A Reflection on Mission Appeal Sunday: Turning Towards Our Neighbor
Adapted from Solidarity Bridge’s reflection during Mass at St. Bede - St. Denis Parish on the weekend of 8/8.
The work of Solidarity Bridge is grounded in the kind of deep compassion and attentiveness reflected in the parable of the Good Samaritan—a call not to turn away from the pain of others, but to draw near. In the words of pastor Fr. Alejandro Marca Mansilla, pastor of St. Bede - St. Denis parish:
“There are so many wounds that need healing, that when we remember…the parable with which Jesus taught us who our neighbor is, we cannot help but open our eyes to those next to us, so as not to be carried away by the inertia of individualism and indifference that pervades our society.”
That same spirit guides Solidarity Bridge, an organization formed by faith and driven by a clear understanding that healing cannot be bound by borders, that puts Fr. Marca Mansilla’s words into practice. As lay persons acting ecumenically in the world, we try to faithfully live the words of Christ. We are part of a church that welcomes, nourishes and heals.
Solidarity Bridge began 26 years ago when two lay persons, a theologian and a medical doctor, both from Bolivia and residing and working in the United States, shared memories and dreams for their home country. They talked about heart problems and pacemakers. They shared remembrances of working men who suffered devastating accidents.They recalled women who had never seen a gynecologist and children who died all too soon. They recognized that complex surgeries were often unavailable in Bolivia, and particularly inaccessible for the poor.
And these two men shared something else, something vital, something powerful. They were persons of faith.
Their conviction was grounded in Scripture: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). That hope led to real, concrete efforts—gathering skilled surgeons and healthcare workers in the U.S., building relationships with Bolivian and Paraguayan hospitals, and delivering equipment and medical supplies.
Since 1999, Solidarity Bridge has conducted 112 surgical missions and helped restore health to more than 8,000 patients. In addition, over $48 million worth of medical equipment and supplies has been donated, closing critical gaps that once left doctors without the tools they needed to save lives. These missions created what Scripture tells us is the “evidence of things not seen” then, but visible to us today.
This work continues because it is sustained by people who choose not to look away. People who believe, as Scripture urges, that “Do not be afraid any longer… where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Luke 12:34).
Among the thousands of patients served is Roberto, a father of six from rural Bolivia. For three years, he was debilitated by Chagas disease, fainting multiple times a day and unable to work. His son Jorge, just 16, left school to farm in his place. Through a Solidarity Bridge partnership, Roberto received a pacemaker. He is now strong and working again; Jorge has returned to school. Roberto walks five hours for each follow-up appointment—and he says he’s happy to do it, because now he can. His restored heart is a treasure and joy not only for him, but for his entire family and community.
Recalling Fr. Marca Mansilla’s words, “We cannot be carried away by the individualism and indifference that pervades our society.” Those words are powerful. We have the opportunity to share, and we have the opportunity to be part of the joy that solidarity brings. In Luke’s Gospel, Peter asks Jesus, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” Luckily, Jesus’s words are for all.