URUGUAY, Lucía Nuñez. The morning of February 25th was one of those days that went down in history for the Schoenstatt Family of Uruguay. After several years of work and effort, one of the Movement’s most cherished dreams came true: the inauguration of the Liceo Providencia Papa Francisco (Providence Pope Francis High School) in the Casabó neighborhood (Montevideo).
More than 300 people, eager to see the new high school’s facilities,participated in the touching ceremony.
Youths from the Youth Center greeted the guests at the door with a smile, glad to share the reason for their joy with others.
Relatives, neighbors, government authorities, political leaders and businessmen did not want to miss this unique moment.
They had accomplished building the high school together, and they came to celebrate it together.
Here we have plenty of dreams
“Providence emerged as the opportunity to offer a response to the challenges which these youths face day to day,” said Fabián Roizen, the principal of Providence High School. “It is our obligation and our objective to be an Educational Center of excellence. But we cannot do it alone. As we say at Providence: “Nothing without You, nothing without us,” added Diego Bonomi, president of the Providence Civil Association.
“We are here because things are being accomplished. That is the reason we want to celebrate, and we want to express gratitude. And the best way to express gratitude to you is to invite you to see the life that there is here, what truly beats in this place. Here we have plenty of dreams. Everyday we have much life to receive, to awaken and to give,” added Luis Arocha, Educational Director of the Youth Center.
Do not be satisfied with a mediocre life
In conclusion, the representatives of the high school especially addressed the youths, expressing gratitude to them for entrusting the destiny of their education in Providence and motivating them to seek their own dreams. “As Pope Francis says: ‘do not be satisfied with a mediocre life.’ Prepare yourselves to be personalities who will transcend in the future, for your good, of your family, of our beloved Uruguay,” Bonomi said.
“We are inviting you for this, to own your future. In having the freedom, with the opportunities that you are given, to choose from where you want to contribute to Uruguay. From which you want to build this country, this neighborhood, your house, everything,” Arocha concluded.
During this year, seventy youths have had the opportunity of getting a free education at Providence High School, academically as well as in the Schoenstatt values. As a family, let us ask the Blessed Mother for all her blessings, so that she will support each one of these youths on their educational journey, and also that they continue to be strengthened as instruments capable of transforming the world and of taking the love of the Father to more places.
Archbishop Daniel Sturla of Montevideo, Daniel Sturla concluded the ceremony with a blessing.
Original Spanish: Translation Celina M. Garza San Antonio, TX USA
