By: Ariel Presbitero

My name is Ariel Presbitero. I am a Columban lay missionary in Salvador, Bahia where majority are black people and Africa culture is very strong. It’s necessary to understand it’s historical roots: Slavery.

For example, the Good Friday tradition during Holy Week, in the community where I lived (called Terra Para Todos), the people are aware of the “jejum” (fasting) because it was taught by the first evangelizers. However, in practice it’s a feast (fiesta). With all the typical foods: with red wine, loud music, singing, visiting of houses, dancing and many forms of festivities. I was a bit shocked by these customs on Good Friday. Personally, I think that Good Friday should be a day of prayer, silence and fasting. So this Brazilian tradition surprised me.

Why on Good Friday?
What I actually saw was a family affair in which everybody gather together, eats, drinks, sings, and dances, because it’s the only time they have to meet all members of the family. But on Good Friday? Surely there are other days to celebrate and make a day of festivities.

Sad And Strange History
I asked a friend of in the community and she told me that Good Friday was a very significant day for the slaves during the time of colonization which begun 500 years ago. The Portuguese colonizers freed the slaves only on Good Friday. They were freed from hard labor, freed to gather together and freed to celebrate. The only day of the year when the slaves were very happy and spent the day unburdened. Therefore, they prepared nice food, gathered together, singing, dancing and drinking and happily enjoying the rest of the day. I can imagine the joy of each slave to express one of the day of liberty in one whole year of hard labor.

Traditions Lives On
This tradition has been handed down until this present generation but in a “non – slavery“ society. For those who don’t know the historical background it would be judgmental to say that the people of Salvador, Bahia are not observing the Good Friday  and are ‘enjoying’ the death of Jesus on the Cross.

Of course on the pastoral level, I have my own cultural practices on Good Friday. I spent the day in the prayer house of one lay community and it made a whole lot of difference. It opened my mind to a deeper understanding of how God acts in peoples lives in many different ways. They celebrate Good Friday in joy, we celebrate it in quiet and sorrow. Ultimately what matters is how our celebration helps us to relate to each other. After all Christianity is about relationships. Without community there is no Christianity.

Ariel’s Good Friday Reflection

How many times I fall
Into the well of despair
Trapped, abandoned, secluded
The darkness I see
The coldness I feel
And the foulness I smell
Brought me more weak
And horribly helpless
The time I experience
The moment I’m lost
Gave me courage to call your name
My longing to be near
My longing to be helped
Wishing that my life sees
The clearness of your glory
Help me to get out from the well
Show me the bucket of life’s virtues
The rope of your unending support
And your words fill my heart with courage
Let me stand beside the well
So I can recall the beauty of your goodness
And always live in light
Never to forget you.