Okinawa Uno (Fides News Agency) – Thirty-three chapels await, at least once a month, the arrival of Father Angel Lim Jaejong for the Eucharistic celebration. The roads connecting these chapels within a 50-square-kilometer radius are steep and unpaved.
The 35-year-old priest, who has lived in Bolivia for about five years, is originally from the Korean Archdiocese of Kwangju and serves as assistant priest of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Okinawa.
In a country where Catholics make up 70 to 85 percent of the population, “religious holidays are generally deeply felt, with a particular Marian devotion. People have generous hearts and support the works and initiatives of the Church with great dedication,” says Father Lim. “It is only when I visit them in their homes that I realize the true extent of their economic poverty.”
Okinawa is located 146 kilometers from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia’s main metropolis. In 1899, the city welcomed the first migrants from Japan; after initially arriving in Peru, some decided to settle in Bolivia, thus bringing with them the name of their hometown in the Land of the Rising Sun. Reflecting on the difference between the way priestly ministry is exercised in his country of origin and in the country where he currently serves, Father Lim makes the following observation: “If you think about it for a moment, in Korea, children call the priest ‘chibunim’ (신부님), which means ‘father,’ while here, they tend to call him ‘dad.’” “In reality, children tend to feel a bit neglected by their fathers at home, as they spend what little free time they have after work looking after them; thus, both children and adults often seek affection from the priest,” explains this diocesan priest from Kwangju.
During his seminary years, Jaejong spent a year in the Philippines, where he began to question his missionary vocation. “I hadn’t thought about the difficulties. For me, the call was clear, and I started studying Spanish,” explains Lim. “Through small initiatives, such as the sale of snacks organized by the various parish associations, we manage to raise funds,” explains the missionary. “Since Okinawa is a predominantly agricultural community (known for wheat cultivation), many residents work in agriculture, but the underdeveloped infrastructure gives them limited access to local markets, which are nevertheless a stable source of income.” “We receive many requests for help.”
The missionary went on to explain how the aid is then distributed according to a verification process. This rigorous approach has ensured that, over time, only those who truly need it come to ask for help. “With the money raised, we visit the sick. In addition to the spiritual support we provide, there is a form to fill out: we therefore go to the homes of the sick with medical staff to assess their situation and determine the maximum amount we can give them,” Father Lim explained.
“Baptismal certificates are a particularly sensitive issue in the Bolivian context, especially in rural areas. Many elderly people come to the church to request their Baptismal Certificate so they can exercise their rights as citizens,” Father Angel explained. “If this is done promptly, people born before 1940 can enjoy a dignified retirement.”
According to SEGIP (General Personal Identification Service), the latest statistics on Bolivians without civil registration date back to 2014 and show that 7% of the Bolivian population lacks identity documents. The law enacted on April 5, 1945, allowed Bolivians born before 1940—a time when civil registration did not yet exist—to obtain birth certificates by presenting their baptismal certificate; this is why the Baptismal Certificate has acquired considerable historical significance.
Bolivia is listed as the most corrupt country in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the latest data from the World Justice Project (2024), and as the second most corrupt country in the world, scoring 141 out of 142, behind the Democratic Republic of Congo. One of the most pressing needs is to find and manage resources and donations without having to pay the price for non-transparent practices.
Earlier this week, the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies passed a law expanding the government's powers to declare a state of emergency. This decision comes after five weeks of protests and roadblocks, hundreds of arrests, and about a dozen deaths. Passed by a two-thirds majority, this law allows President Rodrigo Paz to take exceptional measures for a maximum of three months and has sparked considerable controversy, particularly from former President Evo Morales and human rights organizations. “I live far from home and I find aspects of Korea in the moments I share with the other priests in Bolivia, but I do not feel any particular nostalgia, because I know my mother thinks of me in her prayers, and that also gives me the strength to move forward,” concludes Father Angel Jeajong Lim. (Fides News Agency, 19/6/2026)
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