When three Brazilian fishermen found a statue of the black
Virgin in 1717, the figurine was later believed responsible
for literally casting the chains off of a local slave and
freeing him. Nearly two centuries after the miracle of Our
Lady of Aparecida was reported, the Golden Law of 1888
abolished slavery in Brazil. Today, the legacy of Our Lady of
Aparecida lives on in a 501c3 charity run by the Brazilian
Catholic community in the Arlington Diocese.
The charity’s name is Associação Nossa Senhora
Aparecida, which translates to Our Lady of Aparecida
Association, and has awarded grants for community projects in
Brazil for the past 33 years.
“ANSA entrusts to Our Lady the inspirational task of fighting
against poverty and slavery hidden under a veil of freedom,”
writes President Neusa Maria Medeiros in the association’s
October bulletin. “In the message of Aparecida, God wanted to
restore the unity of our divided nation. He wanted to put an
end to the sin of hunger and to restore human dignity. God
needs each one of us. ANSA, through its work, wants to be an
instrument of joy and to give a better quality of life to
Brazilian children.”
Run by an all-volunteer board of nine people, the charity
raises funds through local events, online fundraisers and
calls for donations at Missionhurst Chapel in Arlington,
where Brazilian Mass is celebrated every third Sunday of the
month at 4 p.m.
“(The Brazilian) community (in Washington) is not big,” said
Medeiros. “We know each other and we help each other spread
the word about our fundraisers. We are an old organization
and we have a reputation. But we always need donations.”
ANSA makes grants of up to $2,000 to nonprofit community
organizations in Brazil based upon proposals submitted by
priests, nuns and other community leaders. All of the
proposals must aim to alleviate poverty in some way and come
from land-owning organizations.
Throughout its history, ANSA has funded the development of a
small park in Sant’Ana do Livramento, the construction of a
community center in São Leopoldo, the operation of a
bakery that employs mothers in need in Viamão, and
public health programs at a daycare center in Vila
Clementino, among other endeavors.
A recent grant funded the construction of a cistern at a
school in Cipó dos Anjos, allowing teachers and
students finally to have access to water during the school
day.
“I love all of the projects. I like to see them grow,” said
Medeiros. “But I think I like the cistern project best. Water
is life. We cannot live without water. Imagine being at a
school without water.”
ANSA’s next fundraising event will be a Dec. 5 dinner
featuring feijoada, a typical Brazilian bean and meat stew,
at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Falls Church.
Find out more
To learn more about ANSA, go to ansabrasil.org, a
Portuguese-language website. Non-Portuguese speakers should
contact Neusa Maria Medeiros, ANSA president, by calling
703/785-5159 or emailing [email protected] if they wish to
receive the monthly English-language bulletin. Checks may be
mailed to Neusa Maria Medeiros, 3586 University Dr., Fairfax.
ANSA also benefits from online purchases made at
smile.amazon.com and goodsearch.com in which ANSA is
designated the charity of choice.
Stoddard can be reached at [email protected].
