Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Porto Alegre (Agenzia Fides) - One most important events in the conversion of St Francis of Assisi was his meeting with a man suffering from leprosy. From then on Saint Francis lived in profound communion with the excluded people of his time. The Capuchin Friars of the Province of Rio Grande do Sul, seeking to live this aspect of the vocation of Francis and his friars, with a decision taken in 1996, to care for HIV + persons in Porto Alegre. The Fonte Colombo Fraternity is composed of five friars who provide this service of charity at the Centre for the Promotion of HIV + Persons (Rua Hoffmann, 499, Bairro Floresta).
The centre cares for people of every age and social condition, according to the Fraternity's news bulletin. It provides basic instruction, humanisation, promotion of women, formation and support to overcome prejudice. The courses, offered free to patients and family members, aim to help HIV+ persons and families to tackle the situation and live with dignity despite the limits imposed by the illness, and above all by prejudice.
The Capuchin Province of Rio Grande do Sul runs the centre, but the project receives help from other sources. More than fifty trained doctors and nurses offer a week long voluntary service. Many local people support the centre visiting the patients or supplying food, equipment, clothing, money and also personal collaboration. The Friars share meals and prayers with the “guests”. Every year the Fraternity invites a group of post-novices to the Centre for a period of pastoral experience. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 7/7/2009; righe 23, parole 318)
