The Coexistence Center Monte Alverne (Cecon) welcomes the homeless in downtown. The idea was proposed by D. Celso Franco de Oliveira, Anglican bishop emeritus, and assumed by the teacher and theater director Sidney Guedes. Today, it serves 40 people registered from a project that brings together religious entity, public agencies, private donors.
D. Celso on the kitchen door of the house
The bishop felt the impulse in the Anglican Church General Convention of the United States, where he met the program in the Church Street, of the Anglican Diocese of Boston. The name came from Monte Alverne, the region of Tuscany, where St. Francis of Assisi discovered his charism of service to those living in extreme poverty.
The Church Street, as Celso says, began with a Eucharistic celebration on December 25 at Avenida Presidente Vargas, behind the church of Candelaria, in the main intersection in the downtown area. The celebration continues every Saturday at 18h. At first, the altar was a large wooden crates, with a towel as a blanket, with a wooden cross that the residents made and the bread and wine brought by the bishop.
The celebration brings together all sorts of people who inhabit the streets of downtown. The bishop obtained the support of the convent St. Martin, the Carmelites, the youth groups of communities, involved people coming to bring the priest José Comblin, the Belgian theologian who advised D. Helder Camara.
Residents pray to receive lunch
This shared effort must take other steps. "Who is on the street," says the psychologist who works in the project, "has generated a cut affective disruption in any area of life." This helps to understand that beyond the pain visible to other residents of the city, there are deep emotional pain. Therefore, the House rescues the dignity of people, says "Father" as it is known.
The Cecon operates on Fridays, opening the house to the homeless, for whom the town is not as wonderful as it appears on TV. Even if the building needs work, there these people can shower, relax, eat, shave, cut their hair, read books and newspapers, watch TV and receive psychological support, foot massage - essential for those who walk around time - and cleaning products.
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