Many parishes worldwide offer novenas in honor of St. Rita, patroness of the impossible, while some are dedicated to hosting pilgrimages, such as Monachil in Spain, and Honiton in England. Americans, too, are devoted to St. Rita. Her varied life experiences affected so many people in her day and still do today: as a loving wife, mother, widow and Augustinian nun. The blessing of roses adds to the devotion as the faithful ask St. Rita to bring them healing and strength.
Q.- What primary objectives surfaced at our January provincial chapter?
A.- Certainly we are blessed to have ordinations, but we must take a deeper look at the Order as a whole. We mustn’t lessen the importance of any of our ministries. Our apostolate, spirituality and finances, as well as our mutual communication, share equal importance. However, I strongly believe that greater dedication to formation of candidates and religious is crucial. I really want us to pay special attention to the significance of appropriate formation. I encourage regular visits to the seminaries and engaged dialogue with the seminarians, professed and novices. In fact, Fr. Ademir Joao Garcia will depart next month for Desierto to spend some quality time in the company of the novices.
Q.- Four months have passed since the closing of the last chapter. How do I see the province doing?
A.- First, I am an optimist. I am delighted that we currently have a solid number of young men strongly considering enrollment at Propedéutico (Preparatory). At present, there are seven seminarians. There are seven also studying philosophy and sixteen theologians. There are four in the novitiate. God-willing, the year 2008 will bring us seven solemn-professed and three presbyteral ordinations. I see a promising future. I also see a renewed enthusiasm among the friars. We still have plenty of improvements to make, but I am confident that we are growing stronger.
Q.- In this 2008 Vocation Year, the Province of St. Rita is privileged to receive six men for simple vows, seven solemn-professions, two diaconal ordinations and three presbyteral. Which is the vocational future of the province?
A.- These are the six that made simple professions on January 5, 2008: Evandro Antonio Ferreira da Silva, Agostinho Morosini, André Pereira de Arruda, Gustavo Barbiero Mello, Jacir Silvio Sanson Júnior and Ricardo Alberto Dias. Friars José Alexandre de Matos and Wagno Broedel Palma made their solemn vows to religious life on April 18, 2008. On May 24, 2008, we were blessed to witness the solemn professions of five more friars: Jonas Gusson, Edmilson Vidal, Didier Esperidiao Neto, Helton Pimenta Fernandes and Gracione Augusto Alves. On May 23, 2008, Fr. Robson Correia da Silva was ordained a priest. We look forward to the upcoming priestly ordinations of two more men: José Alexandre Matos in October, and in November, Fr. Wagno Broedel Palma. We encourage you to visit our website for more coverage of these and other events at www.santarita-oar.org.br
Q.- what challenges do our communities and ministries face in relation to the Aparecida document?
A.- Every new document the Church presents is aimed at increasing renewed enthusiasm among the faithful. I believe, after having studied the document several times, that each community can find the richness that is contained in the document and therefore help build stronger bonds between people. I encourage the religious to promote greater unity between themselves and the laity. This document really challenges us to grow.
Q.- How do you appreciate the devotion to St. Rita in the province?
A.- St. Rita is dearly loved among the Brazilian population. It is common to see dozens of shops, plazas, streets, parks and churches named after this holy woman. All our parishes, even those that do not hold St. Rita as patroness, nonetheless show great devotion to her through our dialogue and public ministries. She is honored in our house regularly through celebrations, novenas, prayer groups, blessing of roses ceremonies, special Masses and many other services.
Q.- What can you tell us about the magazine Mensajero (messenger) de santa rita?
A.- The magazine is such a gift to the Order and the Church. It reaches the homes of so many Brazilians. In it, readers get more than just a glimpse of the Augustinian recollect way of life. It includes personal stories and testimonies of religious and friends, as well as mainstream human interests like health, the arts and sciences and lifestyles. Since 2005, the magazine has targeted especially the theme of vocations. Now that we are celebrating ARVY (Augustinian Recollect Vocation Year), we continue to pray that our ministry will foster more and more vocations to priesthood and religious life. The magazine is celebrating its 78th year of publication. The magazine was born under the name La Sagrada Correa in 1930. It became Mensajero de Saint Rita in 1960, the year that our province was established. The magazine is currently undergoing some exciting changes thanks to the dedication and collaboration of so many religious.
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Francisco Sevolani Botacin, Provincial of St. Rita |
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I was born on May 22, 1956, in Concepción de Castelo, Espíritu Santo . My family has always lived in areas surrounded by Recollects. I was baptized by Fr. Juan Echávarri Asiáin on June 13, 1956. I received First Holy Communion through the guidance of Fr. Alaor dos Santos . When I was 14, I enrolled at the seminary of St. Augustine , Castelo. The superior then was Fr. Eneas Barilli. In 1976, I went to Our Lady of Aparecida Seminary (Capelinha), Franca , San Pablo . I entered the novitiate at Desierto in 1982 and our master of Novices was Fr. José Luis Azcona. My first profession took place on January 10, 1983 at the theologate of St. Monica in San Pablo . I was ordained a priest on December 20, 1986. For my first year of ministry, I headed off to St. Rita of Cascia Parish at Casia in Tapauá, Lábrea, Amazonas. From January 1988 until April 1996, I resided at the Parish of Our Lady of Peña in Castelo. In April 1986, I took over as pastor and superior of St. Rita’s Parish in Casia (Igarapava), San Pablo . On January 14 of this year, I was elected Prior Provincial and am currently at the provincial residence of St. Joseph in Ribeirao Preto. |