Dilma says in a letter that Dom Angélico ‘enlarged’ the Church – 01/24/2023 – Mônica Bergamo

Former president Dilma Rousseff (PT) stated that Bishop Emeritus Dom Angélico Sândalo Bernardino “magnified” the Catholic Church with his work at the head of the Pastoral Operária and the so-called ecclesial base communities of the religious denomination. The message was conveyed by the former representative in a letter sent to the cleric, on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

SACRED HEART

“Angélico is a ‘gift’ not only because of a formal sign of importance, that he is not one of those things. It is a ‘gift’ by popular recognition. The ‘gift’ of Bishop Angélico is substantive. It is talent, virtue and grace. He is a ‘gift’ ‘ in the hearts of the people,” Dilma wrote.

HEART 2

The bishop emeritus was also honored with a letter sent by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and replicated on the website of the Presidency of the Republic. “When a person turns 90 spreading the word of Jesus Christ, he is worthy of our deep admiration. When that same person, at 90, insists on preaching love in these times of so much hate, he becomes worthy of all tributes from the world,” he said.

Read below the full letter sent by former President Dilma Rousseff to Dom Angélico:

“Dom Angélico Sândalo Bernardino, whose 90th birthday we are celebrating today with great joy, not only carries the strong and beautiful name given by his parents, Italian Catholic immigrants who helped build this country.

In 63 years of priesthood, he earned respect and admiration with a history of fighting for those who most need support and protection. He has been, for more than six decades, the “priest of the people”, recognized by all as the bishop who faced the dictatorship and who always militated in defense of human rights.

Anti-racist, in solidarity with the oppressed, he became an example of bravery and always fearlessly fulfilled his preferential option for the poor. Dom Angélico magnified the church as one of the creators of the Base Ecclesial Communities and the Pastoral Workers, and a great enthusiast of Liberation Theology, movements and concepts that changed the face of Catholicism in Brazil and Latin America.

For the Brazilians he evangelized, for the underprivileged he supported, for the workers he protected from the persecution of the powerful, especially when victims of the dictatorship, Dom Angélico is often called just “Dom”, an affectionate form of gratitude to someone who has been dedicating generously your life to the next life.

Angélico is “Dom” not just as a formal sign of importance, that he is not one of those things. He is “gift” by popular recognition. The “gift” of the Angelic Bishop is substantive. It is talent, virtue and grace. He is “Dom” in the hearts of the people.

This priest with the name of an angel tends to call everyone he talks to “my brother”. We need to remember that, in fact, he has been everyone’s brother throughout a life built with generosity and love for human beings.

I wish Dom Angélico a happy birthday, health and many joys. May his example continue to encourage us all. A fraternal hug.

Dilma Rousseff”

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IN PARTY

The municipal secretary of Culture of São Paulo, Aline Torres, participated in the Chinese New Year celebration held by the Chinese Consulate in São Paulo, by Ibrachina (Brazil China Sociocultural Institute) and by the Chinese Bridge Club, in the city of São Paulo, last week. The president of Ibrachina, Thomas Law, and the consul general of China in São Paulo, Chen Peijie were there.

_{with BIANKA VIEIRA (interim)KARINA MATIAS and MANOELLA SMITH}

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