COSTA RICA, Carlos Alfaro • The Madrugadores stream of life, which arrived in Costa Rica in 2007, in union with the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign, reached three new dioceses last year: Ciudad Quesada, Puntarenas and Limón, which are added to the Archdiocese of San José and the dioceses of Liberia-Tilarán, Alajuela and Cartago. — In June of last year, the first visit was made to the diocese of Perez Zeledon, the last diocese in the country to be conquered by our beloved Blessed Mother, with the objective of creating new communities
Read More ARGENTINA, Juan Barbosa • The Madrugadores, in Cordoba, gathered last night at the Eucharist to celebrate their first ten years since that November 17, 2012 when they began their early mornings of prayer and, since then, their biweekly meetings have never been interrupted. As they say, “many of us have not come to all the madrugadas but MARY… She has never missed any of them!”. Fr. Juan José Riba, currently 700 km from Cordoba, did not want to miss the event and celebrated a heartfelt Mass of thanksgiving. — Inside…
Read More EL SALVADOR, Lee Aguiñada Bernal • Almost one hundred Salvadoran Schoenstatters gathered to participate in our second National Conference and to reaffirm our apostolic commitment to go out on mission. — Last Saturday, October 29th, we gathered again as one family, all the groups of the branches and apostolates of Schoenstatt El Salvador. The last time we were together was in 2019, which then for reasons of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was impossible to organize it in the same way. An encounter, a journey, a celebration Couples representing the Family
Read More ARGENTINA, Inés Petiti / Maria Fischer • With the presence of thousands of pilgrims from the city and province of Corrientes, from several provinces of Argentina, from Paraguay, Brazil, and Chile, and with many others who were present via live transmission, the long-awaited Schoenstatt Shrine “Tierra de Maria” (Mary’s Land) in Corrientes was blessed on September 11th. — To kick off the blessing of the Shrine in Güemes 1411, where there has been a wayside shrine for many years, several activities took place on Saturday, October 10th. At 2:00 p.m.,
Read More GUATEMALA, Edgar Tórtola • Edgar Tórtola tells his real story of how he met the Madrugadores in El Salvador and how he was instrumental in their founding in Guatemala. — I am Guatemalan, but I was fortunate to work in El Salvador for 27 years at the cement company Holcim until I retired four years ago. At Holcim, I had the opportunity to work with Vinicio Reyes when I was in the concrete department, and little by little we realized that we needed to get closer to God. So, I
Read More COSTA RICA, Carlos Alfaro • The mission of offering madrugadores, as an option of authentic manly religiosity, to more dioceses and parishes in Costa Rica continues. On Friday, June 10, we visited another diocese in Perez Zeledon, and on Monday, June 13, we participated in the first early morning of a community in the diocese of Ciudad Quesada. — We visited Perez Zeledon to take the madrugadores message to the Diocese of San Isidro. We were received by Bishop Juan Miguel Castro Rojas, who was very positive to review and
Read More COSTA RICA/Schoenstatt, Hugo García • Trusting, resting…like this little bird that perches securely on the cross of the bell tower of the Shrine, from my window in Marienland, I begin to understand better what it means to have complete and total trust, what is “Blank check Surrender”, the “Practical Faith in Divine Providence”…already in a totally practical and experiential way in my today. I hope, I trust, I pray, I believe! — This great experience lived during these days in Schoenstatt, Germany, began with the gratifying announcement by Father José
Read More ARGENTINA, Claudia Echenique/Tita Ríos • A new wayside shrine of Our Lady of Schoenstatt has been erected on the banks of the Paraná River in the town of Villa Urquiza, province of Entre Ríos. The initiative emerged from the Madrugadores of the region and was coordinated together with the Villa Urquiza City Hall for its construction. — On Saturday, June 4, Archbishop Juan Alberto Puiggari went to bless it and accompanied the group of the Madrugadores, several neighbors of the place, brothers, and sisters of the Shrine of La Loma,
Read More ARGENTINA, Juan Barbosa • In the midst of a pandemic and forced quarantine, the Madrugadores of the Holy Christ began their community with an enthusiasm that only Mary and the Holy Christ can inspire. With a paced growth, these men have great goals and not a few achievements. Their dream: to continue to grow and reach more men’s hearts! — God acts through second causes A visit to the then Archbishop of Córdoba, Mons. Carlos José Ñañez, motivated the Secretary of the Audience to express her interest in having Madrugadores
Read More COSTA RICA, Hugo García • On the weekend of March 17 to 19, the celebration of the fifth anniversary of the blessing of the Familia de Esperanza Schoenstatt Shrine in Costa Rica took place. As part of the celebration, the Madrugadores of the Shrine were once again present and united with the entire family. With great joy and happiness in our hearts we got up early to show our Blessed Mother with actions that we are humble instruments in her hands and that we want her to educate us, shelter
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