ITALY – ROME – PARAGUAY, Maria Fischer •
In less than two hours after the schoenstatt.org team sent out a call for a service of solidarity to several Schoenstatters who speak Spanish in Rome, Nico Prono, a 21-year-old Paraguayan, who is presently in Rome, wrote: “I already communicated with M. and then with C., her brother who is here; we exchanged contact information and we will continue to talk.” A Schoenstatter’s brother from Chile and his wife were on vacation in Rome when she became seriously ill and had to be admitted to a city hospital. At almost the same time, Pamela Fabiano, of the Schoenstatt Youth in Rome wrote: “Thank you for your message. Of course I will contact M. and I will help in any way I can…in covenant solidarity.” “A big hug and united in the covenant that becomes concrete in the small as well as the larger things.” Between the two along with other friends, they searched for more economical lodging for the husband, they communicated with his anguished family in Chile, and on the 18 June, Nico and Pamela met him at Saint Peter’s Square… a real and efficient Covenant of Love.
When Nico Prono and two companions prepared to leave their country and to leave their families, girlfriends, and friends to give a year of their lives to Mission Rome, one of the Branch’s most daring adventures, the adventure of going on mission in the heart of the Church to found or to strengthen local Schoenstatt youths and simply to be available to serve wherever they are asked: with the young people, sick people, Schoenstatt Fathers’ parish … or for this Chilean brother and sister, who thanks to them experienced the strength of the covenant of love in solidarity. Father Pedro Miraballes, adviser of the University Boys’ Group from Asunción, Paraguay wrote, “Above all, God invites us to serve.”
Nico Prono, Braulio Heisecke, and Jorge Ortiz, group companions since the beginning of the Boys’ Youth have been in Rome since January of this year; their “headquarters” is an apartment close to the Schoenstatt Fathers’ parish in Trastevere, Santos Patronos’ [Holy Patrons’] parish Saint Francis and Saint Catherine are the patron saints of Italy.
Jorge decided to pursue Microeconomics, Braulio opted for Physics, and Nico preferred Private Non-Profit Institutions, each one at different colleges. So they are like normal students in this unique chair; the aim of this choice does not reside in the concept of learning; but most of all in the people, they will meet. It is about being missionaries in the parish, in the Italian course, in university, and through their presence of solidarity, soccer, songs, meals, joy, the attachments, and their covenant of love, seeking open doors to sow Schoenstatt’s seeds with the spirit of missionaries.
The seed of World Youth Day in Madrid
They recount many times of the Boys’ Group life groups dissolving when their members enter university. This was not the case with their group; they wanted to make an effort to maintain the attachment and they accomplished it in a good part because they sought a common missionary task. Now three of them are in Rome, on mission, and they are supported with prayers, contributions to the capital of grace, the ideas and the attachment of their group brothers from Paraguay and many other university students, who form the “nucleus” of Mission Rome. They said, “When we return to Paraguay at the end of the year, we will integrate into this nucleus.” It is important for the spiritual and human support, and it is important so that their self-giving does not remain as something just for them, since other missionaries will come who will continue and carry forth what they have sowed. “Perhaps we will not see the fruits of our work,” says Nico. “But we sowed, and we know that we are responsible for the crop.”
To sow. Who planted the idea of Mission Rome? “It was Father Alfredo Pereira and the Holy Father,” says Nico. He was in Rome as a seminarian, and shortly after his ordination in Paraguay, he returned to work in the parish and the nascent Schoenstatt Youth in Rome. “When I was at World Youth Day in Madrid in 2011, during the ‘Unanimiter’ gathering of the Boys’ Group, he told me: “Nico, we have to do something for the Schoenstatt youth in Rome.” It was a seed that fell on fertile ground.
They did not know what the missions were
The Missions in Fusine, a small town in the Zoldo Valley north of Italy were a great moment; it is a well-known tourist area for those who like the mountains, nature, snow, and skiing. They went with thirty secondary, university students, and families all of them close to the Santos Patronos parish. “They did not know what the missions were, or how to go on mission…but we did it with them, like us, they learned about the missions, and we learned how to mission by going on mission…” they explained. They asked one of the girls to write an article for schoenstatt.org. It is an article full of awe, of the “first love.” “They fell in love with the Blessed Mother, with the covenant…” they commented. Some of the youths are now preparing to seal the Covenant of Love.
The parish and the two Schoenstatt Shrines in Rome are the meeting places. During an afternoon, every week, the youths pray in Sisters of Mary Cor Ecclesiae Shrine. The three missionaries made a retreat (and the interview for this article) at the Belmonte Shrine. The youth Masses at the parish “are not like the Masses in the Youth Shrine, where Schoenstatters are present, and we invite others; these are parish Masses, but they have something of covenant…”
Now they are preparing for a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela with other youths from the parish, along with university chaplain of Law in Roma Tre of which the Father Pope is chaplain: the Camino de Santiago [Road to St. James], Portuguese side. There are 120 Km. of pilgrimage south to north divided into six days, from the city of Tuy to Santiago de Compostela, the Galician city that receives thousands and thousands of pilgrims every year and with different motivations, religious as well as simply cultural, personal or spiritual.
We are instruments
“It has already been three months since our arrival, and we are exactly at the point of beginning to take more concrete steps in founding the Boys’ Youth,” they noted.
“We were able to establish an attachment with the families who frequent the parish and with the boys…needless to say, an indication of this was that they allowed us to direct the children’s little soccer team in a lightning tournament against another parish; the “lessons” of how to use elbows without being seen or to fake a foul, invent a penalty and provoke an expulsion, among other tricks of our folkloric soccer will come.
We can already lead meetings, and our message has reached the public we are addressing. We already know the tools that we can count on, and about the downturns that could occur, and we only have to agree on the details of the plan and to execute it by trusting in the plans that God has for us and for this mission. We are more aware that we are His instruments, thus with many contributions to the capital grace, great self-education, and an intense cultivation of the spirit, our Mother and Queen will mark the path to follow.”
“Correspondencia”
To maintain the attachment with the University Boys’ Group in Paraguay as well as with all the Schoenstatt Family from there, they write a monthly bulletin called “Correspondencia” [Correspondence]
Here we share the first three editions, and we will continue publishing them on schoenstatt.org
My beloved Pastors and Elders in Christ.
I greetings to you wonderful Precius name of the lord prayers for the work of Our mighty King in all the Globe.
About me my name is Pastor.V.Naresh babu from Guntur Andhra Pradesh,india. I have seen your ministries in the web site While I was browsing in the internet, Your Works for Christ are Excelled, I am Praying for you.
I was raised in christian family. I am working as a Pastor since 9 years and Ours is a much undeveloped Village Where almost all here are uneducated and idol Worshipers Most of the Population are Hindus. They worship god Rama, god siva, god Brahma and gods are worshiping.
I am very much interested in spreading gospel to these poor and give education for their children’s and converted them into Christ. I wanted became a servant of God here and bring many peoples come into Jesus Christ. By the gospel awareness program’s and meetings and charitable works and mercy ministry in poor villages.Physically and spiritually needed here.
eternal peace ministries has been serving the lord and people since 9 years. many people have been blessed by God through our ministries still we are going forward with a vision to reach the unreached and serve the needy. Hence, we request you to make a plan to visit us in India according to mark 16:15 and co-operate us to reach our goal for the Glory of God.We are Spreading the good news of Jesus Christ in Slums, rural Villages,Destitute peoples, Red areas, another Districts, in Tribal s areas here. Still there is reaching with the gospel to villages,various areas. but we are not able to move this work of our God to other districts. because of lacking any encouragement to our ministry here. We bring the Gospel to every villages and unreached villages and Plants churches and send Gospel workers for harvest field.
we are very poor to spreading the gospel to unreached ares unreached villages and winning lost souls for Christ. Our is the family struggling for Christ to Convert them into Christ, to faith and belief in Christ. Please send me any books, bibles , christian story Charts, Video Cassettes, Audio Cassettes of bibles preaches and whatever related to Christian Gospel.I am doing some labor work to grow up our families and remaining time we are engaged in preaching Gospel. We should bring the all Unknowing peoples Convert into Christ in our surrounding villages. I want became servant of God here.
Please send me any books, bibles , christian story Charts, Video Cassettes, Audio Cassettes of bibles preaches and whatever related to Christian Gospel.I am doing some labor work to grow up our families and remaining time we are engaged in preaching Gospel. We should bring the all Unknowing peoples Convert into Christ in our surrounding villages. I want became servant of God here.
Please tell them there are so many churches ,Christian believers,Gospel workers. You are all participating with us in India. about Spreading the gospel to gentiles and poor peoples and unreached areas in India. What ever manner of you we will work together and winning the souls for Christ in India. all people are under the devil Subject here.Most of the people are ill literature they don’t know about Jesus Christ. Now we presently preaching gospel under the Cottages,on roads in four places in different poor villages. even we don’t have any church building .and we teaching about Jesus Christ to orphan children’s,needy and poor children under the tress in evenings classes. that then they will get heirs of salvation. We are working and fellowship with you. I am heart fully inviting you to involve in this great work of God and teaching them in the knowledge of God . We need your involvement and prayerful suggestions and helping hand. most of the people hate Christianity here because they believe in Satan,idolatry worshipers. there are some areas no churches here,only Hindus temple . we are voluntarily doing this great Job. We are looking forward to work with you. I beaching you my brother in christ. we are all fellowship and working with you for spreading the gospel and new church plants. many peoples not know true our Lord . by your participating so many peoples get the kingdom of God and your reward is increase in heaven.
your all give power full messages dying of peoples and unknowing peoples and gentiles in india.then they are receiving heirs of salvation here at my poor villages.
our main desire is making the disciples of jesus Christ and plant the churches in our surrounding villages unreached areas. I am waiting for great reply. God has shown us a way to make fellowship with you for Spreading of gospel here. please give us suggestions and prayerfully and involvement in the mighty work of God in India.
Our ministry is small among poor and Hindus peoples and unreached areas . Our heart is big but we want do more the works for God here unreached areas and at poor villages in India at surrounding my villages and towns .come and give sermon to many peoples hear salvation of God here. We stand with you and work with you here. Many peoples excommunicated some tribals and there untouchble peoples living in the society. some of children’s are begging the food and clothes and sleeping at foot path and idolatry temples and abandon houses. some of children’s are dead without have food and water and clothes and Cold. My heartfully welcome to you any involvement making the Christians and give new life for gentile peoples and this orphans and poor children’s for food, education,shelters at my poor villages and surrounding villages. EPM works to break the cycle of poverty by giving children the education, healthy food, dignity, belonging and love. Our child development ministries increase health, decrease child abuse and neglect, and change the course of economic growth for the society.
I have vision starts the bible academy and raising up in the Generation for winning the souls for Christ and train the Full time Pastors and Gospel workers and Evangelists for Kingdom of God unreached villages in India.
Humanitarian work is at the center of our mission.
Our ministry Vision in poor and undeveloped villages. even We need your encouragement for Expend the Kingdom of God surrounding villages and for save souls for Christ here.
church Plants.
Feeding for orphans and education.
Gospel Rally and Gospel revival meetings here.
spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to unreached areas and win lost souls for Christ.
As an organization we work very hard to serve with excellence and a heart of humility giving all of the glory to God.
Thanking You My brethren in Christ.
Your brother in Christ.
in his service Pastor. V.Naresh babu
Mobile No.+91 960 3261 727
please visit our webite: eternalpeaceministries.org
INDIAN FACT FILE
Population of over 1 Billion
There are 600,000 villages, in which 80%of the population live Of the population;
Hindus: 83% Muslims: 14% Christians: 3%
– 330 million god’s are worshipped
-Buddhism originated in the 16th century BC
-50% of the people have never heard of Jesus
-500,00 villages do not have gospel workers or churches – many peoples die each day without having known Jesus Christ.
A land of 1,652 languages. poverty of India 70%
India is virtually Babel” when it comes to languages. There are 1,652 languages in use in this land. Of these 222 are considered “major” languages spoken by a minimum of 100,000
people.
A land of 4,635 ‘people groups’
India is made up of thousands of different people groups or ethnic groups. Jesus commanded us to make disciples from every “people group” or “nation”.
Mtt 28:19 Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.