ARGENTINA, Catalina Adrover de Michelini. During the last week of January, two Argentinean courses, which began their novitiate for the Institute of Families, held their retreat in the Valley of Sun, Mendoza, Argentina.
This novices’ retreat carried out in the foothills of the snow covered Andes, although it was the middle of summer, provided an incredible landscape for the 10th and 11th courses totaling 111 couples, who called themselves “the bicentennial generation”.
The couples of the 10th course arrived from afar: Córdoba 700 kilometers (435 miles), Rosario 900 kilometers (559 miles) and Salta 1,500 kilometers (932miles). However, they did not show any weariness at any time; they were happy to be at this long awaited retreat.
The five couples from Mendoza of the 11th course waited for the travelers with open arms. As the hosts, they had prepared the house “Refugio Murialdo,” so that they could spend some unforgettable days at this place.
The educators for both courses were families from Mendoza, so they made the preparations before, during, and after the retreat with much love, enthusiasm, and joy.
The presence and the words of Father Kentenich were a secondary cause of God the Father
Father Marcel Mouras, General Assistant of the Institute of families, motivated and developed the retreat topics, which profoundly touched those hearts yearning to know more and more about the Founding Father, Joseph Kentenich, and helped them interpret the mission that God has prepared for them from eternity.
The more than twenty children played around the place like groups of butterflies of all sizes and colors; we should stress that they were watched and guided by four youth who had come for that purpose in organizing the meals.
Rufino and Catalina Michelini teamed up with a life testimony relating how they lived the presence and the word of Father Kentenich as a providential and loyal secondary cause of God the Father.
Just like every retreat of young people, they had bonfires with guitars, jokes, laughter, and serious songs. One of the retreat’s songs was composed and set to music by the couples of the 11th course, which attracted everyone with its melody and lyrics being a song for Mary filled with affection for her.
Couples who love God and their brethren
The children participated in the Masses, and during one of them, they acted out the Gospel of the day. On the grounds surrounded by mountains, the participants did not forget the message of the Gospel read, acted out, and explained by the little ones in such an original manner. During that Mass, all the children were consecrated to Mary.
The closing Mass on Sunday, the 31st, was very special since the highlight was that the couples, whose hearts were filled with emotion, renewed their marriage vows. Then one by one, each couple approached the altar to sign the commitment of initiation to the novitiate of the Institute of Families.
After lunch, many departed for their return trip and others stayed until the following day so they could rest before traveling.
Everyone was happy and willing to take the beautiful mission of being couples who love God and their brethren to the world just as Jesus asks in his Gospels.
