Entertaining Angels Unawares

This is a story from the last day of tour. The choir and tour members gather alone and sing " The Lord Bless You and Keep You", then the senior boys tell the younger boys what Kantorei has meant to them. This time something extraordinary happened...Sue Guevera, chaperone and in charge of wardrobe captures the essence of the experience in her recounting of what happened to her that day...

Entertaining Angels Unawares

A petite elderly Brazilian woman clothed for a winter day with a blue overcoat and green scarf greeted me with a tentative smile “Bon dia”. I replied in kind as she passed the pew on which I sat awaiting the ‘senior farewell’ in the Petropolis cathedral. After only what seemed less than a minute this little woman returned asking if I would like to pray with her. Noting her rosary in hand I realized this was not just a quick intercessory prayer she was requesting. Therefore I explained the reason for my presence in the cathedral. I told her about the ceremony that was about to take place, how the seniors would be bid farewell and the song of blessing that is sung by this particular group of boys in choir for the last time. The little woman was taken by it all and replied “how beautiful”. She was very kind and asked questions regarding the choir and was especially concerned for the boys who would be leaving the choir and their homes to continue their studies. Of course our conversation was in my quasi-Portuguese/Spanish combo and her fluent native tongue but quite amazingly understood on both our parts. She then requested again that I accompany her in praying the rosary. My concern for the solemnity of the ceremony and its imminent start was evident to her and she said we could begin to pray and when the boys filed in we could stop. Of course I agreed, more so because she seemed hard pressed to have me join her in this endeavor. I understood only later why. As we began the rosary and midway between the first mystery she stopped to dedicate the rosary we were saying to the senior boys. What I understood her to petition for them was God’s protection and guidance in their futures. Oh by the way we said the rosary in English. I told her I could not pray in Portuguese so she said, “English ok”. She prayed perfect English. The mysteries and her petition were spoken in Portuguese. We prayed 2 mysteries when the boys began to file in taking their places throughout the cathedral. As they sang for the final time this tour “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” there was not a dry eye in the sanctuary. Even the little woman with the green scarf had tears in her eyes. After the song, the choir sat as the seniors began their farewell addresses. When the exchanges were complete the younger boys moved forward to hug and bid farewell to their role models and friends who would be leaving them. I noted a green scarf among the crowd of boys. My new friend had joined in the well wishing, hugging each senior choir member. It was as though she was imparting a blessing on each one. I noted she did not just take a handshake but hugged each one reminding me of the laying on of hands. As Isaac pronounced blessing on Jacob, she was blessing each one. I noted her small stature in embracing Pier Debes, such a contrast. At that moment I took a picture, I hope it comes out. Speaking to me after her task was completed, she said she finished the rosary for the boys as they were speaking and now would stay in the cathedral to start reciting her daily rosary for a very special intention. But she added that she would keep the senior boys and the choir as a whole in her prayers. As I told this story on the bus, some believed it miraculous that this woman appeared and wholly participated in the boys’ ceremony, others believed it strange. This writer believes we were entertaining an angel unawares. What a simple “bon dia” (good morning) can do to open up a lifetime of blessing. God has been so good to us. To have someone 5500 miles away praying for our Kantorei boys is beyond amazing it is awesome. Muto obligata little lady in the green scarf.

Sue Guevera