Sao Paulo schooling expands

YOUR GENEROUS readers may be interested to know how timely their donation of £5,000 to the school run by the Holy Ghost Fathers at Sao Paolo has been.
Just before the money arrived at the school the firm who loaned the machines on which the boys are trained demanded them back. The Fathers were at their wits end to know how they were to retain this essential basis for their work when providentially the cheque from the Catholic Herald readers arrived. The machines have been bought by the school, are their property and are being fully used.
The Fathers have also been able to increase the number of boys who receive training at the school; 120 boys receive training by day and 40 others, over the age of 17, are taught at night.
Either Hugh de Blacam called on me recently at the House of Commons while travelling from Ireland to Sao Paolo and wishes to thank personally all the readers who were so generous in their support.
Some indication of the social problems being faced in Brazil is given by the fact that Fr de Blacam told me that there are 600,000 children under the age of 14 in Sao Paolo who are homeless and whose only link with the community is through the schools they attend for four hours a day. After this they are compelled to return to the streets.
Norman St John-Stevas House of Commons