Welcome. Include. Educate.
- Transform and Be Transformed -
The origins of DESATA-ME can be traced to the hills of the Umbrian region in Italy, where a young man heard the call to rebuild that which was falling into ruin around him, transforming his life and countless others through prayer, service and peace.
TO TRANSFORM AND BE TRANSFORMED
More than 1,000 years later, St. Francis of Assisi offers inspiration to those who experience a call to rebuild that which is falling into ruin around them - be it the lives of those they love, the earth our common home and our own lives. As we begin to welcome, include and educate - to serve - like St. Francis we ourselves are transformed and so is society.
WELCOME, INCLUDE AND EDUCATE
Catholic Social Teaching presents a dynamic vision of human rights as mutually informing and interrelated, thus at the basis of a Sustainable Development extending to "each person and the whole person." The mission of DESATA-ME to welcome, include and educate finds resonance in the Sustainable Development Goals to "leave no one behind."
CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME
This emphasis on human dignity exists in a larger framework that values all of creation as worthy of care, admiration and gratitude. The cry of St. Francis to heaven - "Laudato Si" - "Praised Be to You," echos forward to the present day emphasis of Pope Francis to "Care for Our Common Home."
MISSION
The Gospel call to "love one another as I love you," articulated through these human rights foundations, compels the efforts of DESATA-ME to work in favor of vulnerable populations and the homeless regardless of age, orientation, gender or any other classification or status. Promoting and strengthening families, serving diverse communities in ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue - operating in local, national and international synergies - all form part of this mission, recalling the poverty and vulnerability of the Holy Family.
BRAZILIAN CONSTITUTIONAL NORMS
"Education, health, food, work, housing, leisure, security, social security, protection of motherhood and childhood, and assistance to the destitute are social rights, as set forth by this Constitution." (Art. 6)
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
"Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality." (Art. 22)
ORIGINS
The precise origins of DESATA-ME as an articulation of these values came in 2013, when the World Youth Day celebrations held in Rio were contrasted with social unrest. The call for young people to be "revolutionaries" for peace and liberation by Pope Francis brought hope that echoed through the city, with Padre Lazaro feeling compelled to respond.
FRANCISCAN CALL OF PADRE LAZARO
Padre Lazaro, himself of Franciscan spirituality and a Catholic priest in Rio de Janeiro, was at the center of these World Youth Day efforts in Rio, forming groups of volunteers from youth throughout the city who would offer logistical assistance to the pilgrims and celebrations taking place.
DESATA-ME IS BORN
The dynamism of these groups soon developed into an opportunity to serve the many vulnerable youth among them, expanding the work into the favelas of the city. The mission to "welcome, include and educate" took root, and DESATA-ME was born as an expression of this peace and liberation.
UNDOING THE KNOTS IN SOCIETY
An important image of liberation to both Pope Francis and Padre Lazaro is that of "Mary, Undoer of Knots," which inspired the "DESATA-ME" name. The power of redemption in the imagery, the red and blue colors, as well as the devotion itself all play a prominent role in the origin of the mission.
KNOTS OF DIVISION AND DISCORD
The story of the devotion can be traced to the early beginnings of the Church, with the Church Father St. Irenaeus explaining in the 2nd century that "the knot of disobedience of the first woman, Eve, was undone by the obedience of Mary; the knot the virgin Eve had created was undone by the Virgin Mary through her faith.”
RENEWAL, HEALING AND PEACE
The devotion then gained momentum in 17th century Germany, emanating from the dramatic reconciliation of a marriage and family in crisis. A painting was commissioned to capture this moment of healing and grace, which then has spread along with the devotion throughout the world as a sign of the transformative power of good over evil.
TO LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND
This devotion, championed by Pope Francis, finds expression in his emphasis of looking first to the knots in "the peripheries" of society. DESATA-ME thus seeks to live out the call of Pope Francis to include the least among us, be a missionary Church and go out from within itself to heal the wounded - undoing the knots that bind society and rebuilding it from within. and
