BRAZIL, Sueli Vilarinho •
Sunday, 21 of February, the Jaraguá Family, the branch leaders and advisers of the Apostolic League of Family met at the gathering for the beginning work together in 2016.
The gathering began with Fr. Vandemir Meister celebrating Holy Mass. In his words of welcome, the Rector of the Shrine recalled how to live the Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis as an extraordinary jubilee. He reflected how we can have a profound encounter with Christ coming from Mary, and how by revealing God’s face in us, we can reach our neighbors. We need God the Father’s true embrace. We have the responsibility to encourage pilgrimages to the Holy Doors, to reveal the works of mercy, to strengthen the bonds of friendship, and commitment to the mission of the Church.
Golden Anniversary of the return from exile
Motivated by the fiftieth anniversary of the Father and Founder’s return from exile, Mrs. Raquel Padilla, the adviser of the Family League, presented the historic context that culminated with the Father and Founder’s fourteen years in Milwaukee, and all the aspects of “an in break of the divine” within the Schoenstatt Movement upon his return and rehabilitation.
“Schoenstatt reaching out”
Through an experience, the Boys’ and Girls’ Youth from Jaraguá encouraged us to live the missionary work of being “Schoenstatt reaching out,” based on the “Memorandum for the way of the International Schoenstatt Movement at the beginning of the second century of its history.” (Isn’t it called Memorandum – “A Way Forward for the International Schoenstatt Movement at the Beginning of the Second Century of its History?”)
An international work group that met to reflect upon Schoenstatt’s goals after the one hundred years of the Covenant of Love celebration composed the document was last year.
Nothing without you, nothing without us – working in fruitful collaboration
May the Blessed Mother intercede for us, so that the mission that was entrusted to each person can bring forth abundant fruits within our branches for the entire Church.
This is expressed in our motto for 2016:
“With you Father, Family in covenant, holiness and mission: Schoenstatt reaching out”
