Legion of Good Will of the United States Celebrates its 23rd Anniversary

Adriana Parmegiani
11/12/2009

New York, USA — By order of the President of the Legion of Good Will, José de Paiva Netto, the LGW of the United States was created on October 30, 1986. One of the first Legionnaire to be sent there was Walter Periotto, who—together with Joana Victorino, Silvia Nogari and his wife Maria Magdalena—had the mission to begin the activities of the LGW of the United States of America.

After arriving in New York, a few days before Christmas (1988), upon reaching the hotel, the Brazilian group observed the snowy landscape, which conveyed a first impression of New York’s winter. Aside from the cold itself, they had to face the difficulties of communicating in other languages. "Our biggest challenge was to speak the language; as Brazilians we had to face the need to communicate in English and in Spanish as well. But with some effort, we from the Legion of Good Will overcame every obstacle!”, reminisces the veteran legionnaire Walter Periotto. Days later, the Legionnaires rented a real estate. The house chosen was in the Astoria district, in Queens, where the Legion of Good Will would establish its first headquarters on North American soil.

The Legionary couple Walter and Madalena Periotto.

The Organization officially began its activities in the U.S. with the LGW’s Charity Round program, distributing food and clothes to the homeless. Another work front was the distribution of pamphlets containing educative messages, giving value to the Human Being and his/her Eternal Spirit. "We used to do a lot of that within the majestic grounds of Central Park, and at other busy places. We used to show photographs of the work developed with the children assisted by the LGW and also the articles in which Brother Paiva wrote about Ecumenical Spirituality issues. Another task which afforded me a great degree of pleasure was the divulging of the message of the LGW’s President in New York’s Public Library”, says Walter Periotto.

Veteran legionnaires who worked in the LGW of the USA: late Rita de Cássia Picchi Silvestre (left), with Alcione Vianello Bertolin.

Little by little, the Organization began to expand its work in North America. Recently, the LGW in the U.S. delivered to the population of Newark, New Jersey, the new installations of its Community Center, where several educational, social and health programs are already underway. The premises were completely remodeled by the volunteers with donations that came from the inhabitants of that region. The Charity Round continues to be performed by the LGW, having the goal to restore the self-esteem and citizenship of the homeless. Partnerships ensure the donation of bread, cakes and fruits.

The Legionnaires themselves prepare the kits, a nourishing soup and the coffee with milk to be distributed.

In the early hours of dawn, after saying the Ecumenical Prayer, the LGW’s volunteers begin the activities of the program taking a word of spiritual comfort, pamphlets containing social and legal guidance, clothes, food and items of first necessity. The work also includes family supporting visits, during which non-perishable food items are handed out.

Danilo Parmegiani, from the LGW, giving a talk to women assisted by the Organization.

Health and quality of life are some of the Organization’s main focuses in that country. For these reasons, it carries out the SAVE Program, which offers medical consultations and cancer prevention exams for women, a disease that is considered one of the greatest causes of death in the U.S.. In order to ensure an efficient monitoring of women above 40, the project began to be conducted on a monthly basis and also counts with an itinerant bus offered by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. This bus goes all the way to the LGW, carrying modern equipment to conduct on-site examinations, including mammography and Pap test. Talks on prevention through self-examination are also part of this action strategy.

In Brazil, as well as in other countries in the world, the Legion of Good Will practices Complete Charity, as it encompasses both material and Spiritual needs. The program Living On Values and Ecumenical Spirituality Classes (LOVES Classes) is a proof of this. In this work, developed with the support of the Ecumenical Church of the Religion of God, children between the ages of 6 and 12, lovingly referred to as the Little Soldiers of God, take part in ludic and artistic activities which convey the values of an Ecumenical Solidarity.

Foto: Vieira Filho

The Peace and Good Will Garden.

Still on the work developed with boys and girls, it’s worth highlighting the fact that the Organization takes the Peace and Good Will Garden Project to schools, which stimulates an awareness of harmony in the school environment through art, helping to fight the wave of violence between children and young people in the U.S..

Good Will in the United Nations

For all this work carried out in the U.S. and in various regions throughout the world, the Legion of Good Will is officially acknowledged in the UN’s Department of Public Information since 1994.

This fact represents a great deal of pride for Legionnaire Walter Periotto. He recalls that in the first days in New York, he went to the headquarters of the UN. "I went to the United Nations and talked with secretaries and those responsible for several areas, and I explained to them that the LGW of the U.S. was beginning its activities. I felt that they were honestly interested”, he affirms.

In 1999, the Organization also obtained general consultative status (the highest degree) in the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). "We are happy to have been the ones to bear the first seeds of the LGW that were planted on North American soil, following the guidelines given by Brother Paiva. Today, the Legion of Good Will of the U.S. is doing really well, especially with regard to its partnership with the United Nations. Congratulations to Brother Paiva!”, added Walter.

Visit, fall in love with and help the LGW! The Community Center of the Legion of Good Will in the U.S. is located at 20 Calumet Street, Newark/New Jersey.

Translation: Robert Rajabally
Revision: Rosana Bertolin and Silvana Bosso