child Tag

Flüchtlinge aus der Ukraine
POLAND, Father Arkadiusz Sosna •  Until now I have associated the “Four Seasons” with the composition of Antonio Vivaldi. This year it is quite different: in our Sion, the four seasons from March until today related to the presence of refugees from Ukraine and constant change. It is difficult to speak of refugees when the weeks fly by, and we continue to share this tough time of war; people have become our guests. — From the beginning of March 2022 until today, two people have been with us permanently. ARead More
pastoral carcelaria
PARAGUAY, Cristi Santacruz • Today while going through Twitter I read the affirmation of a graduate specialist in addiction prevention and treatment: “The closer the family is, the farther away the drug is”. A statement that rang loud in the ears, but louder in the heart. — In 2016, when I started my apostolate of visiting every Saturday the Integral Educational Center of Itauguá and La Esperanza, for children and young people in conflict with the law, I heard hundreds of stories that have one factor in common: The familyRead More
cambiar
By María Luisa de Maccaferri, Monterrey, Mexico • “2022, a new year marked by the challenges inherited from the previous ones, the pandemic and its consequences, how do you personally feel about this calendar period we are beginning, I am struck by the words of the Holy Father with the theme of indifference that seeps through like a virus; indifference to the poor, to the poverty that little by little is also seeping into the middle classes as well”. F. José María García’s comments became a lively conversation that tookRead More
Wedding Story Sunrise Village
INDIA, Fr. A. Jose Amaladoss • September 9, 2021, was a notable day in the history of Sunrise Children’s village. It was on this day that Schoenstatt Fathers blessed the wedding of two young people, Amuthan and Saranya. There is a story that deserves to be told and shared. — Saranya joined Sunrise Children’s village in 2008, when she lost both of her parents. She joined at the age of ten along with her sister and two brothers. Sunrise village gave her a home with unconditional love and acceptance. SheRead More
Pope Francis, Christmas 2020 • No, Christmas is not cancelled. Not in lockdown, not with contact restrictions, not for all who are alone, not even with Christmas Mass canceled. Because a child is born to us, a son is given to us. In a Christmas Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica marked by pandemic-related restrictions, Pope Francis recalled the essence of Christmas. God’s Son came, Francis said “came to make us, as God’s children, holy by grace.  Yes, God came into the world as a child to make us children ofRead More
PARAGUAY, Silvia Cabañas • How does one overcome the departure of a son? That is a question I am frequently asked. I prefer to use the term departure and not death, because for me, my son did not die. He only departed prematurely to meet God, our Father, and our Mother Mary, a conviction that keeps me strong and standing. Most of all, it is what motivates me to struggle against my own human weakness, and for me to also make the effort so the moment that God decides thatRead More
CHRISTMAS WITH POPE FRANCIS • At the Mass Pope Francis presided at 21:30 Roman time in St. Peter’s Basilica, he explained the real meaning of Christmas: “If we want to celebrate Christmas authentically, we need to contemplate this sign: the frail simplicity of a tiny newborn child, the meekness with which he is placed in a manger, the tender affection with which he is wrapped in his swaddling clothes. That is where God is.” “The newborn Child challenges us. He calls us to leave behind fleeting illusions and to turnRead More
Interview with Manuela Baumgartner, winner of the “2016 Prize of Austria’s Religious Communities” award. She is paediatric consultant for children and adolescents, and member of the international leadership of the Schoenstatt Family Federation • It almost got lost in the Christmas rush, yet this news is really Christmassy. For the third time the Austrian communities for men and women religious have awarded the “Prize of Austria’s Religious Communities” for “achievements at the interface between religious communities and society”. During the Day for religious communities in the Cardinal Koenig House inRead More
PARAGUAY, Maria Fischer • “For me, Dequení is a blessing.  Thanks for making it possible for me to be here.” Every spring, the children from Dequení usually greet supporters with messages like that of 9-year-old Sofia, inviting them to be joyful and for rebirth.  This time, they surprised them during training at the Central House in Fernando de la Mora. Dequení is a blessing for thousands of Paraguayan children, children who come from families of limited resources. Children forced to drop out of school, or those who never see theRead More
FRANCIS IN ROME • In this Wednesday’s general audience, Pope Francis asked forgiveness for the recent “scandals” in Rome and the Vatican and highlighted the value of bringing a child to life. “Before beginning the catechesis, on behalf of the Church, to ask for your forgiveness for the scandals that have happened in recent times both in Rome and in the Vatican. I ask your forgiveness,” the Pontiff stated during the general audience in St. Peter’s Square. The Pope dedicated his catechesis to a reflection on the “promises we makeRead More