In 2004, the Missionary Oblates and their parishioners celebrated “Oblate Week” to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Oblates’ arrival in the state of Pernambuco in Northeastern Brazil.

The Oblates first arrived in Pernambuco in 1964 and by 1968 Fr. Jim Kohmetscher, Fr. Darrell Rupiper, and Fr. Peter Grams had formed the first Oblate foundation in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Recife. When they began, the community had no paved roads or running water. The poor were building shacks out of any material they could find just to have shelter while they searched for work.

Gradually, the Oblates sent more missionaries like Fr. Ed Figueroa, Fr. Bruce Heit, Fr. Tony Rendon, Fr. Jerry McGovern, Fr. Roger Bergkamp, and Fr. Larry Rosebaugh who continued to reach out to the thousands of desperately impoverished individuals in their growing ministry. Together, the Oblates helped organize strong communities and rescue abandoned street children. They helped shelter the homeless, feed the hungry, and perhaps most importantly, they offered hope to those who had none.

The Oblates’ ministry among the poor in Recife is a constant struggle. As Fr. Ed explains, “The degree of poverty in Brazil is great. Many of the poor perceive themselves to be of little value and thus have a profound ignorance of the concept of human rights. The work of the Oblates in Brazil is about raising hope. It is about building strong and supportive communities from scraps of humanity, about standing together, about standing up for themselves.”

After 40 years of ministry, the Oblates find themselves with much accomplished but many more obstacles to face. So, they continue to forge on because they know that with each day, they are bringing the light of Christ to those in need.