Continued:
- September 11: The solar panels, previously connected to ourelectrical grid, are activated. Now we can count on the energyassistance of those panels.- October 12: Ordination of Rev. Fr. Flavio Mateos [Fr. FlaviusMathew] and sermon by Rev. Fr. Trincado, S.A.J.M.- November 18: Beginning of our annual retreat, with the prea-ching of Rev. Fr. Flavio Mateos, S.A.J.M.- November 21: Entry of Br. Paulo Daniel [Br. Paul Daniel]into the postulancy and profession of oblature by Br.Antão [Br.Anthon].- December 5: Entry of Br. Mítalo into the condition of postu-lant.- December 8: Consecration of the monasteries of the Immacu-late Heart and the Holy Cross to the Immaculate Heart of Maryand simple vows by Br. Dionísio Maria [Br. Dionisius Mary].5Attachment
Below there is a brief summary of the work that we have carried out due to the constitutions of Rev. Fr. Muard and the si-tuation of the Church, which were implemented in our religious house throughout 2024, as well as other long-term initiatives, also implemented in this auspicious year. We are deeply gra-teful for the generosity of all the benefactors who, from cou-ntless countries, responded to our requests for help in favor of the spread of the Catholic Faith in Brazil and Latin America.
Mapping our apostolate6In response to the requests of our faithful, we have ex-tended our radius of action beyond Brazil, totaling more than 4,000 km stretching in a straight line to the most distant territory that is served. In 2024, we reached the significant milestone of more than 46 missions and, in addition to these, we have tried to assist many others who have asked us for the sacraments. This effort is not the essence of our vocation, but our founder, Rev. Fr. Muard, prescribed us missions when this was possible and in a non-continuous manner.
Recently completed projects:
ROOF
We were able to complete the renova-tion of the roof of the block closest to the cha-pel, where we have our chapter meetings. For a long time, we had been suffering from water in-filtration problems due to that roof. All the tiles and some columns, be-ams and slats that were already rotting were re-placed, which is going to
We completed the construction of the corral, rebuilt our fences for the pasture and bought some cows. One calf has already been born and another is going to be born soon. We have been able to produce
Thanks to our generous benefactors, we were able to complete the campaign to install photovoltaic energy panels. That is going to drastically reduce our electricity costs, while also ensu-ring greater stability in our ener-gy grid.We have installed solar panels in four locations: in our monastery, at the sisters’ house, at the seminary and at the school.
8Work underway:
THE SISTERS’ CLOIS-TER WALLask the faithful for help us build a wall and enclose their monas-tery. We also acquired a guard dog, which is going to provide them with greater security.
ROADThere has been an increase in the flow of faithful in our re-ligious activities, by the grace of God. However, our roads are still precarious, due to the difficulties of soil and labor. Therefore, we havebeenworkingonourroads,because asH.E.R.DomWilliam-son observed, during his last visit: “The road to heaven is rocky”.9ARTESIAN WELL
Every year, since our foundation, we have faced some type of problem related to water. We have drilled an ar-tesian well, which is certainly going to be of great use to us. All that remains to be still done is to lay the piping to the mo-nastery.
Our temporary chapel already holds Sun-day masses at the limit of its capacity, and has been adapted to meet the growing influx of faithful. It has earned the epithet of “Iron Cathedral” as the “iron cathedral”, given by
Mgr. Richard Williamson. The small church, built at the time of the founda-tion, has great value to us. Blessed by Mgr. Antônio de Castro Mayer, it has served us since our fou-ndation almost 40 years ago. We do not intend to demolish it, but it will bepreserved, at least in part, within our future cloister. It will cer-tainly always be a pleasant place of prayer. With the first phase of the campaign for the construction of the new church now complete, we have a lot to celebrate, but we also have a lot to do and to plan. In June 2024, our architect visited us to assess the site and to begin work. We will soon have the architectural project and begin preparing the ground.
Whether it is due to cultural issues and the degradation of the modern world, or to financial conditions that are inferior to tho-se in Europe and Nor-th America, we often have to turn to our be-nefactors even for ourusual expenses. But we are convinced that, through the inter-cession of the Virgin Mary, who never fails, the Good Lord will not delay in helping us with our work, even when the monks and friends who help us can no longer do so. And we will be able to say in the future, both on earth and in heaven, that the effort was certainly worth it.
11Learn more about this project by visiting: www.mosteirodasantacruz.org/nossa-igrejaOUR KITCHEN
We face a serious problem of humidity in our older buildings. The plaster in most of them is damaged and we suffer because of the low-qua-lity material used in the construction. The costs of correcting these problems are unfortunately high.
At the same time we have been promoting a fundraising campaign for urgent renovation of the libraries. The same thing is happening as in the ki-tchen, but unlike the pots and pans that can be wa-shed, the precious books cannot withstand humidi-ty and dirt. More details about this important cam-paign can be found on our website: www.mosteirodasantacruz.org/reformadabiblioteca12OUR SCHOOL
At our school, we have trained more than 30 children in 2024 and we already have almost 50 students enrolled for 2025. We urgently need to build 3 new class-rooms for this year, as there is no more space for the next classes. Un-fortunately, we do not have any resources to carry out this much-needed expansion work, the costs of which will be sig-nificant. We are in constant prayer, asking Our Lady for help for the children who are assisted by this precious school.
BAKERY
This is one of our oldestbuildings.Theinten-tion is to use it as a bakery. We will need to tear down a wall, expand the space and make it a clean and suitable environment so that we can process our daily bread.We have calculated 115 meters (125.8 yds or 377.3 ft) of gutters to be installed in various monastery complexes. Many
13are already damaged due to long use and we need to install new ones in several other places, where they are sorely needed. Wi-thout them, the walls and foundations are severely affected by the climate of Nova Friburgo.
Finally, we count on your indispensable help. There are many pieces of work that are needed. Please help us to preserve this monastery and collaborate with the divine plan for the sal-vation of souls.14Cellarer’s NoteLittle by little, we have been fulfilling the program that was drawn up a long time ago, and interrupted by some impor-tant work, among which we highlight the increasing burdens of the growth of our religious community, recent foundations of the women's branch and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Se-minary, supported by our monastery, in addition to the main-tenance of the São Bento & Santa Escolástica School. In our monastery alone, today, we have almost 20 religious brothers.For this reason, we are now focusing our efforts on the long-awaited construction of our definitive church, which is in the architectural and structural planning phase.The meticulous restructuring of the various complexes that the monastery houses – from the tool room, libraries, bake-ry to the wells that provide us with drinking water – has also required extraordinary expenses throughout this year, but all of them were considered and necessary for the maintenance of our religious house.All these actions were combined t[
Topic: Bulletin of the Holy Cross, March 2025 (Released October 2025) (Read 1064 times)