ARGENTINA, Fr. Esteban Casquero •
The Schoenstatt University Mission “Kairos Patris 2018” was carried out 21-28 January in Saldungaray, a small town within the Coarca de Sierra de la Ventana region in the Archdiocese of Bahía Blanca. —
Three years ago, we began the re-founding of the Boys’ Youth and the Girls’ Youth in the Cathedral of Bahía Blanca. Slowly youths joined that wanted to give their hearts to the Blessed Mother in the Covenant of Love. During the week, the youths met in the Cathedral’s halls, and they had their process of formation in the Schoenstatt charism, in the Boys’ Youth as well as the Girls’ Youth respectively each one with his/her own itinerary. Friday nights they arrived to cook and distribute food to people who live on the streets; it is an apostolate known in our area as “La Noche de la Caridad” (“Night of Charity”) (the other days of the week other movements and groups are in charge).
In the unity of the Covenant of Love, the mission lasts the entire year
All this has strengthened the unity among the Branches, thanks to God, we began to mission two years ago. First in my parish’s little town of Aparicio – with approximately 100 people more less between the inhabitants and the farmers. This gave us a kick start to begin something bigger, and we launched about twenty-seven youths with three couples and their children to carry out a better organized mission since when it was decided to accompany the pastor from Saldungaray, we had to coordinate throughout the year to continue visits to the town and not just go during the summer. In so doing, we established a bond with the people. Concretely this is the second year that Mission Kairós Patris was carried out in that town. The youths also visited the people’s homes in the morning carrying out the following activities:
- Visited the families to share the faith and bless the houses.
- Met with the children from the town in the main square with games to educate them in values.
- Daily Rosary around the main square with the Auxiliary Pilgrim Mother, praying for specific intentions
- Met with the young people at night.
- Strengthened the Blessed Mother’s missionaries who live in the area, proposing alternatives of work and training.
- Enhanced the area’s Wayside Shrine located in the city Camping grounds (painting and planting seedlings to adorn it).
Activities in an atmosphere of joy
All these activities were accompanied by a profound communal atmosphere of joy. During the afternoons, the boys had an hour and a half of training on the Schoenstatt “milestones” and attachment to Father and Founder, Joseph Kentenich, during this special year dedicated to him on the occasion of the 50th year of his departure to the house of God the Father. During the remainder of the year the young people will go other times, especially at the beginning of classes to train a group of young people in the town, and thus give a little more life and examples to those within the parish sphere.
Cover photo: Saldungaray Cemetery
Original: Spanish. 17 February 2018. Translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX USA. Edited: Melissa Peña-Janknegt, Elgin, TX USA
