COLOMBIA, Amanda Puerto Moreno. On March 7th, Sister Eugenia María Muñoz arrived to Colombia for one of her customary visits as adviser of the Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement. She traveled from Chile, where her family and community lives, in spite of the terrible earthquake and tsunami that devastated our beloved country. This serious and sorrowful circumtance was not an obstacle for her and her companions: Elaine Gibbons, from Viña del Mar and Adela Jiménez, a Colombian who studies at the Catholic University of Chile. They carried out the scheduled agenda with different activities in the cities of Cali, Medellín, Bogotá and Cundinamarca, in the City of San Antonio of Tequendama.
On Sunday, March 7th, the newly formed Schoenstatt Family in San Antonio of Tequendama had the pleasure of welcoming Sister Eugenia María Muñoz, her companions, and a group of more than 40 people from the Couples’ Branch and some of their relatives, to this nice visit, which was organized by Arturo Aranguren and Elizabeth Sedano, coordinators of this Branch. They visited the Parish of Saint Anthony of Padua, the Adoration Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, which was built recently, where the Mother Thrice Admirable Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt has dwelt for two months and who lovingly awaits all her children to fill them with graces and blessings.
Father Carlos Ortiz, a missionary of the Blessed Mother and pastor of San Antonio of Tequendama celebrated the Holy Mass at 11 a.m. with a good attendance of the faithful and with the participation of the members of the Schoenstatt Family.
Afterwards, Father Carlos, along with the missionaries, the children missionaries and several people who are devoted to the Blessed Mother conversed with the Schoenstatt group from Bogota. Sister Eugenia Maria spoke to the people about the graces of the Shrine: shelter, inner transformation and apostolic zeal, and she introduced Elaine as the leader of more than 300 Chilean university youth of the Schoenstatt Movement.
The little missionaries of the Blessed Mother
On behalf of the newly formed Schoenstatt Family, the professor and missionary, Fabiola Cruz presented them with a card of welcome and she explained the different activities that are carried out: the celebration of the Mass on the 18th for the renewal of the Covenant with the Blessed Mother, offerings to the capital of grace, the participation in the “Campaign of One Million Children Praying the Rosary for Peace and for Unity of the entrie World”, with the children of “Antonia Santos”, the educational headquarters, First Communion prepartion of the children of the town, recreational activities to celebrate Childrens’ Day, teaching of basic English, making thread bracelets, and the most important thing, to prepare the children who aspire to be little missionaries of the Blessed Mothre, and who show their real intention with the good behavior at school, within the family and everywhere.
Then refreshments were shared at the parish house with the entire group. Then they went to Finca Rosal (an estate) where they shared a delicious barbeque which was pleasantly accompanied by guitars and joyful songs, and they enjoyed the peace and harmony of nature. This was followed by a couples meeting lead by Sister Eugenia Maria. Later there was a procession in the open field, praying the rosary until they reached a leafy myrtle tree, which is a refuge for the Blessed Mother, who happily awaited the visit of all her children. The beautiful day concluded here where the former and new members of the Schoenstatt Family demonstrated their fraternal love beneath Mary’s mantle.
Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, USA
