The Granada Shalom mission welcomed the founder of the Shalom Community at the parish of San Miguel Árcangel. He was accompanied by Fr. Saulo Dantas, General Assistant of the Community.
During his meeting with the missionaries, especially with members of the Shalom Work, Moysés Azevedo shared his life testimony, particularly marked by his personal encounter as a young man with Saint John Paul II in 1980 in Brazil.
The members of the Work also had the opportunity to learn more in depth about the history of the Community’s foundation in Fortaleza (Brazil), which began with the opening of a coffee shop for evangelization on July 9, 1982—an initiative born from God’s providence that opened the way for Moysés and the young people who joined him at the start, at a time when it was still impossible to foresee all that God would accomplish through the Shalom charism in Brazil and around the world.
Renewed in the Holy Spirit
According to Laura Pinheiro, Local Responsible of the Community in Granada, one of the most moving moments of the visit was the prayer of intercession, in which Moysés prayed with all those present—youth, adults, and families:
“It was truly providential to receive the visit, testimony, and prayer of our founder during this time of Pentecost and as we prepared to celebrate the Holy Trinity. It was a gift of the Spirit, and we were able to drink from the source of the Charism. Moysés interceded for the entire mission, confirming us in our evangelizing mission entrusted by God to the Community—especially here in the Church of Granada.”
For Halima García, a vocational member and part of the Shalom Work in Granada, the words of Moysés echoed the final message that Pope Francis gave to the Community:
“He reminded us of the creative courage, the welcoming spirit, and the missionary drive with which Pope Francis described the Community in 2022—and with which he encourages us to continue our journey and mission.”
Confirmed and sent forth in the mission
During his visit to Granada, Moysés Azevedo also had the opportunity to visit the Archdiocese of Granada and meet personally with Archbishop José María Gil Tamayo, also accompanied by Laura Pinheiro, Local Responsible, and by Fr. Aristóteles, priest and missionary of the Community of Life:
“Our Archbishop confirmed us as a charism at the service of the Church of Granada and encouraged us to persevere in the task of evangelization. We were once again sent out to the youth, to families, and to the men and women of our city,” said Laura Pinheiro.
