ARGENTINA, Carlos and Lilita Ricciardi/org. On Sunday the 22nd at 6:30 a.m., six couples and sixty youth departed from the Schoenstatt Shrine of La Plata (in front of the Cathedral) to a mission at Coronel Dorrego, where they remained until Sunday the 29th. They departed punctually after Morning Prayer at Father’s Liberation Shrine. This week there were also missions in Mendoza and Entre Ríos. There are many people in Argentina and in other countries who accompany the missions with their prayers and they truly feel like missionaries…
On Monday, January 16th at 6:30 p.m. there was an interview about the Family Missions and the prayer chain on Radio María. “This experience of praying for the missions is wonderful. Those of us who cannot go truly feel like missionaries even if we do not go…we are Internet or desk missionaries …In my case, I went on one in 2009; it was to Lobería, and it was a great experience,” Carlos Ricciardi commented; he along with his spouse, Lilita started the prayer chain, which thanks to schoenstatt.org has gone beyond Argentina. Unexpected contacts are made with people from other parts of the world. Flor Ibarra, who is Mexican, prays for the missions every year, just like people from Germany, Ecuador, Paraguay and Italy, among others. “A few days ago we received a message from an Ecuadorian couple, who lives in Switzerland, to whom we had sent information about the Family Missions,” they commented, “A year ago we were visited by an Ecuadorian family, who wanted to know a little more about the missions.”
Going on mission through prayer
“What makes me happier is your loyalty to this apostolate! I will participate, and I will offer the con-celebrated Mass on those days [Bishops Claudio Giménez, Alberto Eronti, Cassone, Carmona] in the hills of Cordoba,” Father Antonio Cosp, Director of the Movement in Paraguay, wrote.
Ana Cristina and Mario Alberto Krekcza offer a daily rosary for the missions, asking “that the Blessed Mother will accompany them and abundantly shower Her blessings on all they places that they will visit.” Father Ludovico Tedeschi prays in Rome and Inés Petiti prays in Goya; Sister Catalina in Mendoza, and the Adoration Circle in Buenos Aires; the Ledergerber-Buraye couple in Switzerland and Brother Bruno at the Benedictine monastery of Ponta Grossa, Brazil…He writes: “I accompany these missions by offering the daily Holy Mass. There will be a lighted candle in my Homeshrine during the missions as a petition that the missionaries may be light for all the residents of places where the missions are held. United in prayer during this Year of Shrine current…” Brother Bruno Almeida, OSB
The people of God, from so many nations and languages, united in prayer!
Father Ángel Strada wrote from Schoenstatt, Germany: “I joyfully join in prayer for the families, who will go on the family missions in Coronel Dorrego and at Mundo Nuevo. I pray that they may be fruitful witnesses and evangelizers and may all those who receive their visit open their hearts to the message of the Gospel. I extend an affectionate embrace and my priestly blessing to you…”
Response from the leaders of the missions in Coronel Dorrego
Beloved brothers and sisters, we always say that the fruits of the mission not only depend on our beloved Blessed Mother’s kindness and the contributions to the capital of grace, but also, of the constant and profound prayer that is offered for the evangelization of the Kingdom.
Thank you to everyone! Thank you for the many years of accompanying us! Thank you because you will again walk with us through the streets of Dorrego, Brugo, and Mundo Nuevo! May this large current of prayer continue to interweave destinies to awaken new hearts that are willing to give them to Christ and Mary.
Greetings,
The missionary leaders of Coronel Dorrego
Celina M. Garza: Spanish/English translation – Melissa Peña-Janknegt: English edit
