While many people celebrate these days the carnival in Brazil, a group of 80 young people chose to dedicate these days to a different cause: construction. of a chapel in the community of Nuestra Señora de la Caridad, in Fazenda Rio Grande, Paraná (Brazil). This initiative is part of the project SuperAção (Super Action), driven by the Regnum Christi, which has built about 40 chapels in various regions of the country.
Building with hands and heart
For these young people volunteers, the physical effort is only part of the experience. Helena Mosele, 23-year-old, one of the project's coordinators, describes the experience as something that «it is not explained, it is lived». Beyond nailing and sanding, its objective is to toto give the participants an encounter with God through the charisma of the Regnum Christi, where the following participate legionaries of Christ, consecrated, consecrated laity y lay associates.
Helena has been involved in the construction of several chapels in different parts of Brazil and says that her life changed after she became involved in SuperAção. «God reshaped my story after SuperAção and made me find it», he says. «And after I found him, my heart is no longer satisfied with the world.». For her and many others, the meaning of carnival takes on a different dimension: «The fun of Carnival seems very small compared to what God has prepared for me these days.».
Thiago Ribeiro, a 34-year-old chemical engineer, has also found in the project a path of personal transformation. «I was not a practicing Catholic, but something in me changed after my first participation. It was the beginning of my journey of reencounter with my faith.», he says. He has helped to build ten chapels and describes each experience as a moment of inner transformation and an opportunity to witness God's love.
An urgent need in the community
The Our Lady of Charity community faces a challenging situation. Until now, Masses were held in the basement of a market, but the owner of the establishment has requested the space back, leaving the parishioners without a place of worship. It was then that a member of the community, who knew about the project SuperAção, proposed the construction of a chapel. With the support of the bishop, the parish priest and local authorities, and after finding suitable land, preparations began ten months ago.
Since then, the volunteers have worked with resources obtained through donations and fundraisers organized by the young people themselves. «Every month, in every meeting, in every activity, God was building something in us and teaching us to trust in Him.», Helena explains. Organization is key, but so is trust in providence. «We have a project, a chronogram, an organization of functions and God is enabling us throughout the days to build this.».
Beyond the physical chapel
For the P. Rafael Kizimia, L.C., The construction is not limited to the physical building. «In addition to the exterior chapel, it is very important that in every action we take, we also build our interior chapel.», he says. For him, the fundamental thing is that the experience does not remain only in manual labor, but that the young people can experience God's love and become his living testimony.
The spiritual dimension of the project is reinforced by daily masses, moments of formación y of prayer. «In the midst of fatigue, these moments help them to continue transforming their heart and their inner selves», explains the P. Rafael.
The impact of SuperAção goes beyond construction. During his seven years as an escort dthe project, the P. Rafael has seen how many young people arrive without a clear direction in their lives, but leave transformed. «We have received many young people who did not know what they wanted in life, who had not had an experience of God's love, and when they build the chapel in these four days, we noticed a great transformationn».
For many, what began as a curiosity or an invitation from friends becomes a profound experience of faith. «At the end of the project, many young people tell us: “I came because I was told I had to come”, “I came out of curiosity”, “I came because I had never built anything and I wanted to but now I am here because I really want to be here, because I have experienced the love of God.”», concludes the P. Rafael.
A carnival with a new meaning
For these young people, the days of carnival acquiresn a new meaning. They choose to devote their time and energy to something they consider more meaningful.more transcendentThe goal of the project is to serve others and build a space to meet with God. In four days, they not only erected a temple of bricks and wood, but also strengthened their faith and their community. The Our Lady of Charity chapel will undoubtedly be a testimony to their commitment and a source of inspiration for other young people seeking to give deeper meaning to their lives.
This article was based on “Youth aproveitam or carnival to build uma capela no Paraná”.
