Language of the Heart

As our community at the cultural institute continues to study and live together, one of the unexpected gifts for all of us is the diversity of cultures we represent, five continents and twenty some countries. We are here temporarily as we prepare to work in all corners of Brazil and forge community with those we will live and work with for some time to come; Amazonia, the Northeast, the South, Central Brazil and the Western region. I am the only one who has been living here and I will return to the State of Parana in Curitiba. Cultural difference is recognized, discussed and for the most part celebrated. One example is that we have priests from The Congo and The Republic of the Congo. They are from a divided country. Some have traditions of harsh exclusion. Each day we celebrate Mass and take turns leading the liturgy. I am the only Non-Roman Catholic and I have been invited to the Table by the Church. I receive the host, and touch the Cup as invited. Each week I read the Psalm appointed for the day. Today it was the first Psalm. We are learning many languages. Some of the most important ones are unwritten and unspoken. An international language that I have come to call "Language of the Heart".