ARGENTINA, Nestor Reitano. “This Lady insisted on visiting her house and there was nothing I could do but bring her along!” This was one of the many comments heard at Villa Bastia, Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina from 20 – 26 January 2014. These comments unlocked doors and melted many hearts, such that 120 missionaries gained entrance to many homes.
Practising Catholics, atheists, our separated brothers and sisters, and non-practicing Catholics, received the young missionaries, led by our Lady of Schoenstatt in their homes under the theme, “Your Covenant, Our Mission.” They exchanged ideas, received and provided catechism, listened to each person’s dreams and needs and found common meeting ground for our separated brothers and sisters in more than 250 homes. The goal (which was successfully obtained) was to leave a Marian Corner in each home where our Lord and His beloved Mother can become present.
On the first day, the missionaries handed out bottles of holy water and taught the people how to bless their children with it. They also handed out booklets containing simple prayers and the Rosary. On the second day, they gave out candles with a picture of a dove, representing the Holy Spirit. On the third day, families got an image of the Holy Cross and on the last day they received a picture of the Blessed Mother and a small prayer so that each family could consecrate themselves to her.
Queen of the Family Missions Mendoza
There were activities for the youth and children as well a jumble sale for clothes where the prices ranged from two to five pesos. The proceeds were used to buy twenty bibles and five New Testaments which were then donated to the parish to help with catechesis.
Each day the Eucharist was celebrated in one of the venues hosting the the mission, and the particular intentions included the sick, the dead, and family. On Friday the Mass intention in a very poor area that borders the town dump was for employment. On this occasion, an image of St. Cayetano was blessed and then taken in procession (approximately three kilometers) to the school where the missionaries were staying. They crowned her in a small grotto at the entrance to the school.
The mission ended with a large Mass for everyone in town, during which about twenty children were baptized and Our Lady of Schoenstatt was crowned as “Queen of the Family Missions Mendoza”. The crown included the symbol of four people who are very important for the missionaries in Mendoza: Pope Francis, Blessed John Paul II, Don Joao Pozzobon (founder of the Pilgrim Mother Campaign for the movement of Schoenstatt) and Hector “Coco” Ricciardi (Schoenstatt missionary whose sole objective throughout his life was to take the Blessed Mother to each house and each heart). A picnic lunch for everyone brought the mission to an end, and this was accompanied by traditional songs and folk dances.
Going on Family Missions
The missionary group consists of about 100 teenagers aged 14 and above, six or seven married couples with their children and several other adults who prepared the logistical aspect of the missions. The teenagers were mostly split proportionally among the couples, who were responsible for providing the emotional support for the young people in their groups and became their “missionary parents.”
Each family was assigned a particular area for their missionary work, giving rise to the name “Family Missions”. This year the group was also accompanied by the parish priest of the place, a deacon and a Schoenstatt Father. The teenagers came from different parishes, schools and Catholic movements, just like the married couples.
The inner spirituality of the mission was clearly Schoenstatt-centred.
Three-year missionaries
Each participant (if he is able to pay) is charged 150 pesos (about US$12) for all expenses during the seven days of the mission. This raises about 10.000 pesos of the 50.000 needed for the mission, which means that the rest was donated by the Movement, generous hearts, companies, organizations, parishes and religious movements.
These missions take place in the same place for three years running. During the first year, as has been mentioned, a Marian Corner is left in in each home. The following year, the people are prepared for the “Covenant” with the Blessed Mother, explaining that there is an exchange of interests, where we look after our Mother’s interests and she looks after ours. In the final year, the Marian Corners are blessed as Home Shrines from where the Blessed Mother pours out her graces of a home, transformation and an apostolic mission. After the three years, the missionaries ask the Archbishop to assign them to a new mission location.
The missions have been running for 13 years and we can already boast two “children” — another group of family missions from Tupungato and a group of university missions “Via Iesum” which brings together young people who loved the family missions (and are waiting for the time when they continue as married couples). Both of these groups are two years old.
Of course, moneys is always needed, but Mary makes sure it can be raised, but we ask all those who read this article for “many, many, many prayers.”
For further questions or suggestions, contact misionesfamiliaresmendoza@gmail.com
Original: Spanish – Translation: Kohnie Valerrama, Madrid, Spain
