brothers, schools, the hospital and all kind of other buildings were constructed by him and his employers. He not only paid attention to the technical qualities of the building but related as an equal with his employers and honoured their work with fair wages. Because of this he was respected by the labourers in the region.
In order to offer professional help to the patients who suffered from Pênfigo (a kind of scabies disease) Br. Bertrand initiated a clinic named “O Bom Samaritano” in 1972.
In cooperation with the local Rotary club the APAE school for children with mental and physical handicaps. Thanks to the support of several schools for special education in Bergen op Zoom, Breda and Oosterhout the building could be renovated and about 120 children with very different handicaps could get appropriate help. Although some support is guaranteed from the local society and government sponsors are still needed to keep their approach on a professional level.
The great pastoral needs and the request of the local bishop made Br. Grignon leave school and start a pastoral study. On the 14th of February 1982 he was ordained a priest and beside his pastoral care for a new parish in the neighbourhood of the brothers, he paid special attention to the sick, the aged and the poor.
Cáceres one of the suburbs
Caceres 1958 The firsts house of the brothers
Brazilian society knows many one parent families, a mother/father with one or more children. To open an possibility for those mothers to earn a living Br. Mauricio, in cooperation with CNEC – one of the largest trade unions in Brasil- founded a crèche in 1992. From seven o’clock in the morning until 5 o’clock in the afternoon babies and infants are nursed end taken care of. A hammock mill was opened in order to create an opportunity for work and to get some extra revenues for the crèche.
In a poor towns quarter of Cáceres called ‘Jardin Padre Paulo’ the foundation ‘Pro Sol’ tried to build community life and a stronger self-esteem among the inhabitants of the quarter. Br. Victorino, with his special personal qualities supported the work and got financial support from sponsors like “NCB”, “Wilde Ganzen”, Amigos de Cáceres and others to reconstruct a community centre for various functions.
Top ↑Formosa (1962 – 1989)
Formosa Cathedral
In 1962 a second foundation was started at Formosa by the Brs. Gummarus, Radboud and Philippus as pioneers. Others, like the Brs.Victorinus, Willibrordus, Mauricio, Pamphilius, Sergius and Clemento would follow them. A lot of hard work was done at the ‘Colegio’. The number of pupils increased to more then 1000. But pastoral work in the parish, the centre for catecheses and the young in densely populated quarters got attention and care. Even the holiday period was used for study to get the qualifications needed to teaching at a comprehensive school. Supported by a housing project, a cooperation of about 45 families were enabled to construct their own houses. The foundation of a centre for catecheses and pastoral work by radio were other initiatives with long range effects. But all this progress was not free from disappointments. The Brs. Radboud and Mauricio were found to suffer from TBC 1973. Br. Pamphilius, who succeeded getting subsidy from the government for the school, met with a fatal car accident in 1975. And because of lung problems Br. Clemento had to move back to Cáceres in 1979 and Br. Sergius had to return back to Holland in 1986 because he suffered from the Parkinson disease.
Formosa 1984 the housing project Santa Lucia
In 1989 the schools, brothers house and centre for catecheses were handed over to the diocese and the brothers Radboud and Mauricio joined the community in Cáceres.
Formosa 1984 the house of the brothers
Top ↑Goiánia (1966-1974)
It was the intention to start skill education in the small town Goiánia, located not so far from the capital. But because the local government, at that time, was not willing to give any support for labours youth’s education the brothers started a primary school. In the evening they offered courses for secondary education level and courses to alphabetize adults. Br. Clemento got his degree for education with cum laude at the local University. In 1970 the secondary school ‘João XXIII’ started. Because of lack of religious candidates in the Netherlands the small community (Clemento and Pamphilius) could not be expended. When some brothers had to take a long rest to recover from TBC the Brs. Clemento and Pamphilius left Goiánia and joined the community in Formosa in 1974. The property of the congregation was handed over to the diocese.
Top ↑Tefé – Carauari (1976 – 1997)
Cathedral Therese of Avila in Tefe
To respond the request of Mgr. Joaquim de Lange (Bishop of the Amazonas) for assistance Br. Martin decided in August 1976 to join the pastoral team and was active at the coordination centre of the diocese Tefé. He took part in designing courses for family life, preparing liturgical celebrations and the formation of basic communities. The team tried to find ways to get the property rights of the indigenous Indians recognized. In 1981 he moved to Carauari at the upper part of the Juruá river and did pastoral work in Aruàjá, an isolated village of rubber labourers and dedicated himself to preventive health care. When his own health began to fail him he joined the community of the brothers in Cáceres again in 1997.
