Frédy Kunz (see the “History” section, “Portraits of Sons”), a Son of Charity, was born in Switzerland and grew up in France.  He exercised his ministry among the poor in Quebec and later in the diocese of Crateus, in northeast Brazil.  There, among wounded and marginalized people, the Fraternity of the Suffering Servant was born, inspired by the songs of the Suffering Servant of the Book of Isaiah (42:1-9; 49:1-6; 50:4-9; 52:13-53).  The Fraternity, “small and deformed,” as Frédy described it, today includes suffering people from various regions of Brazil and from other countries, including Quebec (Canada), the United States, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and France.  As a general rule, members form groups of seven persons who pray together, offer mutual support, and act in accordance with their spirituality.  There are also “permanent pray-ers,” contemplatives and sick persons.   “One doesn’t enter the Fraternity to suffer, but to be happy,” Frédy liked to say.  He died in August, 2000, in Santo André (São Paulo), where he spent the last 12 years of his life living in a hut in a favela. 

Contact:  Michel Bavarel  mbavarel@worlcom.ch