In an interview for a special issue of the Journal Canção Nova December, Monsignor Jonas account milestones of his life, in these 78 years of life and 50 of priestly ministry.
In the interview for the magazine Canção Nova, Monsignor Jonas Abib shares with us about the celebration of his golden jubilee of priestly ordination and talks about the sacrifices that had to be done to achieve the mission of God in his life. In this interview, the monsignor also says that the prophecy about Canção Nova was fulfilled in the Shrine of the Father of Mercies.
Magazine Canção Nova – What is the expectation of the Lord for the celebration of your priestly golden jubilee ?
Monsignor Jonas – I’m living a “quiet anxiety.” Anxiety, because it is much, 50 years of priesthood, is a lifetime of preparation for my ordination. So it’s many things, much life.
Magazine CN – You always looked for different things with the eyes of faith, with the sensitivity of seeing things that could be lessons for our day to day life
Monsignor – The first time I encountered the passage in the Bible in which Moses “would like to see the invisible” (Heb 11:27), I identified myself totally, because my vision is not like a businessman, an entrepreneur but one who “sees the invisible.” So it was with all the things that God has done in Canção Nova. It was as if I “see the unseen” and, thank God, everything came true. For me, the most beautiful realization of God is the Evangelization Center. The place was kind of lake where Sabesp [Basic Sanitation Company of the State of São Paulo] released the rest of your water and other debris.
I looked at it, the layout of the region, and said to the people: “There will be a stadium here.” No doubt, today, this event space is an embodiment of that vision God gave me.
Magazine – Was it hard for you to leave the Salesians to found the Canção Nova Community?
Monsignor Jonas – It was very painful, because I am a Salesian, my heart is totally Salesian. Even when I had to talk to the priest Fernando Legal – who later became bishop – on my canonical situation, I told him: “Father Legal, the work I do is totally Salesian.” He replied, “I see that your work is totally Salesian but you can not find place in the Salesian structure.” Then he advised me not to stay in the congregation, but to come to the diocesan clergy. And this passage for me was very difficult. It was like a “forced labor”, ahead of time, because I deeply loved Don Bosco and his congregation. However, it was necessary to do this to get to what we have today.
Magazine – How was it for you to return when the Canção Nova was considered Salesian Family?
Monsignor Jonas – I’ll tell you another fact: when I went for the first time, to the Mother House of the Salesians in Rome, there was Father Antonio Carlos Ferreira, who worked with the writings of Don Bosco. Finding me, he asked, “How is the Canção Nova?”. I gave him a normal response: “It is well.” Then he said: “No! The Canção Nova is doing very well. “ And he began to describe the community as I never imagined. By the end of the conversation, he told me, “The Canção Nova was not born in the ‘trunk’ of the Salesian Family; she was born from the root charism of Don Bosco. You are the Salesian Family. Just not up to you want it, but there will be a day when the Rector Major (upper maximum of the Salesians) will recognize this. And by a decree of recognition, you will become Salesian Family. Prophetic words of Fr. Ferreira which came to pass!
Magazine CN – You have said that all that the Canção Nova lived up today was an “introduction”, a preparation for what will happen to the Shrine of the Father of Mercies. What will change?
Monsignor Jonas – it will change everything and it will not change anything. The Father of Mercies will attract many children. Many will come to the Shrine and of course, the Canção Nova. Also the number of people who will come here will grow, drawn by the Father of Mercy. And especially will be people in need, sick, afflicted, who are going through trials. We will not do anything too special, we will not make an advertisement: “Come to the Father of Mercy Shrine.” No! He will attract people to bestow upon them, serve them in their needs.Mostly the “prodigal sons”, those who live in sin, who are outside the Church, living the wrong life. People will come, and the most beautiful thing is that they will be met, welcomed and reconciled. So we’ll see it happen in this the Shrine, the Father of Mercy House that welcome His children.
Magazine CN – Speaking of 50 years of priesthood not to mention the experience that you had with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) would be impossible!
Monsignor Jonas – Impossible yes.
I want to be increasingly Jesus
for the people, because this need
not me, but Jesus;
people need Jesus in me.
Magazine CN – You witnessed, once that to his way of being changed, became more friendly, smiling, very close to the people priest. This all has to do, really, with that experience with the RCC?
Monsignor Jonas – has really. I say even that was a nasty priest, but the experience of the “baptism in the Holy Spirit” has caused all this change in me. The experience of the priesthood became quite another, I became a pastor, close to the people, cheerful, someone who welcomes. I will be bold: I have a lot still to win, but my ticket in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal caused me to be a little more of Jesus. It was a lever that pushed me forward I want to be increasingly Jesus to the people, because this need is not of me but of Jesus; people need Jesus in me.
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CN Magazine – The Canção Nova has a very concrete way of living devotion to Our Lady. How do you see the presence of Mary in his priestly jubilee?
Monsignor Jonas – In my life, Mary was always very discreet but very present. I can not find a moment in my life when she was not present. I would say that especially in times of illness. In recent years, when I lived an unexplained illness, the presence of Mary was clear to me. It may seem an exaggeration, but it is not: I could touch her with my hand, she was so present.
From birth, Mary is very present, especially in times of pain, suffering and disease, which is a feature of my life. As for the Canção Nova, to say: it was she who has done everything. Since the first house we use to hold meetings in Areias (SP), the first building we built- the Canção Nova House of Mary in Queluz (SP) – all the things we did and it she who made them . Who did built the foundations and grew our community? It was Our Lady.
Magazine CN – You were always very active. As has been with increasing age, and even during the illness that cited, this “gathering” and “silence”?
Monsignor Jonas – I thank God, because it is the time of maturity. After the most difficult time of the disease, now I’m active, but without exposing too much. I am where I can be, as in the General Council of the community, with our priests, and also when I preach – not continuously as I preached, but I have spoken at times “keys”. When I have the opportunity to be with our community members, I realize that my presence has been formative.
Magazine CN – I mean anything to someone who may be going through a time like what you faced illness?
Monsignor Jonas – Oh, yeah. This is a moment of calm, it is necessary that we stay calm, because it seems that, at this time, “we lost ground.” The trend is to despair: “What do I do? What do I say? How will I do? I can not! … “It’s a time when you need to calm down.
Secondly, and is the most important, is to have our eyes fixed on God, because He is present in the “dark night”. The Lord is present at the moment of emptiness. But it is a fruitful emptiness, we do not realize at the time; only later, so we must have our eyes fixed on God. It is in our crisis. I would compare with what Jacob faced, wrestling with God in the wilderness (Genesis 32). It is somewhat similar, but the beauty is this: The Lord is [with us], and so we will overcome. I got better, thank God, and I’m reaping the rewards.
“Most importantly, have their eyes fixed on God, because He is present in the ‘dark night’.”
Magazine CN – How was your meeting with the Pope Francisco?
Monsignor Jonas – When I met him for the first time in St. Peter’s Square, I said we had been born of Evangelli Nuntiandi His eyes were bright and he told me in Portuguese: “This document is fully current and the church needs to take it up again and. put it into practice, because it is in reality. “ And really: we are, thank God, realizing Evangelii Nuntiandi in its entirety, with our way of evangelizing, our work with young people and our work in the media.
Magazine CN – A word to the supporters, who are active from the beginning of the Canção Nova.
Monsignor Jonas – Our partners are the most important thing we have, because they are a simple people, who help out of their small ways; and, with this little, we advance to deeper water. One does not explain the Canção Nova without the providence of God acting through associates. They are the hands of the Lord so that the Canção Nova may exists.
CN Magazine – If you had to make a request to God, what would you ask? And the family Canção Nova?
Monsignor Jonas – I ask God’s faithfulness. Me to be faithful, very faithful, ever more faithful, and that I remain active – within my means – I do not cool, do not miss the excitement. . That even with the broken body, I’m with a heart full of fire and put fire in the other so much to Canção Nova – and here I embrace all members of the community – I tell you, who live the charism, because it is very important, and live the mission. As I pray to God, I do not lose steam, no one has. On the contrary, even in their own weariness of those who work actively, we have the burning heart, that this work of God continue and perpetuate itself.