Dr Derek Heads to Brazil to Support Our Priest

13 February 2009

The Bath parishioner leading the support for a Clifton Diocese priest who ministers in Brazil is flying out to South American next week.  As he prepares to depart, he has recorded his thoughts in a special podcast. 

Dr Derek Indoe of St John the Evangelist parish is leading the small - but growing in number - group of parishioners who are concerned about the violent threats and intimidation to which land settlers in Brazil known to Father Leo Dolan have been subjected.

Father Leo Dolan is a priest of the Clifton Diocese who served in parishes in Bath and Stroud.  His ministry has been in Brazil for the past 35 years.

Father Leo’s West Country supporters have already visited Secretary Luis Filipe Pereira de Carvalho Head of Human Rights Sector at the Brazilian Embassy in London to express concerns.  The meeting proved fruitful. 

The efforts of Father Leo’s supporters in the Clifton Diocese have been followed in the media at home and overseas.  ‘The Universe’ covered the news of the visit to the Brazilian Embassy and the ‘The Bath Chronicle’ published two reports.  Meanwhile the ‘Sligo Champion’ covered the news as Father Leo’s hometown county is Leitrim in Ireland and they've followed the story.  Dr Derek has raised awareness of Father Leo and his parishioners by speaking on the radio.

To find out how you can become more aware of Father Leo’s work in Brazil and get to know about the lives of fellow Catholics in South America you can use the special new address padreleo@cliftondiocese.com and make contact with Dr Derek.

You can listen to Dr Derek’s thoughts as he prepares to leave for Brazil in our podcast in the multimedia panel on the right.

Dr Derek promises to keep cliftondiocese.com up to date as the visit progresses.