ARGENTINA, Juan Barbosa •
In Córdoba, the Mediterranean of Argentina, 161 Madrugadores from seven provinces met over a weekend to bond, pray, and grow on the path of holiness; a call that every Christian should question in his heart. Six priests accompanied the gathering, three Catholic businessmen gave testimony of their activity and Archbishop Carlos José Ñañez celebrated the main Eucharist. It was a feast for the soul! —
Joy, emotions, and testimonies
Seeing them arrive indicated the three days they would spend together would be “glorious.” In every room, five members from different communities were represented since there were no two from the same community. It was moving to see them talk late into the night about every community’s experiences (despite being “challenged by the others!). Although many did not know one another, the love for Mary and prayer made them brothers in solidarity.
Three Catholic businessmen related their experiences. Without expressly seeking it, they started from the base of “Faith in Divine Providence (an underlying Schoenstatt tenet – a legacy of its Founder), accepting many risks “although one mortal leap followed another.” Another imperative inherited by the family from Fr. Joseph Kentenich.
Warm applause “saved” the presenters during their emotional moments as they relived and retold their experiences. The conclusion was: to give thanks daily for the Faith.
In his presentation, “St. Joseph, model father in a world without fathers,” Fr. Juan José Riba allowed the participants to reflect on their present and to provide tools toward the future to practice fatherhood…in every field.
Path of prayer—the Rosary
In a homily filled with expressions of gratitude, suggestions and motivations, the Archbishop of Córdoba urged the participants to continue on that path of manly prayer that mainly includes the Holy Rosary, as a way to increase hope and the strength to build a country that day by day gets better and closer to Jesus Christ and his Mother.
It was moving to see seven celebrants and to hear the choir from the Carmen School sing songs from the famous Misa Criolla Argentina, sprinkled with compositions of the Brocheriana Cantata (which alludes to St. José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero, the first Argentinean saint).
At the end, the choir director, Prof. Tristán Malbrán, directed a piece, and then another two which made the whole gathering give free rein to their joy by singing.
Everything has an ending—everything ends
The closing Mass was held in Villa Warcalde’s Solidarity Shrine (that will soon be 50 years old and is the “first one in the world to be blessed by Fr. Kentenich from heaven”), and it was accompanied by different Schoenstatt Family members. It was a real celebration, although the farewell caused some sadness!
Unending hugs (many times repeated), “selfies”, group photos, and laughter among other things crowned the end of this gathering with a motto: We will see each other in 2019 in Mar del Plata! In addition, surely none of those present will miss it and many more will attend.
Madrugadores:
A male prayer group that meets on a schedule set by every community and next year they will celebrate the 30th year since their founding in Rancagua, Chile.
Original: Spanish. 25 August 2018. Translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX USA. Edited: Melissa Peña-Janknegt, Elgin, TX USA
