While many things have improved in South America - roads, telephones, televisions, etc. Here in our country we expect life to be happy and healthy, but for much of the world's population that is not so. What we take for granted is, for many, a luxury. They have no electricity, no running water, no sewerage, no refrigeration. As a result, hepatitis, typhoid and malaria are quite common.
Life is short and there are very few comforts.
Forty years ago this year, the first St. James' priests left for South America. Cardinal Cushing told them to work with the poorest of the poor. But the priests do much more than accompany the people. They are very conscious of Christ's command to feed the hungry, to heal the sick, to clothe the naked, etc. Over the years our priests have built and funded food kitchens, bakeries, health clinics, hospitals, schools, houses, bridges and roads.