Centro Comunitário Cristo Libertador

The name „Centro Comunitário Cristo Libertador“ can be translated into “Community Centre Christ Liberator”, which originates from the initial name of the municipality Horto Florestal, which was Christ Liberator. The place CCCL is a subordinate of the monastery Priorado São Norberto in Brazil, which itself runs in the name of the municipal church „Paróquia Nossa Senhora Aparecida e Santa Catarina de Sena“. The monastery has been supported by the Austrian church for years and is run by the two priests father Michael Schelpe (ecclesiastical name Padre Miguel) and father Hans Ambros (Padre Milo), who come from the Austrian convent Geras and are at the same time the heads of CCCL. Both have been priests of the Premonstratensian order for centuries and established a canon priorate in Brazil. The monastery is supporting various charitable and important projects in the region. According to official announcements, the city Lauro de Freitas has grown to a size ten times higher than its initial dimension from 1980 to 2000, a fact that has made the support of the church for the municipality and especially its inhabitants more and more important.

The municipality's aim is the improvement of the social conditions of the inhabitants of Itinga, of whom most live in deep poverty. This goal shall be achieved through direct care, food and medicine as well as through educational projects. The CCCL is increasingly cooperating with the Austrian Social Service, through which young Austrians can render their Civil Service at the place. CCCL’s activities are manifold, however they can be separated into the following:

Support of the creation of Supao, a soup project for slum inhabitants. After cadging vegetables on the market, a soup is being cooked.

Support of construction projects in suburban areas. Examples are brickwork as well as line construction.

Constructing a computer room as well as conducting computer courses.

Transport activities by car for various purposes (very few people have a driver’s license, therefore the latter is an ultimate condition for a Civil Service candidate).