Mission to Brazil

I have wanted to visit our Redemptorist Archives for some time. I had seen the “old archives” in Shore Road several times when our confrere Father Carl Hoegerl, C.Ss.R., had been the archivist. He was my Latin professor in North East in 1953. Years ago, I was searching for my roots and asked Carl if there was any information about my grandparents as they were Father Franz Mohr’s parents. I thought perhaps there might have been the marriage records of my grandparents in my uncle’s file. I was searching for my family’s origin as we knew almost nothing about them. Father Hoegerl then gave me my uncle’s autobiography when he made his first vows as a Redemptorist. I had wanted to visit the archives in Philadelphia just to see what more information I could find on my Uncle Frank Mohr C.Ss.R. Uncle Frank was the first Redemptorist with two young Redemptorists, Fathers Alphonse Hild and Fee. Later that year another group of Redemptorists arrived. 

Last week I visited the “new archives” in St. Peters and was warmly received by Dr. Patrick Hayes. He was most cordial and helpful. I was quite impressed with the archives, its professionalism, the enormous organization, something to be admired. I had asked him to show me my uncle’s files and albums. Dr. Hayes brought out boxes of archives, letters, and reports from the early days. There were boxes of picture albums from Brazil, and the personal family album of my uncle. There was the original autobiography of my uncle, besides letters he sent to his family when he was assigned to lead the mission to Brazil. His autobiography had helped me to discover the origins of my family in Germany. I had known that my grandparents were from Bavaria but had no idea where in Germany. In this biography he even mentioned the house where he was raised in lower Manhattan, which still exists.

Uncle Frank wanted to become a priest, but his father wanted him to be a diocesan priest. A friend of the family suggested that he check out the Redemptorists as they were “German” and our church Most Holy Redeemer was only a few short blocks away from Avenue C where he lived. He had also said that the vocation director was there and that he should speak with him. My uncle had no clue about the Redemptorists. The vocation director was not in at the time, but the provincial was and interviewed my uncle. He was accepted right away to go to St. Mary’s in North East. This is where my uncle fell in love with the Redemptorists.  

I spent the morning reading the diary of Father Andrew Kuhn, the Baltimore provincial at the time on his provincial visitation to Brazil in 1936. I was impressed with his detailed history of this trip. He spoke about the heat onboard the ship, the rain, and the rough seas. He was met by my uncle in Rio and then traveled on to Santos, the port city of São Paulo. He was impressed by the beauty of Rio and the Christ overlooking the city.  This of course is one of the most magnificent views in the world.  

He wrote of the Redemptorists in São Paulo and Aparecida, the shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, now the patroness of Brazil. We Redemptorists have been in charge of the shrine since 1894. He spoke of his train ride to Aquidauana, Mato Grosso and he spoke of my uncle’s love for German beer.

I found it interesting how he talked of finances and that the Baltimore Province had sent over $500,000 since the beginning of the mission to build churches, rectories, schools, and convents. That would be over $9,000,000 in today’s currency. This was all in Aquidauana, Miranda, Bela Vista and Campo Grande. In today’s world this would have been unimaginable. From 1930-1938, over 20 redemptorists were working under the “Southern Cross”, all from the Baltimore Province.

Father Mohr, being the first superior of the mission, had to begin from scratch. He had to find places to live, organize the construction of these new foundations, churches, schools, rectories, convents. He got religious, the Sisters of St. Vincent to staff the schools. He had to find the architect for all these projects. Since Father Mohr’s parents were German, Frank spoke fluent German, also Italian and of course English. The architect was a German from São Paulo.
 
Archivist Patrick Hayes gave me a copy of Father Alphonsus Hild’s diary, which was a journal of these historic beginnings of the new Redemptorist mission to Brazil. Father Hild traveled with Father Mohr. He wrote in detail of their departure from New York on the Northern Prince on November 22, 1929. He described the rooms, my family sending them off, a load of confreres to support them on their mission: The Provincial, Fathers Smith, Henry Pflug, Licking, Mosey, Waldron, Funk, Brother Jerome Schenk, and Bishop Willinger C.Ss.R.  
  
There were seven detailed pages of this voyage until they arrived in Rio de Janeiro and were met by the Dutch Vice Provincial and the rector of the Rio community. They had a nice celebration but before they had Particular Exam and the singing of the “Te Deum”. They had plenty to drink and smoke. They toured the famous city of Rio de Janeiro, but shortly after they departed for the Port of Santos where Father Heigenhauser, the Provincial of São Paulo, met them. He would be accompanying them to São Paulo and to Aparecida where they would get used to the country and begin to study Portuguese. The provincial himself taught them the fundamentals of Portuguese. They spent a month in Aparecida learning Portuguese. He spoke several times about their learning Portuguese. He wrote about their trips out in the countryside and commented on the “vultures” or “urubus” feasting on the carcasses of the dead animals. He also mentioned the awful roads. He mentioned how they took part many times in the Eucharist at the shrine of Our Lady. (Today this is one of the major shrines of Our Lady in the world). 

They visited the Redemptoristines in Itu. They loved their red, white and blue habits. They also commented on the dusty roads that covered them from head to toe with that dust. Of course, in those days they wore their habits.

Finally they received word from the Bishop that they would be taking over the parishes in Aquidauana, Miranda, Bela Vista, Porto Murtinho, and Nioaque. They also had a visit from the Salesian Provincial, who encouraged them about Aquidauana and Miranda. They would be having their headquarters in one of these towns. The Salesian Provincial informed them that there would be 15-20,000 baptized Indians.   They had an interesting side trip to the Institute of Butantã. Butantã collects poisonous snakes from all over Brazil and they makes life-saving serum. They also got their first experiences of cars breaking down, getting stuck.

Now our American Redemptorists finally left São Paulo on January 17 to Araraquara, then on to Bauru, where they had to switch trains. They stayed overnight with the Sacred Heart fathers and then left Bauru for Mato Grosso. This was extremely long, a day and a night on the train. Today one can make this trip by car in about 12 hours. Father Heigenhauser accompanied them on this journey. They did not wear their habits because of the dust. They wore dusters and their roman collars. They were covered from head to foot by the dust. On this journey they met an American geologist who told them that the future of Mato Grosso was extremely bright as there was oil, precious stones, and a very fertile country.  

They again had to switch trains at Tres Lagoas at night and arrived in Aquidauana at 2:13 in the afternoon. The whole town was there to meet them. The mayor and the pastor then escorted them to the church. They were given the mayor’s official car and were greeted by the “Children of Mary”, and all the town officials. There also were the Girl Scouts, and they rang the church bells. They were introduced to the people. Then they went to the mayor’s house who was the founder of Aquidauana, and whose grandfather founded the State of Mato Grosso. After this brief visit, they went to the house that was prepared for them. The only thing for them to wash up was a basin, and a pitcher of water. A young man drew more water for them from a well in the back. “However, everything was clean and neat”. There were three large rooms, three new beds, table and tablecloths, parlor furniture, six chairs, four towels, fruit in a dish, and flowers in a vase. There was a clay water pot for drinking. All of this was given to us by the people. The next day we were awakened by roosters and went to the Colonel’s house for breakfast and later for dinner. It was very hot — we sweated all day. 

On January 25, the Redemptorists formally took over the parish of Immaculate Conception. (January 25, 1930). The mayor and the town council were all present. The church was packed. Father Mohr gave his first sermon in Portuguese. Father Heigenhauser, the Provincial from São Paulo wrote the sermon for Father Mohr.  

This was taken from the C.Ss.R. Archives in St. Peter’s in Philadelphia. I wanted to share a little of our Redemptorist History in Brazil. I myself having spent 34 years in Brazil, I lived and worked in all of the places —Miranda, Aquidauana, and Bela Vista. It was certainly different from 1930. We had paved roads, light, and modern transportation. I think it is important to remember what these early pioneers lived for the KINGDOM.

I will share more later. There are other albums in the Archives which I did not see. I know as my mother put them together and I gave them to the archives years ago.

Father Clement M. Krug C.Ss.R. (Nephew of Father Franz Mohr C.Ss.R.)