In the heart of Marajó Island, in northern Brazil, Breves reveals itself as a mosaic of natural beauty and social challenges. Its rivers, plentiful and mysterious, reflect the soul of a courageous people who, amidst the exuberance of the flora and fauna, face the difficulties of life with faith and determination.
In 1940, the Augustinian Recollects arrived in Breves, finding themselves with only one chair in the promised parish house. Faced with this challenge, they began an arduous work of evangelization.
Established in communion and shared life, proper to the Augustinian faith, the missionaries understood the importance of education for the religious formation of the Marajoara community.
It is in this context that the Order of Augustinian Recollects undertook an educational project with the objective of providing a more promising future for the community, especially for the children. In the midst of the adversities and shortages of the region, education emerged as a way for improvement. Thus, in 2006, the Order inaugurated the Santa Monica School for Children’s Education in Breves, Pará.
Our mission goes beyond teaching: we want to see every child grow and develop, fighting for their rights.
In order to broaden the horizons of the students, the school offers an education based on values such as respect, autonomy, solidarity and responsibility, which are fundamental for integral development. Continuing with this initiative, in 2013 the Primary Education building was inaugurated, which significantly expanded the school’s capacity, with a total of 513 students enrolled in the morning and afternoon shifts.
Currently, the school has 358 students in kindergarten and 1,271 in primary education, totaling 1,629 students.
With the commitment to preserve our Augustinian Recollect identity, built throughout a rich history, we seek to offer an integral and humanizing education. Our pedagogy, inspired by love and wisdom, aims to form critical, conscious and caring citizens. By educating the mind, heart and spirit, we contribute to the construction of a more just and fraternal society, combating challenges such as illiteracy, school dropout and social vulnerability.
At Santa Monica, students are more than numbers. Here they find a home where they are welcomed and cared for. Our mission goes beyond teaching: we want to see every child grow and develop, fighting for their rights.
Thanks to small projects such as chess and jiu-jitsu, with the support of ARCORESour students discover that there is much more to learn outside the classroom. From a very young age, we accompany them closely, with teachers who care about each one of them.
In our school we encourage conversation among students to strengthen friendship and respect. We believe in St. Augustine’ s teachings on trust and love. Therefore, we seek to cultivate compassion, intelligence and heart in all that we do.
*Article written by René González, ARCORES Brazil, for the Yearbook 2024