Jim has been working as parish priest to one of the parish communities in the Amazon region of Northern Brazil. He has been there over 4 years now.

or the last four years my home has been a forty-foot wooden boat, traveling along the many rivers, which make up the Amazon estuary, as the only priest in a Parish of 72 islands, 60 Basic Christian Communities, 500 square miles and 40,000 inhabitants. The people on the islands struggle daily. The majority lives from what they fish or grow. The few who have employment work long hours extracting clay to make bricks, slates, jugs and pots for an average of $2 for a 12-hour day. Some spend four-five months separated from their families, fishing or transporting timber. Some work as teachers or domestics in the rudimentary schools that sometimes function on the islands. They do this not knowing when or if they will receive their salary from the local authorities (the basic wage is $60 a month, and there are some schools staff on the islands who haven’t received their salary for 9 months now!).

The Basic Christian Communities continue but the numbers of faithful have been reduced. Many of our young people must leave the islands to study in the city if they want to further their education, thus reducing the presence of youth in the communities. The increase of violence and robberies means people are fearful about leaving their houses to frequent the community. The lack of evidence of change in the long awaited social revolution, the influence of the media, the economic situation, the variety of interests which are more appealing than participation in the community, individualism as opposed to collectivism… are but some of the factors which have taken the sting out of the Basic Christian communities.

But there is life in the old dog yet! I have witnessed hope against hope. I have been privileged to share the visions and dreams of our islanders who still believe that the message of Jesus will liberate, will transform, will make the Reign of God happen, and can only be done together, in community. I have sat with the children as the local catechist explain that Jesus came to bring life in abundance. I have danced with the young people as they celebrate life and walked with them in their marches to promote a life more dignified. I have participated with the mothers in their meetings to improve the healthcare for their children. I have shared the hope of the fishermen and small farmers in demanding their rights and guaranteeing their voices be heard. I have sat in their homes and shared their anxieties and indulged in their dreams. I have been part of formation courses where the thirst to learn has been palpable. I have celebrated the sacraments with a people who want to increase their faith and who believe that Jesus is, indeed, the Way, the Truth and the Life.

I sincerely hope the Year of the Eucharist will inspire every Christian community to respond with “fraternal solicitude to some of the many forms of poverty present in our world,” because “by our mutual love and, in particular, by our concern for those in need we will be recognized as true followers of Christ. This will be the criterion by which the authenticity of our Eucharistic celebrations is judged.”
Pope John Paul II
"World Mission Sunday Message"
Read Entire Message

The real test of faith is not when we are all riding on the crest of the wave but when we are depleted and rowing against the current, as now. We find ourselves in a difficult situation but still with our head above the water. This year our Parish has made the Basic Christians Communities our priority again. Through evangelization, reaching out to those distant, shaping the ideals of the Christian community, visiting the families, taking the Word into people’s homes, creating small reflection groups, forming greater links between neighboring communities, initiating projects, organizing courses to recapture the spirituality of the basic Christian community… we are trying to stand firm against the rising tide of secularism which threatens the very essence of the Christian faith – the community. With the youth of the Diocese, we have planned a myriad of activities to captivate the attention of our young people, to harness their energy into trying to make the Kingdom come and to re-enforce the belief that another world, another Brazil is possible!

I really don’t know how much I have helped or what I have given in these four years as Parish priest and as Diocesan Youth coordinator. But I know that what I have received convinces me more that mission is a mutual journey, a relationship of sharing faith, a nourishing that is reciprocal. I have had the honor to do what we missionaries dream of in handing over the service of pastor and the ministry among the youth to a young, local, diocesan priest. That he may, with the islanders and the young people, continue to shape the way – their way, of being community and can continue to offer that Christian witness and resistance that comes from the Gospel.

And finally, I will carry these beautiful experiences in my heart. I will continue to believe that the Latin-American Church has much to offer the whole Church. I will continue my bias for the young people and my belief in the poor. Until then, sail on!

Fr. Jim Clarke, s.x.