ARGENTINA, Father Tommy Dell`Occa. Once again hundreds of youths gave up part of their summer to the Blessed Mother, and with the Pilgrim MTA in hand, they went out to travel the streets of different towns in Argentina. They were from Cordoba, Buenos Aires, Tucumán, Chaco, Mendoza, La Plata, Salta, Mar de Plata, Entre Rios…there was much diversity, but with a single desire: To take Christ and Mary to every house, to every person, to every corner of our country. Many of them spent the New Year on mission, no better way to begin 2013, our Year of Mission.
In my case, I accompanied a great group from Tucumán and Salta who formed a part of the IGNIS MARIAE group. It was our second year in Santa Ana, a town located one hundred kilometers from the capital of Tucumán. It was very hot, approximately two hundred fifty youths were divided into six communities; they went on mission from December 26th to January 4th. The motto that accompanied us this year was EXTEND YOUR HAND, Jesus’ words taken from the Gospel of Saint Luke. This time, Jesus’ words were said to us.
The encounter with Jesus had a covenant modality
Extend your hand means to get out of oneself and to become involved with the reality of others. Jesus never wanted to do anything without the collaboration of man. In order to perform any of the miracles, he waited for a man/woman to take the first step… to believe, to do his/her part, to trust in God, to welcome him in their home. In so doing, Jesus encountered many people, but not everyone extended their hand to welcome him
This is the challenge that we face today. In a country, where everyone sees his/her side, in which many times generosity is missing in relationships, Jesus asks us to extend our hands. So we hold his hand strongly, and therefore we realize that with Him at our side everything is much easier.
Covenant with the youths from Santa Ana
It was an experience in extending a hand to so many people. Especially to the youths of Santa Ana, who are accosted by problems such as drugs and alcohol. It was an experience in which one realizes that it is only possible in the first place because Mary extends her hand to us.
English translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, Texas
