Posted On 2013-03-03 In Covenant Life

“It is time to draw the line of conversion of a life that is stronger and more faithful”

ARGENTINA, Claudia Echenique. On Sunday, February 24th, another anniversary of the Zion Shrine in Florencio Varela convoked the Schoenstatt Family of greater Buenos Aires to accompany the priests from Argentina and Paraguay.

 

 

 

“The Blessed Mother wanted us to celebrate the Zion Feast beneath a secure roof, and she brought us to the God the Father Church to protect us from the cold and rain,” was Father Francisco Pistilli’s (Provincial Superior of the Schoenstatt Fathers of Father’s Region) introductory greeting.  At dawn there was a torrential rain in Florencio Varela and the surrounding area, so the Mass for the Zion Feast was held at New Schoenstatt.

Welcome once again

After the annual Conference where the Fathers of the Region reflected, worked and prayed together for two weeks, the community wanted to share the 19th Anniversary of their Shrine in thanksgiving with the entire family.

The Region of Fathers from Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay is growing, and this year twenty-three priests con-celebrated. Present were Father Angel Strada, who was with the community during this time, Father Gerardo Cárcar, who returned to Argentina after his task as pastor in Italy, and who will continue his work in Córdoba, Father Andrés Rodriguez De Bella, who after three years of mission in Nigeria, spent his vacation time, visiting his family in Argentina and now he will establish himself in Italy, and several seminarians, who will carry out their pastoral practicum in several parishes in the region.

“When one encounters God, you realize that there is a before and after that defines the time of our life.”

In his homily, Father Francisco referred to Abraham, and how at this encounter, God “gave him a new life and made him a father of a new people.  God drew a line of fire in Abraham’s heart, and this covenant enabled him to always walk forward with God”.

Meditating on the Gospel of the Transfiguration, he expressed:  “The faith of one who hears and follows the Son of God also draws an indelible line in life.  It happened to the disciples.  It happened to us through the grace of Baptism.  It is a before and after.  We no longer belong to the old land; we are citizens of Heaven, the new land.  And the line that defines ours ‘citizenship’ is the Cross of Christ, where the Son seals a definitive Covenant by giving himself.”

In regard to the Church and our countries’ present time and, Father Francisco pointed out the many signs and messages that “return us to the time of drawing the line of conversion, of renewal, the line of a life that is stronger and more faithful.  Where do we belong?”  To the land of hypocrisy, corruption, of injustice, of inequality, of hate, of fear?  That is the ‘old land’.  Shouldn’t we belong to the land that announces that we are brothers and sisters, that we are washed, purified to be saints that we belong to the land of forgiveness and unity, solidarity and of love?”

Then he said:  “The world needs to experience Easter once again.  It is necessary to travel the road of the Passion to ‘become passionate; once more for Christ’s mission.  Passionate Christians do not hide from the Cross, they lift it as a sign of contradiction and they draw the line that marks ‘this before and after’ with the Cross, the conversion which is to die in order to live.  So that people will not only see a change of conversation, but rather, a change of life.”

Two very concrete invitations for this time

In conclusion, the Provincial Superior extended two invitations:

1. “We need men who pray and who are firm in prayer.  I propose that you pray the Holy Rosary once a week.  And that the father, the older brother, the men of the home be the ones who pray and lead it.  Giving a sign without obligating anyone that we belong to the land of faith.”

2. “I invite the mothers and young girls to keep this fire burning in daily life.  Why not pray the Angelus when we gather for lunch at home or the Magnificat at the family dinner?”

Finally, he expressed gratitude for the prayers of the entire Schoenstatt Family “which sustains us, and we also want to renew ourselves and to grow in our task as priests, pastors and fathers.”

The God the Father Church was full of people despite the rainy day.  Parishioners from Saint Pantaleon Parish accompanied their pastor, Father Federico Piedrabuena, pilgrims and members of the Family from the areas of Temperley, Valentín Alsina and the Diocese of Greater Buenos Aires also attended.  The Vocational Circle, Family Federation from La Plata and the youth choir from San Isidro collaborated in different organizational tasks for the celebration.

New priestly ordinations

Father Pistilli expressed gratitude for the Family’s closeness, joy, prayer and constant encouragement toward the Community of Zion, as well as the material contributions that help to sustain vocations on their road toward priesthood.  Three of these vocations finished their studies and they will be ordained this ye

On April 20th, Manuel López Naón from Argentina and Oscar Saldívar and Santiago Cacavelos from Paraguay will be ordained as deacons.  Manuel’s priestly ordination will be October 12th, at the God the Father Church (Florencio Varela) and Oscar and Santiago’s will be November 9th, in Tuparendá, Paraguay. Four priestly ordinations will also be held in Nigeria in May.

After the Eucharistic celebration, the seminarians distributed the 2013 Zion brochure, which reflects the community life of 2012 and presents new projects.

The priests gratefully greeted everyone in the atrium of the Church in front of the National Shrine.  It is not common to have twenty-three Schoenstatt Fathers together!  They knew it, and joyfully they made themselves available, when many families and friends briefly greeted each priest to converse.

After this time of greetings and reunions, they went to Zion to share lunch and to continue the celebration at the Joseph Engling Hall.

Original: Spanish. English translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, USA

Homily. Fr. Francisco Pistilli (mp3)

Brochure: Sion 2013

Photos

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