BROTHERLY LOVE, RELIEF, AND TRUTH
Masonic principles in line with what was done in 2020.
We have arrived at the end of another year, and we know 2020 was a very challenging and unusual one. Nonetheless and always true to the principles of Masonry, many charitable actions were performed, from the north to the south of Brazil, as well as abroad. Here are some of the most relevant:
In Rio, Craft and Mark Lodges actively participated in the “Ruas Project” (@projetoruas), aiming at providing weekly support to homeless people in Rio de Janeiro. In 2020, the Project assisted 2,680 homeless people in four neighborhoods. 36 volunteers, including many members of the District participated hands-on. Further assistance was provided by donating food to the “Refettorio Gastromotiva”, which is a school dedicated to training restaurant staff, and distributes 1,300 meals per week to the homeless people of Rio.
Craft and Mark Lodges, Royal Arch Chapters and the Preceptories of São Paulo donated to the Royal British Legion, a charitable organisation assisting Veterans of the Armed Forces. In Sorocaba, the Lodge of Friendship, in association with local charitable organizations, participated in the “9 Parmegiana”, a charitable festival, which generated R$ 9,560 towards a Church-supported organisation assisting minors. Furthermore, the Lodge also donated 30 school kits to local children in need, as well as a total R$ 34,000 in donations to the “Our Lady of Mercy” Home, supporting the building of a low-income house.
The Brasilia Lodge 9985, the youngest in our District, even with the great setback of not being able to hold meetings due to COVID-19, managed to reach out to the “Good Shepheard Elderly Home” in Itauçu county, around 250 km from Brasilia The Lodge, contributed with geriatric diapers.
In the city of Curitiba, Curitiba Lodge 9965 assisted the “Pequeno Cotolengo” organisation which, for the past 55 years, has been providing support to handicapped of all ages who are homeless or live in a risky environment.
In the state of Santa Catarina, the combined assistance of local Craft and Mark Lodges, and a Royal Arch Chapter assisted Igor, a boy which was in need of financial support due to a very rare disease. His family were able to raise the funds required to start the medical treatment and the necessary follow-up. Also, in Santa Catarina, Brethren pulled together achieving the amount required to purchase prosthesis for young Pedro who, due to severe diabetes, had both feet amputated.
In Porto Alegre, Hippolyto Joseph da Costa Lodge No. 9954 donated R$ 4,900 to two organizations: ACM Vila Restinga Olímpica and to the Benevolent Association “Amauri M.Z.”. A further 111 family food hampers to the Y.M.C.A. of Rio Grande do Sul were donated, in a joint action with the Grand Orient of Rio Grande do Sul, which greatly increased the total number of donated hampers.
In England, the Masonic Charitable Foundation performed import contributions, supporting masonic communities in the Provinces. The Mark Benevolent Fund totaled a record 2 mill Pounds Sterling – the largest amount since the Fund was created. In the Districts, English Masonry had a significant role, supporting local actions.
It has, indeed, been very gratifying to note the prompt engagement of the brethren in these actions and we are sure that next year we will be able to go even further!
