will always remember for as long as I live my first Christmas Eve in the little
town of Bujaru, in the Amazon region of Brazil.
I had been there for only a couple of months.
During the day, I had felt a kind of sadness and nostalgia for the cold,
snowy weather – I was younger then!
The lights, the chimes and carols which had been part of the Christmas
atmosphere I had been used to all my life both in Europe and in the USA.
Here I was, sweating in tropical, humid 90 degree weather, no carols, no
lights, no shopping… As I sat in
the church, I watched the youth group setting up the Christmas crib at the side
of the main altar. It fit the
reality and the surroundings of the place: it showed a backyard called
“retiro” where peasants work at preparing their staple food, mandioca flour.
Joseph, Mary, and others, were shown busy at work, while the baby Jesus
lay peacefully asleep in his little hammock.
So beautiful and yet still so strange and foreign to me, newly arrived in
Brazil.
I let you imagine the picture: fruits, vegetables, and noisy chickens and piglets… a messy sight apparently, but oh so welcome to the Baby Jesus! Those gifts would be distributed the next day, Christmas day, to the poorest among the poor!
In the evening people arrived from everywhere, gathering in the school hall for bingo and auction, the most popular diversion and way of celebrating feast days and holidays in that area. They brought fruits of all kinds – some of which I had never seen before – the ever present mandioca flour, beans, etc… with chickens and piglets. They played games and music for hours on end. Then, as midnight approached, they slowly moved into the parish church for Christmas Eve Mass. The highlight of the Mass was the offertory procession, a spontaneous, disorderly, coming forward to place in front of the altar portions of the gifts and prizes they had won. I let you imagine the picture: fruits, vegetables, and noisy chickens and piglets… a messy sight apparently, but oh so welcome to the Baby Jesus! Those gifts would be distributed the next day, Christmas day, to the poorest among the poor!
Back in the States… I am enjoying the lights once more, the carols and the familiar sight of people rushing to malls for their Christmas shopping. It’s all so wonderful and meaningful. Or is it? For many it is only a sharing within and among family members, close relatives and chosen friends. A far cry from the Christ-like sharing that it ought to be. I know it will not be that way for your, our readers and friends in mission. You have been accustomed through the years by your contact with us and our missionary work, to know that we are called to share our faith and open our hearts to the neediest of the world. “In Christ’s name.” We know that the candle does not lose any of its brightness by lighting another candle. That, as Jesus said, “there is more joy in giving than in receiving.” Your sacrifices make mission happen the world over. The miracles continue. Because you help us make Christmas more than a day of celebration. Together we announce and share Christ’s gifts to countless others.
We, your Xaverian Missionaries, wish you Happy Holidays and a most Blessed and Merry Christmas. May your Christmas blessings be many and may each day of the New Year offer you peace, good health, hope and love. God Bless!
(From Xaverian Mission Newsletter)