MEXICO, by Brenda López Garza •
With the desire to work for the ideal to be and to form loyal, firm and joyful families, a long held dream became a reality: to carry out the first Schoenstatt Family Mission in Monterrey.
With trust in God and with the support of the contributions deposited in the capital of grace, a group of fifty missionaries, composed of six Schoenstatt Families in Monterrey, boys and girls from the Boys’ and Girls’ Youth, and Fr. Gonzalo Castro carried out the mission in the La Ascensión community, in Aramberri, Nuevo León.
The Pilgrim Mother opened doors
Upon going out to encounter Christ’s face in visiting the sick, touching poverty, seeing the children’s smiles, to feel hugs or to be touched by tears, every missionary witnessed the urgency and the need to take the message of hope that emerges from God’s personal love. The Pilgrim Mother worked miracles upon opening the doors of “La Chona” families, and she filled them with the joy of being a family in Christ.
Another great reason for joy was that everyday more people participated in the different activities: Masses, talks, visits, celebrations of the Word, prayer of the rosary as a community, and games…even a rally in which the missionaries and the “La Chona” residents participated as a large family!
During the last Mass, the missionaries received the affection of the people, but most of all, the conviction to continue working as a strong community in Christ.
An atmosphere of unity, mutual support and teamwork reigned
For all the missionaries, this experience strengthened the Schoenstatt Family in Monterrey: “These missions were very different from the youth missions… I would re-live them a thousand times more; going as a family, I felt at home and very happy. We experienced an atmosphere of unity, mutual support and teamwork,” commented Ana Cristina Barragán, coordinator of the Girls’ Youth during these missions. Armando Chaires, coordinator of the Boys’ Youth, mentioned that it is a different experience in how to live a mission. There were many friendships among the youth, couples, and the experience of being Mary’s instrument.
Seeds were sown and there is a commitment to continue to work for two more years with the same community, to strengthen and increase the projects, which we are already beginning to plan with and for the community.
