SPAIN, Jesús Manuel Cedeira Costales. The Iberian Conference for the Men’s Branch is held twice yearly. Previous conferences were held in Lisbon and Madrid. The Fourth Conference took place on April 21st and 22nd in Gijón and Covadonga with the 2014 motto “our contribution to the centennial celebration of the founding of Schoenstatt.” Men from Madrid, Lisbon, Aveiro (Portugal) and Austurias participated.
Thanks to the previous announcement by the coordinators, it was possible that the Iberian Conference for the Men’s Branch would be one of the intentions for the “toward 2014” Mass celebrated in the Original Shrine on April 21st.
Several testimonies have been received from the participants; these speak of the experiences at this only two-day conference. There was a lot of time for prayer, pilgrimage, exchange, and motivation.
All I can describe is an amazing reality
Father Miguel Lencastre from Portugal shares: “I returned truly amazed by all I saw and experienced in the Fourth Iberian Men’s Branch Conference. It was an enormous gift from our dear MTA. All I can describe is an amazing reality. What is extraordinary is that having a family, Jesús Manuel Cadeira Costales took time to organize a high quality conference in every detail. Congratulations to the Men’s Branch of Spain, and especially to our dear Jesús and his lovely family. I am convinced that a great flow of graces will flow to his country and to all the Iberian Peninsula. Your Home Shrine, dear Jesús, is an inexhaustible source of blessings for your family, your allies and friends among whom I am fortunate to be included. I am deeply grateful to our dear Mother, and I ask her to continue supporting and blessing our men so that they can continue participating in these conferences and also our Branch from the MTA’s Shrine in Oviedo. I am also very grateful for our pilgrimage to the Shrine of Covadonga. It was an unforgettable experience!”
Other testimonies
“I think I can speak on behalf of all the participants. First of all, I am thankful to our Mother for the graces received this weekend during the Fourth Iberian Conference for Men for which there were participants from Austurias, Madrid, Lisbon and Aveiro. She accompanied us with her active assistance at each moment. Also, and very specially to Jesús, who gave us an example of what family love is. He, united to Christ, took care of each organizational detail that facilitated the development of the conference to be impeccable. Thank you very much.”
“Dear friends, brothers in the faith of Christ: I want to thank you personally from my heart for everything. With nourished attendance, we have celebrated this conference for the Men’s Branch in Guijón and in the Shrine of Our Lady of Covadonga. I feel I have received a great deal from you. Thank you for the friendship, love and testimonies. I hope we meet again.” Celedonio Moreno
“What we lived in Covadonga was unforgettable: The gathering around the banner, the solemn Mass with a great choir, the visit to the Virgin, and the sending forth!” writes Antonio Palma Rojo from Portugal. “Now we have to work far and wide in the richness of the contributions. Fantastic, it is what also unites us to Fatima!”
Translation: Carlos Cantú, Schoenstatt Family Federation, La Feria, Texas USA 04302012
