ARGENTINA, org. “What beautiful news the Child Jesus brought us this Christmas!” wrote Sonia and Alberto Hierrezuelo, the diocesan coordinators from San Juan. They were referring to an article published on December 24th in the “Newspaper of Cuyo” about a Christmas initiative of “Mary’s Volunteers”, who took donations to the babies at Rawson Hospital, with the motto “We want to clothe Baby Jesus.”
“Thank you for this beautiful Christmas news, Good News!” Father Javier Arteaga, Director of the Schoenstatt Movement, responded immediately. “I am very happy to read that you have taken not only the first outfit for the newborns at Rawson Hospital “dressing Baby Jesus” through them; but, you have also given the mothers a demonstration of intimacy, love, and Christian embrace like other Marys, “taking peace, love, and joy”, as Father Kentenich`s prayer says. In this article about your initiative, one can read the characteristics of love: love is generous and in solidarity – you not only give things; instead, you give of your time and life – it is patient and lasting – you go every week throughout the year for many years -it is creative- you have given our apostolate a new luminous touch with this Christmas deed.
That made this initiative possible. That is a real Christmas, love through a tangible deed. It is a covenant culture made a reality in a hospital of San Juan. We also thank the Schoenstatt Family from San Juan for their help of generous donations that made this initiative possible. That is a real Christmas, love through a tangible deed. It is a covenant culture made a reality in a San Juan hospital.”
Like the Three Kings
In the article of the Cuyo Newspaper, reporter Paulina Rotman writes:
They are not Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltazar. They are women, among them there are four. It more than fulfills the Catholic tradition to the letter. But like the Three Kings that arrived at the stable where the birth of the Child Jesus took place, carrying incense, myrrh and gold – according to the liturgical tradition -, the four members of the Schoenstatt”s Mary’s Volunteers also went on pilgrimage hours before Christmas through the halls of Guillermo Rawson Hospital to accompany the newborns. They had decided to do it with the motto for this year’s celebration “To Dress Baby Jesus” and they did it through a simple act that united spirituality and solidarity, two of the pillars that this International Movement practices.
So that no child would be without their gifts
The irresistible siesta of San Juan was not an excuse for Gladi Gallardo – whose name is unusual since it does not have a “y” or an “s”, which she says makes it more original – along with Catalina Manrique, María Cardozo, and Patricia González who arrived at the health center with their load of gifts, like the Three Kings in Bethlehem. Their bags did not contain those symbolic objects that Jesus received, but they were basic things like the first baby outfit, diapers, and a welcome blanket “just as it should be”.
Last week, they traveled through the Maternity, Neonatal, and Pediatric Intensive Care wards so that no little one would be without gifts. Moreover, if there was a mother in labor, they also gave her a “little package”, which had been prepared with the collaboration of more than 100 families that form part of the Schoenstatt Movement in San Juan. They distributed a total 70 outfits of baby clothes, booties, blankets, diapers and pacifiers. Each gift also had small bags with a Christmas theme such as a holy card and a rosary with some sweet bread to share and to celebrate the birth.
The Child Jesus was born in a stable, but he was surrounded by love
“We wanted to convey several Christmas messages to the mothers and their babies departing from the example of the Holy Family. It is all a symbol of unity for these times. We reminded the mothers, whose little ones were interned because of lack of money, or because they were pre-mature or suffered illness, that the Child Jess was born in a poor stable, but He was surrounded by love and that their children represented that Suffering Christ. We wanted them to know that money was not everything, and that the most important thing was that the heart be transformed into a manger that embraces and shelters the newborn child. We must always remember that the Child Jesus is born anew every year and that allows us to renew spirit and hope,” related the ladies, who carried out this Christmas activity for the first time although they have worked at the hospital for years every Monday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. During this time, they pray for those who need it, they embrace those who ask for consolation, and they materially help those who have nothing.”
Celina M. Garza: Spanish/English translation – Melissa Peña-Janknegt: English edit
