BRAZIL, Érika Araújo. On August 24, 2011, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI announced that the next World Youth Day (WYD) would be held in Brazil — Rio de Janeiro to be specific. It seemed like a dream. At that moment, the entire world’s youths and especially the Brazilian youths, waited anxiously for the official announcement.
Naturally, the Schoenstatt Apostolic Youth couldn’t stay away from this great event. From until now everyone has worked so hard! There were many fundraising activities: selling of raffle tickets, stalls at the June Celebrations [commemorating the birth of St. John the Baptist], among others. They also needed to raise funds for the practical aspects for WYD (backpacks, sleeping bags, accommodation, meals, transport, etc). Despite all this, they cannot forget the most important thing: their spiritual preparation.
She is the great missionary!
With forty-four days before the start of the WYD, on Sunday morning, June 9th, the Schoenstatt Apostolic Youth (both the Boys’ and Girls’ Youths) met to hold a cantata for Mary at the Zion Shrine, Cor Unum in Corde Patris, in Jaraguá, São Paulo. It was with great joy that they were able to do so in the presence of the Original Pilgrim Mother, who is paying them a visit. “She is the great Missionary!” The Mother and Queen, the great collaborator with her Son, Jesus, in the redemption of families on the road to WYD Rio 2013, is attracting youthful hearts to educate them to become missionary disciples.
During the time they spent with the Blessed Mother in the shrine, they had adoration to recharge their spiritual batteries for Cor Unum and Ignis [meetings of the Girls’ and Boys’ Youth prior to WYD]. With great devotion and love, they offered our Mother and Queen a sung rosary which was carefully prepared with various Schoenstatt songs. They prayed to their dear Mother for the ‘health’ of the world’s youths, so that they can experience WYD with great faith, joy and peace! They also prayed for each continent so that the unity among the youths of the world may grow stronger each day and that this will be a “meeting of hearts that believe, moved by the same hope that fraternity in diversity is possible.”
She will guide us during WYD
They also joined in prayer with the “I Prayed a Rosary for You” Campaign. Each person dedicated a prayed rosary for a young person attending WYD. These campaign rosaries will be added to the rosaries which will be handed out to young people coming to Rio de Janeiro in July, thus taking the testimony of a living and transformative faith in their hearts to the whole world.
They concluded the cantata on that sunny Sunday morning with the certainty that the Mother and Queen Trice Admirable of Schoenstatt, in the image of the Original Pilgrim Mother, will lead them during World Youth Day, so that they can be faithful and persevering in communicating light, beauty and the joy of being the Lord’s disciples and being united by the Fire of Mission.
Source: www.maeperegrina.com.br
Translated from the Portuguese by Sarah-Leah Pimentel, South Africa
