‘SEE MY PEOPLE’
CALLED TO SERVE OTHERS Who are these brothers? What motivates them? What are their dreams, their ideals? In what way do they give shape to ‘mercy’ and ‘brotherhood’ - the two key concepts in the charism of the Brothers CMM? In this column ‘See my people’, we always let one of the brothers speak. This time it is Brother Eurico De Fatima Amaral. He works in Timor Leste at the boarding school St. Vincent de Paul in Gleno. This boarding school is attached to the brothers’ school in Gleno, a secondary school for vocational education. Initially I did not understand what my vocation meant. Why am I called? To what end? And why should I? I have so many shortcomings. These questions occupied me in my early days in the Congregation of Brothers CMM. But after my formation period I got the confidence to work as a teacher and to do pastoral work, especially in the boarding school for boys, St. Vincent de Paul. The boarding school is one of our social works in the Region of Timor Leste.
Despite their ups and downs and the many challenges they face, I am sure they will grow up to be intelligent and good people. The experiences in my work also help me to better understand my vocation. The many questions I had before are now answered. I realized that my vocation is to serve others, especially those who need a little more help, like the children in the boarding school. Through them, I was called to become a brother.
Although I and all of us have our shortcomings, I do my best to take care of the young students. It is not always easy for them, nor for me. We are all different: in character, ethnicity, or culture. Sometimes these differences cause arguments and create a wall of separation. Then, with great patience, I try to put myself in their situation so that I can help them. Telling them about the spirituality of the brothers is then a way to bring them back together. I tell them about the way we live our lives in community. What can they learn from that? A life of prayer, brotherhood, humility, simplicity, honesty, discipline, way of working, respect for elders and everyone they meet. This is how I try to guide and form them.
As written in our Constitutions (I, 209), “Because of this mission in the Church and of the history of our Congregation we prefer to work for the development of the world around us through educational work: the guidance, in many different forms, of young people especially of those who are poor and needy.” And how beautiful it is to mentor children of this time. Here I am tested by God, whether I really serve God with a pure heart. And here I get the strength, enthusiasm, motivation and happiness to live my life’s vocation as a brother CMM. Brother Eurico De Fatima Amaral CMM, Timor Leste 19
