History of the South Brazilian Province
The first years
The first two SCJs arrived in Brazil in the middle of July 1903. These two German priests, Fr. Gabriel Lux, SCJ (1869-1943) and Fr. Joseph Fidelis Foxius, SCJ (1874-1931), landed on Desterro Island, which is known today as Florianopolis.
Their primary objective was to provide spiritual care for German immigrants to Brazil. However, they began their pastoral ministry by assuming responsibility for the pastoral care of St. Francis Church and School and helped out at a neighboring parish.
SCJ Fathers Storms, Jene, Rademacher, and Meller with the Superior General, Father Philippe, in São Bento do Sul, in 1930.
A few months later, on January 20, 1904, three more missionaries came from Germany: Fr. Henry Meller, SCJ, Fr. John Stole, SCJ, and Brother Raphael Kuppers, SCJ.
In April, 1904, Most Reverend Duarte Leopoldo e Silva, Bishop of the Curitiba Diocese, gave the SCJs two more parishes: St. Aloysius Gonzaga in Brusque and Heart of Mary in Saint Bento. By the end of the year, three more SCJ priests arrived from Germany: Fr. Henry Lindgens, SCJ, Fr. Francis Schuler, SCJ, and Fr. Anthony Woilmeier, SCJ. At the same time, Bishop Duarte named Fr. Lux the Episcopal administrator of the Shrine of Our Lady of Garavaggio as well as the attached hospital.
SCJ Parish and Community House in Jaraguá do Sul, Santa Catarina.
In 1906, the Venerable Leo John Dehon, SCJ, founder of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, visited the missions in Brazil. His enthusiasm and hope for the missions gave encouragement and strength to the missionaries.
Expansion
As more SCJs arrived in Brazil, the community took over more parishes in the Province of Santa Catarina: Itajai in 1905, Trindade in 1909, Paragua in 1912, Tubarao in 1912, Botuvera in 1912, Joinvilhe in 1917, Vargem do Cedro in 1921 and Corupa in 1928.
In the decade of the 1920's, new horizons were opened. The SCJs took responsibility for the major and minor Seminaries in the Diocese of Taubate as well as more parishes. They also established their own minor Seminary in Brusque; it later moved to Corupa. More than 3,640 seminarians studied there.
Celebration of Mass on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the arrival of SCJs in Brazil.
The religious house in Brusque became the novitiate and, from 1933, housed the philosophy students. Eventually, the novitiate moved to Barra in Jaragua.
In 1923, the SCJs obtained a plot of land in Taubate and built a small house for seminarians. Over the years, this seminary expanded and became an Institute of Theology where 383 SCJ priests and 285 diocesan priests studied.
The newest SCJ Bishop in Brazil, His Excellency Wilson Tadeu Jonck, SCJ, Auxiliary Bishop of Rio de Janeiro.
On April 25, 1934, the South Brazilian Province was officially established. Father Peter Storns, SCJ, was the first Provincial Superior.
Over the years, the SCJs took responsibility for more parishes throughout the southern part of Brazil. At the same time, the number of candidates to the religious life and priesthood grew, leading to the creation of new seminaries.
Other Activities
In 1938, a Publishing House was established in Taubate. This entity published many books about the Christian formation of young people and magazines.
Father Zezinho, SCJ, performing in Germany.
In 1967, Fr. Jose Fernandes de Oliveira, SCJ, popularly known as Father Zezinho, began work in the area of mass media. His goal is evangelization and the promotion of vocations. He is well known for writing songs and recording music which is well received by young people in Brazil. In 1997, the SCJs built a recording studio for religious TV programs and videos.
The Brazilian SCJs are also involved in the education of the youth, having responsibility for technical and high schools. Of particular note is the Institute of St. Jude Thaddeus, founded in 1950 by Fr. John Buscher, SCJ, and Fr. Gregory Westrupp, SCJ. Today, this institute takes care of 120 children and teenagers, between the ages of 6 and 15. It also provides day care service for mothers who need to work and do not have a place to leave children. Since 1988, the Institute also supports a program for abandoned elderly.
Cardinal Eusébio Oscar Scheid, SCJ, Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro.
In 1984, Fr. Israel Baptist de Carvalho, SCJ, established a program for young people addicted to drugs and alcohol. This program is called AREST (Association of Recovery by Study, Health and Work) through work on the "Good Jesus Farm" in Lavras. In almost 20 years, more than 2,000 people have stayed at the Farm, taking part in the program. In 1996, Fr. Leo Tarcisius Pereira, SCJ, began a similar work called Bethania.
In 2003, the South Brazilian Province was divided into two Provinces: the South Province headquartered in Curitiba and the Central Province headquartered in São Paolo. Together these two Provinces have 323 members, including 7 bishops and one Cardinal.
