ARGENTINA, Carlos Ricciardi. We have organized prayer chains for the Family Missions for eleven years as a small collaboration and support for the missionaries, but we had never participated in any mission…As of this year, there is one honorary missionary less…and one more actual missionary, since I received the gift from the Blessed Mother to participate in the Lobería mission; it was truly a unique experience.
It is difficult to convey everything that I experienced in the Family Missions, and I could write much more than some brief lines. I will try to make it concrete. The year 2010 had begun and we did not think, because of work related situations that we could go on the Family Missions. But one proposes and God disposes. Different situations within three of the five couples that were supposed go on the Lobería mission arose: illnesses and work related issues. This made us think that perhaps we could accompany the two couples that were left in order to help in this very beautiful task of going on mission as a family.
As I said before, even though we had collaborated for eleven years in an indirect way with the Mission, we had never participated. We placed ourselves in the Blessed Mother’s hands so that She would resolve our work related problem, and we felt that at least one of us should go. And that is how on Monday, January 25th, I departed to Lobería, thanks to Lilita, my wife, who stayed to work.
It was an atmosphere of family and integration among all the missionaries
There were thirty-seven missionaries: seven adults and twenty young people between the ages of twelve and twenty-eight, three of which were from Lobería. It always surprised us to see families on mission with their children during the time that they could be on vacation or resting, and this was my opportunity at over seventy years old to go on mission. It should be noted that families go with their children, and other youth who, during that week, are “mission children,” and that the missions are carried out in the same location for two consecutive years. This was the second year of mission in Lobería.
Upon arriving and getting settled at the National School, we went out to travel through the neighborhood, where we would go on mission, notifying them that we would be in the neighborhood for one week, and that we would carry out different activities. At this moment, we realized the joy with which we were welcomed – that means that the year before they had done things very well. From the beginning, I noticed the family atmosphere and the integration that there was among all the missionaries, in spite of the differences in age and that some did not know me. It was evident we had something in common: taking the Pilgrim MTA to each house to leave a message of faith, of hope, and to pray with those we would visit. Basically we were there to listen to the needs and difficulties that our brothers and sisters had.
Mission number 12!
The following day, we began our task of visiting the homes. We went out as two or three missionaries to visit the homes that had been previously assigned. A young man, 18 years old, who was on his 12th mission, accompanied me. It was a treat for me to be able to learn to go on a mission with a young man with so much experience in the Family Missions! The other days other youth accompanied me, who also taught me much with their freshness and determination to go on mission.
Simply to listen to the needs of our brothers and sisters
Yes, I learned much from the missionaries and of course from the ones to whom we ministered. In many cases, they were waiting for us to drink some herbal tea, to converse, and to pray to our Blessed Mother. In other cases, they told us of their worries, illnesses, desires, and work. It was truly a grace of God to be able to listen…simply to listen to the needs of our brothers and sisters. We do not ask for their votes, nor do we promise them special gifts or prizes. We simply take the picture of the Schoenstatt Pilgrim MTA, a rosary, a picture of the Holy Family that Father Julio, the pastor of Lobería had given us to leave with each family that we visited.
The experience of this mission week was very strong. The testimonies of the people we visited marked us because of their simplicity and clarity of expression regarding their needs and the resolution of the problem. Alfredo, one those we visited, is about to lose his job since the business, where he has worked for seventeen years, was sold, he told us: “What I want is to work, I do not want handouts, or the generosity from above; I want to work to sustain my family and to forge a future for my children.” He had built his humble house with much effort along with his wife and children. He was proud of this, but he told us: “Sometimes I notice that those who have more do not allow those of us who have less to grow.” We bid farewell to him and his family with a prayer and a warm embrace. In this embrace, we noticed the gratitude he expressed for having listened to him…in reality, we were the ones who were grateful to him for all that he taught us. There are many other testimonies like this one that with simple and clear words present the reality of our country and how easy it would be to solve it if everyone had good will and would listen a little more. Pedro commented, “…with the subsidies that the people receive, it is hard to find anyone to work in the fields,” while Micaela commented, “That there is work, but it is difficult to get paid, especially from those who have more.”
The Bicentennial Pact of the Family Missions
Besides the visits to the homes that we carried out in the morning, in the afternoon, we carried out other activities: games and catechesis for the children of the neighborhood, talks for the youth, and visits to an area asylum. The day that we visited the asylum, it was Mary’s birthday; we took her a cake and celebrated her birthday. Her face lit up when we appeared with a cake. She was surprised and her joy was contagious.
We also had our time to gather with the missionaries, evaluating the task we had developed, and each person commenting about their different experiences. Furthermore in relation to the bicentennial of our nation, which will be celebrated in May of this year, we worked as a group to set out what we wanted for our nation as a Family Mission. The conclusion of this work was the BECENTENNIAL PACT that we all signed within the framework of profound responsibility and commitment with the future of our NATIONAL FAMILY.
Sharing the artistic virtues of each one of the missionaries at the bonfire
In the late afternoon, we had a Mass celebrated by Father Beltrán, who accompanied us on the mission; the Mass was at the St. Stephen’s Chapel, which is located in the community center of the neighborhood. After supper, the missionaries – the youth and adults – had our gathering at the “bonfire” where we shared the artistic virtues of each one of the missionaries with joy and healthy entertainment. At the end of the day, all the missionaries gathered in the Chapel for night prayer, a time when we mentioned everyone who had prayed for us this day. It was very touching for us, when at this moment of recollection, we mentioned the names of all the “missionaries of prayer,” and it was a time of spiritual unity with each one of them. We expressed our gratitude and that of all the missionaries for the prayers, rosaries, and Masses that they offered for the Family Missions. We could truly feel the power of prayer. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Do not go to a SPA to rejuvenate yourself, go on a Family Mission!
The last day of the mission, we held a Mass for the entire neighborhood at a nearby square close to the community center, and there was a show where different performers from the neighborhood and the missionaries participated. A strong rain caused us to stop ahead of time since this event was held outdoors. It was a rain that was surely very good for the fields, and it refreshed us a little after the intense heat of these summer days and strong emotions that we experienced. If I was asked what I thought about the missions, I would not hesitate to say that it was a wonderful experience, in which one goes on mission and finishes being “missioned” to by all those we visited and by the rest of the missionaries who accompanied me. At my age, (many years from being a youth) I learned many things that will help me to have more confidence that it is possible to change our society with the example of these families and these young people committed to the Church and their country.
Finally, I express my profound gratitude: first to Lilita, who stayed to work, then to Gabriela, Gastón, Graciela, Victor, Patricia, Father Beltrán, Father Julio (who was always at our side to see what we needed), to the cooks, especially to each one of the youth who went on mission for everything that you gave me during these days of mission, for the respect and welcome that you offered me with much affection and love. And I forgot to express gratitude to someone very important…The Pilgrim MTA…without HER we would not have fulfilled our mission since “SHE IS GREAT MISSIONARY” and “SHE WORKS MIRACLES”.
PS If any adult want to rejuvenate 20 or 30 years, do not go to a SPA, simply go on a Family Mission!
Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio /Melissa Janknegt, Elgin, USA
