Remote Christian communities in Chile are revitalized by the annual visit of missionaries from the big city.
By Columban Sister Eta McElwain

Young missionaries prayed together during a visit to one of Chile’s remote parishes.

In the Santiago parishes where I have worked, we have trained many young lay people as catechists. We prepare for our summer mission by reflecting and praying with Scripture, especially the call of Jesus to go to others with the Good News.

There is basic training for house visitations and group dynamics. We try to learn what we can about the area where we are going, the people and their religious practices. To raise funds for travel expenses and resources, we hold fund-raising events and ask the community for help.

Warm Greetings
One of the more memorable missions for me was our visit to Lonquimay, a parish bordering Argentina some 375 miles, and a 14-hour bus trip, south of Santiago, Chile’s capital city.

We were welcomed with lunch by the parish priest and then divided into groups and sent to different areas in the huge parish. My group was sent to an area called Ranquil, where we were welcomed by members of the Christian community. It was a good time to arrive in Ranquil, because the next morning we were invited to the wedding of Julio and Ingrid, who had planned their blessed event to coincide with our mission. The couple had walked miles with their friends to the little chapel for the ceremony.

We spent our first day mingling with the guests, getting to know them and joining in their singing and dancing. The fare was roast lamb, home-baked bread and wine.
The following day after prayer, we set off two by two to visit people in the area. We walked for miles and were warmly welcomed at each house we called on.

During the following days, we had plenty of practice climbing mountains and crossing rivers to meet people who had never been visited by missionaries. Their simple hospitality touched us.

We never knew where we would spend the night, but the neighbors and the Lord saw to it that we always had shelter.

In these isolated areas the people have little contact with the organized Church. Our fleeting presence helps keep that connection alive. I was amazed how they opened their hearts to us.

At night we would gather with the men, women and children and talk about the Gospel and its meaning for today. Their own faith and sense of God’s presence inspired and moved us greatly.
In those places of great natural beauty, of towering mountains and undulating hills, it was easy to read the story of creation from the Book of Genesis and, under the starry sky, give praise to God.

A Renewed Faith
These annual visits of young, enthusiastic men and women from the city can be a great morale boost for struggling rural communities.

Often, people who are tempted to break with the local group because of lack of prayer and worship get a new lease on their faith life. Then, encouraged by the visit and equipped with new teaching aids, hymnals, tapes and ideas for liturgy, they are ready to try again.

After our final Mass in Ranquil, the tears and mate (a hot herbal drink) flowed as we said our good-byes. We shortened the long journey back to Santiago with stories of what we had heard and seen.

Columban Sister Eta McElwain of Ireland first went to Chile in 1974 for mission work.