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MAPS Conferences
Workshop IV
Healthy Mind, Healthy
Body
Traditional and Alternative
Healing Practices in Contemporary Portuguese-speaking Communities
Spirituality: Healing Through Faith, Prayer
and Community Support
Chair & Moderator
Osvalda M. Carvalho Rodrigues, MA
Coordinator of Educational Programs, Massachusetts Alliance of
Portuguese Speakers (MAPS)
Victoria R. Fahlberg, PhD, MPH
Director, ONE Lowell: Building a New American Community, Lowell
Panelists
Reverend José S. Ferreira
St. Anthony’s Parish, Cambridge
I will talk about the power of the mind and the influence of our
way of thinking and attitudes over our physical and spiritual well-being.
I strongly believe that a human being should not be treated as a
machine. Human touch and good social and professional relationship
is of utter most importance for the well being of any person.
Reverend António Jaime Nobre Leite
Nazarenos Congregation, Brockton
Echoes from an epoch – (Aspects of family life in the Cape Verde
Islands, particularly in the rural areas) The present reality –
(Its depressing effects; the dispersion of the family and its consequences).
Reverend John J. Walsh
St. Anthony’s Parish, Cambridge
General subject will be Religion, Spirituality and Healing especially
in the Charismatic Movement. I will discuss my personal experiences
with Charismatic prayer and healing. Our present practices in this
at St. Anthony’s will be discussed. I will talk about my experiences
in the healing ministry of the church. I will talk about “Healing
Priests” and also The Sacrament of Healing in the Catholic Church.
As time permits I will talk about Healing in general.
Reverend David Staples
Portuguese Baptist Church, Cambridge
In a similar way that a misaligned spinal column produces physical
pain, a misaligned value system produces psychological, emotional,
social, and spiritual pain. In each culture, people experience this
"sickness" in different ways. In a way similar to the chiropractor,
who helps to realign the skeletal system to bring a sense of healing,
the Christian church works in the realignment of one's value system
in accordance with what it believes to be the truth revealed by
our designer and creator. The Portuguese Baptist Church has recently
seen the effectiveness of its small groups ministry as a means to
holistic healing. These small groups of between 5-14 people focus
on building healthy relationships and friendships, an examination
of a Bible based value system, and a time for group prayer.
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