Preparing Schoenstatt’s contribution to the WYD in Panama

WORLD  YOUTH DAY PANAMA, Fr. José Luis Correa and Maria Fischer •

Towards the end of May 2018, the Schoenstatt Fathers responsible for the Boys’ Youth in the USA, Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, and Paraguay met in Panama, together with Fr. José Luis Correa, for a day-long working meeting to plan themes linked to the presence and active participation of the Schoenstatt Youth at WYD Panama 2019. —

The headquarters of the Schoenstatt Spirituality Centre is San Francisco de La Caleta parish, served by Fr. Romulo Aguilar, a Schoenstatt Diocesan priest who has made his covenant of love and was recently appointed as the Schoenstatt Archdiocesan Coordinator in Panama. Fr. Romulo encountered Schoenstatt’s Pilgrim Mother Campaign in the 1970s when he met Fr. Esteban Uriburu, who invited him to Buenos Aires to learn first-hand about the mystery of Schoenstatt and Campaign. Since then and over the course of many years in isolation, he remained faithful to what he had learned, or rather, what he had made his own and brought to life, and formed a small Pilgrim Mother group in Panama. He always dreamed about what has now come to pass: with the help of the Family in Costa Rica, Schoenstatt is flourishing in his country.

Three days of Schoenstatt work at the WYD

Fr. Jesús Ferras, from the Schoenstatt Fathers, together with a team responsible for coordinating and ensuring Schoenstatt’s offering during the afternoons of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of the WYD in this parish (time for prayer, discussions, confession, library and a shop selling religious articles, etc). Anyone who wants to take a slot to be present at the venue and lead one of these moments of prayer, hand out material, etc can contact Fr. Jesús and the team directly at: schcenterpa@gmail.com.

There is already accommodation for our youth

During the preparatory meeting, the leaders went Belisario Porras College, where the principal welcomed and accompanied them to show them the space that would be at the disposal of the Schoenstatt Youth. The space consists of two two-storey buildings with 16 classrooms, where our youth can be accomodated. The building facing the street will be the female residence under the care of Sr. M. Amparo Villouta, the responsible for the Girls’ Youth in Colombia and Costa Rica and whose email is advillou@uc.cl

The building facing the courtyard will be for the boys and Fr. Pablo Gajardo from Ecuador will be responsible for the house, and he can be contacted on pablogajardo82@gmail.com

The school is 5 minutes away on foot from the parish (1 km) and just a little further to Parque Omar, where confessions and the vocational stand will be located.

The Schoenstatt programme during WYD

On Monday 21 January in afternoon, we will offer Mass at 7pm at San Francisco de la Caleta parish for all those who want to attend.

On Wednesday afternoon, 23 January, we will offer an open meeting (Marian Festival), which we hope will be included in the WYD participants’ handbook. This will take place outside in the parking lot in front of the parish. Fr. Santiago Cacavelos from the Schoenstatt Fathers in Paraguay will be responsible for this event. Once more, if anyone wants to contribute something (especially music), please contact Fr. Santi directly:sancamor@gmail.com.

On Saturday 26, before leaving for the venue of the vigil and closing Mass, we will offer a concelebrated Mass at the school before breakfast.

Registration

Groups and delegations belonging to the Schoenstatt Youth who want to stay at Belisario Porras College, are asked to register in the Macro Grupo Schoenstatt (password: schoenstatt183) and when choosing their package to state that it includes accommodation, either package 1 or 2.

Prior meetings in Costa Rica

Those who want to participate in the earlier meetings that will be held next to the San José Shrine, Costa Rica (HINENI, offered by the Costa Rica Girls’ Youth and IGNIS, international meeting of the Boys’ Youth), should communicate directly with the respective contacts:

Lucy Gacel – Email: gazellucy@gmail.com        Telephone: +506 8710-3238

Mauricio Álvarez – Email: maualvi@gmail.com   Tel: +506 8931-7678

See also this article

Towards World Youth Day in Panama, as Schoenstatt Youth