BRAZIL, Fabio Alves vía jumasbrasil.com.br •
During 14 – 16 July 2017, eight representatives of the Schoenstatt Boys’ and Girls’ Youth (JUMAS and JUFEM) carried out the first Missionary Week for the Diocese of Santo Ângelo.
Missionary Week began on the 14th at 6:00 p.m. with the Schoenstatt youth in charge of praying the Rosary. That night there were confessions, and the first day closed with Holy Mass and the sending forth of the youths to the homes of the families who offered to put them up.
On the morning of the 15th, Fr. Rafael José Backes and Fr. Adriano Maslowski provided training for the young missionaries. Then the missionaries were sent forth to a Home for the Elderly, the Parcela, where help with recuperation for dependents is given, and to Boa Esperanza neighborhood. The day ended with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Cathedral, where the youths could place all the petitions and prayers that they offered for those missioned in Jesus’ hands.
Holy Mass in the Cathedral
The activities of the 16th began with Fr. Adriano celebrating Holy Mass in the Cathedral, the intention was in thanksgiving for the 75 years of the Schoenstatt Family Work, which the Schoenstatt Movement of Santo Ângelo encourages.
After Holy Mass, the youths gathered in the curia to share the groups’ experiences in the different places where they visited, and the mission finished by sending forth the youths to their cities and families.
I fulfilled my Christian duty of bringing people to God
Two members of the Schoenstatt Youth presented their testimonies about this mission, which was carried out jointly with other charisms, but with one faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Filipe Feldkircher de Azambuja, a member of the Boys’ Youth relates: “What marked me the most was the moment when a man sitting on the street, with very humble clothes, upon seeing us, immediately asked us if we could pray with him. We accepted the request instantly. When we offered him the opportunity to pray to the Mother of God, his eyes filled with tears, and he told us that he would like for Mary to bless him with work. When we finished our prayer, he told us that in his fifty years of life, it was the first time that he saw someone carrying this out. We left with the feeling of fulfillment. I fulfilled my Christian duty of bringing people closer to God, from the richest ones to the neediest.”
Taiane Zancan, a member of the Girls’ Youth commented: “The missions carried out this weekend gave me very striking experiences. My group was responsible for Boa Esperanza neighborhood, and we had the opportunity to visit several families. Singing and praying with those people, seeing the joy, and even the tears of emotion on their faces, made me really see that we can be Christ for others. In the same way, I saw Christ in these people. The mission did as much good for me as it did for them, and perhaps more. Our beloved Blessed Mother went before us, and the Holy Spirit spoke through us. By the way, my heart has been inundated by everything that summarizes our Catholic: love (caritas). “And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.” (Corinthians: 13:2).
Source: www.jumasbrasil.com.br
Original: Portuguese, 21 July 2017. Translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX USA. Edited: Melissa Peña-Janknegt, Elgin, TX
