July 22, 2013 -- Updated 0928 GMT (1728 HKT)
A Catholic priest is at the forefront of a Brazilian movement known as
the Charismatic Catholic Renovation, trying to invigorate the Church and
lure new and old followers back to the fold. FULL STORY
July 21, 2013 -- Updated 2256 GMT (0656 HKT)
Singing priests lure people to church
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Father Marcelo Rossi at forefront of Brazil's Charismatic Catholics movement
- He will provide entertainment at Pope's visit to World Youth Day
- His unorthodox masses aimed at bringing back old followers and attracting new ones
- In 2010 census, 65 percent of Brazilians were Catholic. In 1970 it was 92 percent
The Roman Catholic priest
belts out some of his hit songs before walking up to the altar. The
parishioners join in, waving their arms in the air.
"Lord, I know you love me," sings a young woman in braces.
Father Marcelo, 46, was a personal trainer before he joined the clergy.
Now he is at the
forefront of a Brazilian movement known as the Charismatic Catholic
Renovation trying to invigorate the Church and lure new and old
followers back to the fold.
They use music and
sermons aimed at trying to secure success on Earth as well as in the
after-life, methods more often associated with Latin America's
flourishing Pentecostal Evangelical churches.
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The differences between mass at Father Marcelo's Mother of God Sanctuary and a traditional Catholic church are striking.
The warehouse-like
structure was built in a working class neighborhood on the outskirts of
the city and many of the thousands of parishioners are young.
Even Sao Paulo's Se Cathedral struggles to attract more than 100 parishioners to its Sunday masses.
Brazil is the country with the world's largest number of Roman Catholics.
But lately the Catholic Church is scrambling to hang on to them while the numbers of Protestant Evangelicals climb.
In the 2010 census, just
65 percent of Brazil's 191 million people said they were Catholic, down
from 92 percent in 1970. Young, working class Brazilians have been some
of the most fervent converts.
Ahead of Pope Francis' visit, the Vatican took note of Father Marcelo's slightly unorthodox, but successful, masses.
He and other singing
priests from the Charismatic Renovation will provide the entertainment
for the millions of young people converging on Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day.
The faithful at Father Marcelo's Thursday mass said he is the man to get people fired up.
"How does he do it?" says Maria, a lifelong Catholic. "The secret is in looking for energy, happiness, strength."
Towards the end of the service, lights are dimmed, candles are lit and the crowds open a pathway for Father Marcelo to pass.
Many break down into tears when they see him. Others hold up their official employment cards to be blessed.
One young woman wipes away tears as she leaves at the end of mass.
"I came hear to give
thanks because my prayer was answered," she says. "I found a job. I came
straight here when I got off work."
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