This year, September 27, 2023, the feast of St. Vincent de Paul, was even more special for the Daughters of Charity of the Province of Rio de Janeiro. It was the day chosen to hand over the keys to the first six houses of the 13 Houses Project.

The houses are located in the neighborhood of Sepetiba, in the Western Zone of Rio de Janeiro, and were delivered furnished, with household goods and appliances, beds, table and bath linen. The six families also received a basic food basket.

The ceremony of handing over the keys was attended by the Daughters of Charity, representatives of the Vincentian Family who have collaborated so much with the project, and the team of engineers and architects who have been in charge of the work since September 2022.

Father Tulio, a member of the Congregation of the Mission, led the celebration and blessed all the houses. “May peace always reign in your homes. Not only everyday peace, but also inner peace,” he said. “The work is finished, but the construction of these houses will continue in each of you. These homes needs to be built constantly. You have this mission: maintain these homes and cultivate the peace that comes from God. Let this be a time of strengthening … and always remember to give thanks to God”.

Letícia Barbosa, who will live in house #6 with her husband and five children, was very touched. “I am grateful for the efforts and good will of the Sisters. For my part, I will do my best to keep the house clean and organized in the same manner in which I received it. Thank you very much, from the bottom of my heart,” she said.

“We are very happy to handover six houses to families who have been with us for several years. This dream has become a reality thanks to the goodness of God and the help of many people: the engineers, the Sisters, the Vincentian Family. I ask God to have mercy on these people so that they can find a job that will allow them to keep their houses. All of this has been accomplised with much effort, effort that is now producing fruit. In December we will deliver the other two houses of the project … and so we thank God and the Virgin Mary,” said Sister Rizomar Bonfim.

Fuente: https://filhasdacaridaderj.org.br/