Communion and Law at Manaus in Brazil
“The Amazon State Inspector General of Justice, Judge Maria Guedes Moura, called the second congress on law and fraternity for the North and Northwest Brazil “An instrument for the building of a more just society and a better future, beginning from the law.” The congress, which was organized by Communion and Law, took place on 3-4 November 2011 at the Division for Internal Affairs of the State Court of Justice. The Congress was opened by the president of the Court, João Simões. As he welcomed attendees and presenters from different international settings, the judge stated that he felt honored to host such an important gathering. Among those present was also the director of the School of Magistracy, Flávio Pascarelli, and this seemed to underline the importance of the project for the formation of future judges. Over 300 law workers took part in the congress from different areas of the legal profession: judges, public ministers, lawyers, court officials, members of the police, deputies, some State Secretaries and students from ten Law faculties in Manaus. Cury Munir, Magistrate and member of the Drafting Committee of the Statute of the Child and Adolescent, laid the foundations for the work, which dealt with society and law in the construction of justice. Judge Carlos Augusto Machado from the Public Prosecution of Sergipe (the smallest State in Brazil) stressed the importance of fraternity as a true juridical and constitutional category. On the second day the presentation by Olga Boschi (director of the Center for Legal Sciences at the Federal University of Santa Catarina) was very much appreciated. She presented the value of possessing an understanding of fraternity as an academic topic in a curriculum of study. The lesson of Adalberto Carim, judge on the Tribunal for the Environment and Agricultural Affairs of the River of the Amazons, on Environmental Justice in the 21st century was also very well received. 
The idea of fraternity in law took on new meaning within the socio-cultural context of the State of Amazonas with its pressing ecological issues and the need to protect the environmental heritage as an expression of fraternity for future generations. Carlos Aurélio Motta, professor at the University of Ibirapuera and an expert on ethics and human rights, opened new avenues for academic research. In the opinion of the organizers of the conference, the ideas developed during these discussions will bear many benefits for Brazil. In fact, representatives from different States attended and the event was transmitted via internet on the School of Magistracy (ESMAM) website, whose page can be found on the official website of the State Court of Justice: http://www.tjam.jus.br/esmam
Chiara wrote: ‘Right from the start of our new life, we benefitted from his actions, day after day, sometimes gentle, sometimes strong and occasionally violent; and we never realised it was him. Throughout, from the first choice of God-Love, to the light that illuminated the words of the Gospel, the revelation of Jesus Forsaken, to joy, peace and light that we felt rise up in our hearts, living the new commandment, it was none other than the Holy Spirit at work. It could be said that the whole story of the Movement could be rewritten and be attributed to the Holy Spirit. Only now we can see that he was the real protagonist of our adventure, it was he who moved everything. ‘Now that he and what he has been for us has been is revealed to us we can retrace the luminous steps, countless signs of his constant and unpredictable actions. The inner voice which led us in our new way, the special atmosphere which gave joy to our meetings, the powerful release of hidden energy, that which purifies and renews, the divine alchemy which changes suffering into love, the experiences of death and resurrection: all these, and many other surprising phenomena which accompanied us through life, have only one name, which we have learnt to recognise, to be infinitely grateful to and feel pushed to ask his intervention in all we do each day, from the simplest task to the most demanding. He has given us the courage to face the crowds, leave our country, suffer discomforts, opposition, often with joy. But the deepest effect, the most radical, the most typical is the bond of unity between us. ‘Our mysticism needs at least two people made God through participation, between whom the Holy Spirit really moves, that is the third, God, who consumes all into one, one God: “As I in you”, Jesus said to the Father. The Holy Spirit is the gift that Jesus gave us so that we could be like him and the Father. Without doubt the Holy Spirit was in us before, as we were Christians; but here there was a new enlightenment, a new manifestation within us, which made us sharers and actors in a new Pentecost, together with those other ecclesial movements who make the new face of the Church.’
In September and October the international musical group