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Author Topic: Benedictines in Brazil Need Your Support  (Read 5270 times)

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Offline Plenus Venter

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Benedictines in Brazil Need Your Support
« on: November 11, 2023, 05:08:45 PM »
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    • The Benedictine Monastery of Bishop Thomas Aquinas needs our financial assistance.
    They have an opportunity to install solar panels with free labour and materials at factory prices.
    It will reduce their current electricity bill of $600 per month to a quarter or a fifth of that amount, making them less dependent upon our support to survive in the long run.
    We launched an appeal through our Resistance priest at our chapel, and I have been informed by the monastery that about half the funds have now been raised.
    Please consider helping and even engaging the support of your Resistance priest to broaden the appeal to more of the faithful.

    https://www.mosteirodasantacruz.org/energiasolar

    ***You will also find a link on their website for sending your November list of departed souls to be placed on their altar. They do not require a donation for this***
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    Offline Plenus Venter

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    Re: Benedictines in Brazil Need Your Support
    « Reply #1 on: November 12, 2023, 04:46:57 PM »
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    • Bump for the Benedictines!
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    Offline Steve

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    Re: Benedictines in Brazil Need Your Support
    « Reply #2 on: March 30, 2024, 09:34:36 AM »
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    • Quote from: Plenus Venter on November 11, 2023, 05:08:45 PM
    The Benedictine Monastery of Bishop Thomas Aquinas needs our financial assistance.
    They have an opportunity to install solar panels with free labour and materials at factory prices.
    It will reduce their current electricity bill of $600 per month to a quarter or a fifth of that amount, making them less dependent upon our support to survive in the long run.
    We launched an appeal through our Resistance priest at our chapel, and I have been informed by the monastery that about half the funds have now been raised.
    Please consider helping and even engaging the support of your Resistance priest to broaden the appeal to more of the faithful.

    https://www.mosteirodasantacruz.org/energiasolar

    ***You will also find a link on their website for sending your November list of departed souls to be placed on their altar. They do not require a donation for this***
    Can we send checks via mail to the address listed?   

    [color=rgb(var(--color_15))]Beneficiary : MONASTEIRO DA SANTA CRUZ[/color]

    [color=rgb(var(--color_15))]Address : Estrada Alcino C. Ferraz km 2 sn, Riograndina
    Nova Friburgo-RJ, 28634-438 - BRAZIL.    [/color]
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    Offline Plenus Venter

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    Re: Benedictines in Brazil Need Your Support
    « Reply #3 on: March 30, 2024, 05:49:50 PM »
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    • Quote from: Steve on March 30, 2024, 09:34:36 AM
    Can we send checks via mail to the address listed? 

    [color=rgb(var(--color_15))]Beneficiary : MONASTEIRO DA SANTA CRUZ[/color]

    [color=rgb(var(--color_15))]Address : Estrada Alcino C. Ferraz km 2 sn, Riograndina
    Nova Friburgo-RJ, 28634-438 - BRAZIL.    [/color]
    I'm not sure about that one Steve.
    Check with Renato, Bishop Thomas Aquinas's secretary at the following email address:
    mostsantacruz@gmail.com
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    Offline Plenus Venter

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    Re: Benedictines in Brazil Need Your Support
    « Reply #4 on: March 30, 2024, 05:54:50 PM »
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    • You might also find the information you need here:
    https://www.mosteirodasantacruz.org/doacaointernacional
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    Offline Steve

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    Re: Benedictines in Brazil Need Your Support
    « Reply #5 on: March 31, 2024, 09:50:11 PM »
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    • Quote from: Plenus Venter on March 30, 2024, 05:54:50 PM
    You might also find the information you need here:
    https://www.mosteirodasantacruz.org/doacaointernacional
    Thank you!  I wandered over the website looking for something like this, but kept having to retranslate the page etc. Much appreciated!
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    Offline CarmelFlower

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    Re: Benedictines in Brazil Need Your Support
    « Reply #6 on: April 03, 2024, 06:25:17 PM »
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    • Has anyone had luck wiring them $? I tried using the SWIFT instructions on their website but got a call from my bank today saying my donation was returned. Any feedback would be appreciated. 
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    Offline Plenus Venter

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    Re: Benedictines in Brazil Need Your Support
    « Reply #7 on: April 03, 2024, 08:04:29 PM »
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    • Quote from: CarmelFlower on April 03, 2024, 06:25:17 PM
    Has anyone had luck wiring them $? I tried using the SWIFT instructions on their website but got a call from my bank today saying my donation was returned. Any feedback would be appreciated.
    Hi Carmel,
    I am in Australia and I always send my donations using xe.com.
    Many banks and online foreign exchange sites will not transfer money to Brazil as it is considered a high risk country.
    If you talk with your bank, you will probably discover this as the reason.
    It may be worthwhile your talking to Renato, the bishop's secretary who is in charge of these matters, using the email address above. You will find him very helpful.
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    Offline CarmelFlower

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    Re: Benedictines in Brazil Need Your Support
    « Reply #8 on: April 03, 2024, 11:24:22 PM »
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    • Thank you Plenus. I emailed Renato & received a response with a couple alternate options. 
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    Offline Centroamerica

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    Re: Benedictines in Brazil Need Your Support
    « Reply #9 on: April 04, 2024, 09:37:31 AM »
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    • There’s no way their electric bill has ever been 600 dollars a month. Maybe 600 reais which is 120 bucks, but even that is a stretch. The most they are running is a few fans and lights. 
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    We conclude logically that religion can give an efficacious and truly realistic answer to the great modern problems only if it is a religion that is profoundly lived, not simply a superficial and cheap religion made up of some vocal prayers and some ceremonies...

    Offline Centroamerica

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    Re: Benedictines in Brazil Need Your Support
    « Reply #10 on: April 04, 2024, 09:47:15 AM »
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    • Well, the site did confirm it was 3,000 reais which comes out to 600 dollars. I’m just really surprised since I’ve been there many times, stayed in a cell there and seen the electrical. Even the stoves are all gas. Electric stoves are not common at all in Brazil and gas is the standard. The only energy consumption is lights in cells, personal fans and refrigerators. If I ran up a 600 dollar bill for a dozen lights in cells and a refrigerator, I’d be looking to put up solar panels also. Still hard to believe that this is not a typo. 300 reais would seem more accurate. 
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    We conclude logically that religion can give an efficacious and truly realistic answer to the great modern problems only if it is a religion that is profoundly lived, not simply a superficial and cheap religion made up of some vocal prayers and some ceremonies...

    Offline CarmelFlower

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    Re: Benedictines in Brazil Need Your Support
    « Reply #11 on: April 04, 2024, 06:51:47 PM »
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    • I was personally drawn to support their building of a new church. I pray that many generous souls come out of the woodwork to support their cause! Even as a widow with 9 young children to raise, I still have an easier plight than them. 
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    Offline Giovanni Berto

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    Re: Benedictines in Brazil Need Your Support
    « Reply #12 on: April 04, 2024, 07:59:38 PM »
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    • Quote from: Centroamerica on April 04, 2024, 09:47:15 AM
    Well, the site did confirm it was 3,000 reais which comes out to 600 dollars. I’m just really surprised since I’ve been there many times, stayed in a cell there and seen the electrical. Even the stoves are all gas. Electric stoves are not common at all in Brazil and gas is the standard. The only energy consumption is lights in cells, personal fans and refrigerators. If I ran up a 600 dollar bill for a dozen lights in cells and a refrigerator, I’d be looking to put up solar panels also. Still hard to believe that this is not a typo. 300 reais would seem more accurate.

    How long has it been since you were there? Inflation has been cruel to us.

    The electricity bill of my house was over 180 reais last month.
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    Offline Centroamerica

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    Re: Benedictines in Brazil Need Your Support
    « Reply #13 on: April 07, 2024, 08:59:05 AM »
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    • Quote from: Giovanni Berto on April 04, 2024, 07:59:38 PM
    How long has it been since you were there? Inflation has been cruel to us.

    The electricity bill of my house was over 180 reais last month.
    I’ve spent a lot of time there recently. Just got back from a recent trip 3 weeks ago. Inflation in Brazil hasn’t been quite as bad as in the US recently. 
    180 reais a month is reasonable. Remember when the Benedictines say the electric bill for the month for the school, monastery and Benedictine sisters etc. most people don’t realize that their school is literally a two room building on the same plot of land and they are not teaching those kids using computers. At most a couple lights being used. Remember the stoves are gas. Seminary? They don’t even claim to have a seminary if you ask in Brazil. Maybe a pre-seminary that is the monastery so the monastery serves as a school and seminary but it is stated as if it is separate facilities for people who don’t know. I mean, I’m not saying it was intentionally dishonest, but it sure seems misleading. Imagine paying over a thousand dollars a month to power up maybe 20 household lights a month and a refrigerator with a few fans. 
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    We conclude logically that religion can give an efficacious and truly realistic answer to the great modern problems only if it is a religion that is profoundly lived, not simply a superficial and cheap religion made up of some vocal prayers and some ceremonies...

    Offline Giovanni Berto

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    Re: Benedictines in Brazil Need Your Support
    « Reply #14 on: April 07, 2024, 01:28:08 PM »
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    • Quote from: Centroamerica on April 07, 2024, 08:59:05 AM
    I’ve spent a lot of time there recently. Just got back from a recent trip 3 weeks ago. Inflation in Brazil hasn’t been quite as bad as in the US recently.
    180 reais a month is reasonable. Remember when the Benedictines say the electric bill for the month for the school, monastery and Benedictine sisters etc. most people don’t realize that their school is literally a two room building on the same plot of land and they are not teaching those kids using computers. At most a couple lights being used. Remember the stoves are gas. Seminary? They don’t even claim to have a seminary if you ask in Brazil. Maybe a pre-seminary that is the monastery so the monastery serves as a school and seminary but it is stated as if it is separate facilities for people who don’t know. I mean, I’m not saying it was intentionally dishonest, but it sure seems misleading. Imagine paying over a thousand dollars a month to power up maybe 20 household lights a month and a refrigerator with a few fans.

    It does sound excessive then. Unless they take 40 minute showers and have air conditioning on every room, which would contrary to the monastic spirit.
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