A Man of God

Continuing the topic of the homeless people, we have a very special person who has been working for ages in feeding these people and really following his oath as a priest. His name is Júlio Renato Lancellotti (São Paulo, December 27, 1948), a Brazilian Catholic educator and priest. He works as pastor of the parish of São Miguel Arcanjo in the Mooca neighborhood, in the city of São Paulo. In addition to the parish, the priest is also responsible for the masses held in the chapel of the São Judas Tadeu University, located on the same street. In 1986 he was assigned to the Parish of São Miguel Arcanjo da Mooca, where he began pastoral work with homeless people and abandoned minors. He participated in the campaign against mistreatment at the State Foundation for the Well-Being of Minors (FEBEM), whose name was changed to Fundação Casa- Fundação Centro de Atendimento Socioeducativo ao Adolescente (Foundation Center for Socio-Educational Assistance to Adolescents). Four years later he was one of the founders of Comunidade Povo da Rua São Martinho de Lima, a shelter for homeless people. The community had a kitchen, laundry and a small carpentry workshop for vocational courses.

            Father Lancellotti (or Father Júlio as he is called here in Brazil) works with juvenile offenders, prisoners on parole, patients with HIV/AIDS and low-income and homeless populations. He believes in the human person above all else, "as the image and likeness of God" and considers that all citizens should have their rights respected. He has also published many books on his work.

Nonetheless many people are against his way of being and have threatened him because the neighborhood where his parish is located is surrounded by people who seek help, especially during meal times. The neighborhood dwellers claim that the prices of the real estate have dropped due to the mess and the stench of these people. For sure, these complainers go to church and practice their beliefs on Sunday but then throughout the rest of the week, or I should say, outside the church they forget what they are preached during the service.

 Why is it so hard for people to support those who do something in favor of the people in need? Why doesn't it make these complainers feel uncomfortable or even how can they sleep at night knowing that a brother or a sister in their region is suffering by having to beg and surviving off the streets while they are comfortable in their own homes? I do understand that some people they might say that they had to fight and struggle for their meals and the shelter over their heads and I am not judging this, however, if you can afford to help someone, even if it's just one person, you are doing more than those who don't do anything at all. I truly do not understand why this priest who emanates care, love and compassion can be a threat to society.

“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God”. - Proverbs 14:31

Written: May 15, 2023

 

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