Looking forward to 2021

by Ona Kiser, President

I was finally able to visit Campos in early February, 2021 to get an in-person look at the status of the projects we had hoped to support in 2020 and discuss the needs for 2021. Take a look at our new projects page to see what we’ll be doing!

​Our initial plans for 2020 were largely put aside in favor of sending emergency funds for keeping the seminary pantry stocked. That we were able to do, sending several donations throughout the year to help feed the young men. We are really grateful for the generous support we received from donors in the US and Europe.

Two projects we’d hoped to help with ended up being taken care of by private donors not affiliated with Friends of Campos:

At the convent in Bom Jesus, where the sisters had been using a makeshift altar for years, a private donor unexpectedly gave them a fantastic hand-carved cedar altar made by artisans in the state of Minas Gerais. It smells fantastic and looks fabulous. It takes the chapel to a whole new level. So though Friends of Campos didn’t fund this project after all, we are really happy to celebrate the lovely outcome. ​

They had also desperately needed new hospital beds for the Saint Joseph Care Center for the Elderly, and these were also purchased by a private donor in late 2020. They haven’t been delivered yet, but we’ll post some pictures when they are. We are grateful to see the sisters receiving extra help, especially in such a difficult year. ​

Back at the seminary, I was delighted to see that the Formation Center for Priests has been finished, despite the quarantines. ​

 Last I’d seen it it was bare concrete and dangling light bulbs. Now it is sparkling with clean tile, with every door, window, sink and light-switch in place and working. There are ten guest bright, spacious guest rooms for visiting clergy or clergy retreats. It will be a tremendous service to the traditional Catholic community throughout Brazil, as well as to the clergy of the Apostolic Administration, to have this center up and running. It still needs furnishing, but we’ll get to that! ​

Another joy was to see the progress made on the library. The new shelves are slowly filling with books, the reading room is already in use (and air-conditioned!), and a small team has been trained to repair and catalogue the books under the supervision of one of the priests. There are some treasures to be found, including correspondence, magazines and other publications covering the time of upheaval and transition after the Second Vatican Council. It will make a good resource for researchers in the future. This was not a Friends of Campos project in 2020, but will be in 2021 (see project page for details!).

The sisters and the seminarians are praying for our benefactors during Lent as well there are Masses celebrated for this intention at the seminary. We thank you again for your support in 2020, our first year of service. We hope to grow in 2021!

Check out our 2021 projects here!

Also new this year: the sisters and the seminary are taking prayer requests. You can submit your intentions here.