""This work is embarrassingly elementary, embarrassing for the reader, not the writer. Father Barreiro states with the power of simplicity the privileged place of the poor in the eyes of God and the mission of the church and presents the basic ecclesial communities as incarnations of that privilege. This is a short work well worth reading."" Philip J. Murnion, Director, The Parish Project, National Conference of Catholic Bishops ""The comunidades de base of Latin America have been giving me hope and inspiration for many years. Their roots are as ancient as the Gospel and their development in these times almost as spontaneous as the spread of Christianity in the early days of the Church. ""Unfortunately, Americans in general do not know the poverty in their own country and don't understand people who are poor anywhere. While they pour out money and supplies with enormous generosity whenever disasters of famine and earthquake and war are made known to them, most do not see the spiritual potential in the people in poverty in the United States and throughout the world whom they want so much to help. ""Leaders of America's churches, clergy and laity, of all denominations can learn this potential from Barreiro's book."" Norman C. Eddy, Coordinator, East Harlem Interfaith ""Father Barreiro combines solid scriptural and theological resources with first-hand knowledge of these communities themselves. ""The appearance in English of Fr. Barreiro's book is very timely. North American Christian communities need to be informed about the good news coming out of Latin America."" Allan Figueroa Deck, SJ, Director of Hispanic Ministry, Diocese of Orange in California Alvaro Barreiro, SJ, was Professor of Systematic Theology at the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and is currently with the Centro de Espiritualidade Inciana de Itaici.