Religious man was the victim of a heart attack in Rio Grande do Sul; He was also a leader of the Small Farmers Movement (MPA) and had a career marked by the defense of agrarian reform
He died this Tuesday (3), in Rio Grande do Sul, the Frei Sergio Görgenone of the founders of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) and state deputy for the Workers’ Party (PT) between 2002 and 2006. The religious and peasant struggle activist, who had turned 70 on the 29th, passed away as a result of a heart attack.
Born in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Frei Sérgio dedicated his life to the politics of rural populations and also to social organization. His trajectory was also marked by being leader of the Small Farmers Movement (MPA).
In a statement, the MPA lamented the loss, highlighting that the friar was an “organic intellectual” and a pastor close to the people. “His life was a testimony that spirituality and political commitment to the poor are sides of the same coin. He leaves us a legacy of resistance and a deep love for the simple people of the countryside”, stated the movement.
In addition to his political and religious activities, Frei Sérgio had a relationship with communication. In 2018, it was at the head of the founding of the newspaper Brasil de Fato in Rio Grande do Sul. Kátia Marko, editor-in-chief of the publication in the state, recalls that the friar was a “visionary” and a popular communicator who knew how to dialogue with society.
On social media, João Pedro Stedile, MST leader and longtime friend, expressed his regret. “I lost a comrade from 40 years of struggle. We faced many battles together, some we lost, but we always won with the organized people”, wrote Stedile.
Resistance
Frei Sérgio’s life includes moments of manifestation. He used hunger strikes as a form of protest on several occasions: in the 1990s, for agricultural credit; in 2017, against Pension Reform; and in 2018, in acts in Brasilia.
The friar was also a survivor of the conflict at Fazenda Santa Elmira, which occurred in 1989, in Salto do Jacuí (RS). The episode involved a repossession with strong police action. Despite the violence of the case, which resulted in dozens of injuries and arrests, Frei Sérgio reported in a later interview that, “almost miraculously”, there were no deaths at the scene.
With 50 years of religious life, he defended a active faith in society. In an interview last year, he stated that “religion does not begin when we set foot inside the church, but it begins when we were in church and set our foot outside”.
