BRAZIL, Sr. M. Nilza da Silva. The First National Conference for Coordinators of the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother Campaign concluded: the power of the Holy Spirit sends each one of them to announce the Covenant of Love! What a party is going on in the Blessed Mother’s home! Approximately three hundred coordinators of the Pilgrim Blessed Mother Campaign from 15 states in Brazil filled to capacity the accommodations in Atibaia from May 21st to May 23rd.
During those days, Don Joao Pozzobon’s phrase could be heard – it was also the motto for the encounter – : “I had the grace to understand the origin!”
On Friday afternoon, they meditated in front of the Shrine, on Don Joao Pozzobon’s prayer which mentions the different situations he had to go through on his mission with the Pilgrim Mother, and he concluded: I always loved you! Then, with Don Joao Pozzobon’s same love, all of the auxiliary pilgrim images left the Shrine as a sign that all are connected to the origin.
“I had the grace to understand the origin:” this topic was dealt with at the national conference for coordinators during the entire morning of May 22nd. Sr. M. Rosequiel from Santa María/RS, analyzed it in all aspects and presented it, in part, with words from our Founder and Don Joao Luiz Pozzobon, both having their processes of beatification underway.
What is the origin which Don Joao had the grace to understand?
He explained it himself: since learning the history of the foundation of the Schoenstatt Work – the moment of the Covenant of Love on October 18, 1914 – he placed himself spiritually among those boys and always remained forever as a student of Father Kentenich. This gave him the strength in the most difficult moments of the beginning of the Campaign. He remained faithful to the spirit of the origin which is also called “the mystery of Schoenstatt:” faith in the active presence of the Mother and Queen in the Shrine…..faithful in the human collaboration which She needed and confident in the admirable action, in the fruitfulness of that Covenant of Love. The Sister additionally brought to mind the uniqueness of this conference. It was the first time they gathered as representatives from all of Brazil and they wanted to leave the gathering with clear objectives as preparation for the great jubilee in 2014.
Father Alexandre, in Saturday’s homily, brought to mind that more than four million Brazilian families were represented there: they receive the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother in their homes. He made an analogy between Pentecost and this conference for coordinators showing that the Church was born from a small group of apostles who remained faithful to Jesus even in the greatest of deprivations. Likewise, united to Christ in the bosom of the Church, the Campaign of the Pilgrim Mother can come to be evermore a new Pentecost for the Church through the steadfast fidelity of each coordinator. Acting thus, all are included in the great continental mission and responding to the life currents of the Church, exactly as requested and inspired by the Aparecida Conference.
In the grace of the origin…..on the way to 2014!
Divided into fifteen groups, the coordinators responded to the question: what is the gift we want to offer the Blessed Virgin for the year 2014? What is our contribution as Brazil so that the culture of the Covenant may come forth? They seem like simple questions, but when the representatives are from 73 dioceses and from the most diverse cultures, it is different! Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit arrived!
The last day began with a mixture of feelings: gratitude, nostalgia through the farewells, the fire in the heart which encourages to announce…..How wonderful it is to be family! How wonderful it is to be together and to experience this Tabor atmosphere!
The last conference was presented by Fr. Alexandre Awi de Mello, national director of the Apostolic Schoenstatt Movement. He took up the life currents defined the day before and compared them with the Aparecida document and the teachings of the Church. He presented the longings of Conference 2014 and created a climate of expectation since it was up to him to communicate the response to the question worked on the day before: what is the gift we will prepare for the Mother and Queen for the 2014 jubilee?
Fr. Alexandre demonstrated how the culture of the Covenant of Love responds to the most diverse and specific situations of the present, in philosophic currents as in economic, political, moral and etc. currents. The Covenant of Love is the charisma, the offering of Schoenstatt for the Church and world and it corresponds to each one to live the Covenant of Love in such a way that culture be converted into the response which God gives to the world through Schoenstatt. It is the divine plan for humanity already since the creation of the universe: live in the Covenant!
Our goal for 2014!
Of course, everyone suspected it….. But, would it be that way? It could also not be what was thought of! But it seemed that all groups were going in the same direction….. And how was it worded?
Finally, when Fr. Alexandre announced what the jubilee present for 2014 would be, the response was a sonorous applause. The joy which gleamed in the eyes radiated the fire of the mission which burned in their hearts…
Do you know what the gift is? It is marvelous! You, coordinator, will vibrate with it! You, missionary, will say: it is exactly what I wanted! Do you know what it is? It does not correspond to say it here. At least not today! But I assure you that those who prayed for the conference will see how their contribution was worthwhile. The Holy Spirit came with all His gifts and fruitfulness. Let’s let the conference come to its conclusion…
Here I am, send me!
After the profound and beautiful presentation by Fr. Alexandre, all went to the Shrine to be sent forth. In this holy place, the Covenant of Love was renewed and each coordinator was personally sent forth anew by the Mother and Queen of Schoenstatt. As a sign of unity with the origin, each coordinator received a small sculpture like the ones which emphasize the contributions to the Treasury of Grace. This indicates that the task of October 18, 1914 is continuously actualized and helps the dear Queen in her mission for the Shrine. “Here I am, send me.”
At the closing Holy Mass, the spirit of the Cenacle was experienced anew. It is Pentecost! United with Mary in prayer, those present trust in the power of the Holy Spirit and united with Jesus in the Eucharist, they begin their journey home.
What did each one take?
“I return with more confidence in the Schoenstatt spirituality, with renewed fervor and with the aim of forming a team of instructors in my diocese,” says Ivanilde from Surubi/PE.
“I took a Campaign shower! I greatly admire your work…..” and the emotion limits Father Alejandro’s words.
“This conference has given us a great deal of security! It is a great grace that we would have the entire experience and formation at the beginning of our journey as area coordinators,” say Milton and Marli from Alphaville/SP. They commented emotionally that the conference completed the strong experience they had in Schoenstatt, Germany a few days before. “All which we heard which refers to the place….. We encountered the Original Shrine, we entered Father Kentenich’s house…..” They lacked words to express what they felt at being chosen by the Blessed Mother for such powerful moments of grace.
Until… until soon?
The lounge at the retreat house was full of bags….. the joyful hullabaloo of emotion…..the farewell embraces. Writing down anew the address, returning what had been borrowed from a brother/sister in the Covenant whom they did not know previously. Now Marcia and Rómulo’s list is not only of names…..it has faces! It has nostalgia, joy and the shared experiences…..Above everything else, they have the same commitment, the same charisma and the same fire: our gift for 2014!
If the Campaign of the Pilgrim Mother was already a national family before this conference, it has now experienced what it means. All are spiritual children of the Founder, Father Joseph Kentenich; they have one Mother, the Mother and queen of Schoenstatt; one home, the Shrine, the school of sanctity. They will leave, sent to the Church and world! With the fire of the Holy Spirit! “Just a little bit more!” (Part of one of Don Joao Pozzobon’s phrases).
Source: www.maeperegrina.com.br
Translation: Carlos Cantú, Schoenstatt Family Federation, La Feria, Texas USA 060810
