Fr Colin McLean SSC with Brazilian friends Eleni & Marcelo. Photo: Fr Colin McLean SSC
While I was working in a predominantly Afro-Brazilian community in Brazil I learned of the existence of the “Black Priests, Bishops and Deacons’ Conference”. This meeting was to be held in a diocese not too far from the city of Salvador, where I lived and worked. I rang the hosting bishop, Dom Jairo, himself Afro-Brazilian, and explained that I would like to attend on behalf of my parishioners, although I was an Australian. He informed me I would be more than welcome.
So, with an Afro-Brazilian priest friend, Antônio Oliveira, from a neighbouring parish, I set out for the diocese of Bonfim. There were about 35 black priests, 2 black bishops and a black deacon. I use the word “black” in the way socially conscious Brazilians of African-descent use it.
At the conference, we broke into small groups. I felt very conscious of being the only white priest present. On the second last day we had a personal sharing session. I shared about feeling welcomed by the group, but a bit out of my depth due to my being the only white priest attending. Then, a Jesuit, Fr. Clovis Cabral, empathised with me and shared how he had felt the same way for 13 years in the Jesuit seminary, since he was the only black seminarian at the time. We developed a close friendship and have been friends ever since.
At the conclusion of the conference, there was a mass at which a black deacon was to be ordained. Dom Jairo called all the “priests” to step forward to join him in giving a blessing to the new deacon. Several white priests who worked in the diocese stayed where they were, as did I. One of the black priests who had been with us at the conference stepped back and asked me why I had not stepped forward. I replied, “Well, Dom Jairo did say ‘the black priests’.” Then, my companion tapped his own arm and said, “It’s not about this (skin colour)”, and pointing to his heart, he added, “It’s about this. You have assumed our cause, you are one with us.” I have never looked back. This was a time of coming together for a common cause and about feeling welcomed and growing new friendships.
Fr Colin McLean currently lives at St Columban’s, Essendon.
