Today Octavio Galarce Barrera responds: He belongs to the Schoenstatt Family from Rancagua, Chile, and he is a member of the Chilean Men’s Federation, a national adviser of the Men’s Branch and founder of the Madrugadores [Daybreakers] •
Almost a year into the pilgrimage through the second century of the covenant of love, what is your dream for this Schoenstatt in who we are and where we find ourselves in the Church, the world, and in our mission?
Loyal to our Father’s charism and the task entrusted to us, taking up the challenges that have always been there, but those especially emphasized during October 2014, in Schoenstatt as well as Rome. I dream of a Schoenstatt that is involved in all areas of daily life, responding to the big questions and concerns that are present in today’s world, responding from the great treasure of ideas and life that our Father and Founder left us. We are bearers of his charism and of the “grace” that God gave the Church in Schoenstatt.
In order to fulfill this dream, what do we need to avoid or leave behind?
We should stop being self-centered. Our Father’s desire of “being the heart of the Church” is to transform ourselves into servants of the life that God arouses with such abundance in our Church, in our diocese, in simple and humble people. We have received so much in our life groups that the time has come to give and to give ourselves to others.
In order to fulfill this dream, what practical steps do we have to take?
To be consistent with what we decide. We go through life facing the option of “doing” something, but we never feel that we are prepared. The apostolate, intervention in the real world, in decisions that affect others, involves a real presence and not just spiritual. My option to be an apostle in the midst of the world requires my witness and real time, “body to body” in Pope Francis’ language.
Photos: above: Octavio Galarce with Patricia, his wife; below: Madrugadores [Daybreakers] in Rancagua
Original: Spanish. Translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX USA – Edited: Melissa Peña-Janknegt, Elgin, TX USA
