An initiative begun in 1982 resulted in St John’s having a long and fruitful association with a community in Brazil which still continues. The first contact established was with a community in the very poor North Eastern area of the country. This group of people were desperately in need of help and our parish entered into the project with great enthusiasm raising funds through coffee mornings and the sale of second hand books. This continued for a few years but unfortunately, due to the transfer of the priest in charge of the community, contact was lost.

A new association was formed with another community living also in the North East but not nearly in so remote a situation. This community were living on the outskirts of the city of Jaoa Pessoa. They experienced many hardships, living in huts, many of them having been forcibly removed from their homes where their families had lived for many generations. Unemployment was very high and there was no social security. Several times, over the years we have become involved in petitions to protest at grave injustice, meted out by powerful landlords, or to protest at crimes and criminals going unpunished in spite of first hand witnesses.

About twice a year, we organise functions to raise funds for our brothers and sisters in Brazil. The money has been used for different needs. Once it helped to build a hall where people could meet. Sometimes it has been used to organise meetings to allow people to study together and share their experiences. On one occasion, the money was needed to bury someone. We have grown to love and respect our twin community, as we now call them. The religious Sisters who shared their lives have told us how caring and generous they are in spite of their poverty. Their situation now may be less dire than when we first got to know them but it is still very difficult and they still face many hardships on a daily basis. The security and comfort of our lifestyle would seem luxurious to them and yet they can’t imagine how we endure our cold winters, not to mention our cold summers.

The conditions in our twin parish are illustrated below.

	A liturgical celebration in San Sebastiao.
	Two children from our twin parish. The boy is wearing some clothes bought with money donated by St. John's.
Living and working conditions in San Sebastiao.