BRAZIL, Sister M. Nilza P. da Silva. On March 18th, the parishioners of Saint John the Baptist from Atibaia/SP and their pastor, Monsignor Giovanni Barrese, came to the Shrine to renew their Covenant of Love and to take the acrylic Shrine back home to their parish. Throughout the month, the small Pilgrim Shrine for the parish received contributions to the Capital of Grace.
In spite of the rain that fell until the beginning of Holy Mass at 8:00 p.m., the Chapel of the Sisters of Mary was full. The parishioners joined the couples of the Family Branch, who came for their retreat on March 19th and 20th.
To share the mission
The Holy Mass began with the procession of missionaries carrying the Pilgrim MTA to the altar. Monsignor Giovanni spoke about the renewal of the Covenant of Love as a time to assume the mission with renewed zeal, always transforming themselves into better disciples of Jesus. He shared his concern as a pastor for Catholic families who still have not discovered the beauty of participating in the community. Therefore he asked the Pilgrim MTA missionaries to help, so that these families will discover the love of God in their lives and find their way to the sacraments.
After the celebration, Monsignor commissioned more than one Pilgrim MTA to visit businesses, and he emphasized the importance of not allowing oneself to be overcome by monotony in fulfilling the mission that God gives everyone.
The Mother and Queen took care that the rain would end, so then everyone could go to the Shrine to renew their Covenant of Love and to burn the Capital of Grace.
One month in the Shrine
Monsignor Barresi accompanied them and in the darkness of the night, his parish is beneath the gaze of grace of the Mother and Queen. Lovingly, they renewed the Covenant presenting everything they had experienced throughout the month since February 19th, and they consecrated themselves as instruments to serve the Church with the Schoenstatt mission.
A couple received the small Shrine on behalf of the parish community, and they departed taking the blessings of the place of grace with them. Everyday is Covenant Day at Saint John the Baptist, because it will be in the shadow of the Shrine each day.
