PORTUGAL, red. In 1977 the Catholic Family Missions began in Chile inspired by the spirituality of the Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement. Over the years, these missions have spread out into many other Latin American countries, and wherever the Schoenstatt Movement is present as well as Europe and of course Portugal.
The main motivation behind the project of the Family Missions was to seek a concrete experience of faith between parents and children outside the exclusive family atmosphere and to give witness to the joy of the Christian family beyond their usual lives. On the other hand, the idea that the Family Missions are an expression of the reality of the Church was always present, since the family is the domestic church, called to take the love of God to all men/women.
Repeating the words of our beloved St. John Paul II, “The Christian family that is not missionary, is not Christian.”
EIn synthesis and for all these reasons, the Catholic Family Missions are prepared and experienced as a large extended family. At a particular time, they opt to leave the comfort of their homes and to live in a large family that prays in community and shares their goods. It is a rich inner experience of spirituality and of service to others, along with a true missionary experience toward the outside by announcing the Good News through Mother Mary of the Missions.
The family, seed of joy
In 2012 and 2013, the Catholic Family Missions were carried out in the Sobral de Monte Agraco. This year they were carried out in Coruche, from August 23-30, with the motto “The Family, Seed of Joy”. The group of seventy missionaries made up of six families accompanied by some youths and Fathers Tiago Frescata, José Aravena and Miguel Kast stayed at the Coruche Bullring.
The group was divided into communities that visited homes, day-centers, and daycare centers, daily. They made door-to-door visits to people who are alone; they invigorated the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign, among other activities. The group was responsible for a daily Mass at the parish church at 7:00 p.m.
A “sports afternoon” organized at the municipal pavilion with dozens of youths from Coruche participating. The subject, “Conversations with God,” was promoted, in which the subject of the family was addressed through very meaningful testimonies. During the week, a missionary team presented the drama “Carta al Abuelo” (A Letter to Grandfather”) which was very successful with more than 200 people attending.
A Rosary pilgrimage along the Sorraia River ended the week in a big way with substantial participation from the entire local community, including the many Pilgrim MTAs of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign that circulate throughout the region. A boat led the pilgrimage with a stand holding the Pilgrim MTA decorated with paper flowers and the name of all the people who had been contacted during the mission week.
Source: http://www.lisboa.schoenstatt.pt
Original: Portuguese – Translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX USA
