ARGENTINA, Juan Francisco Miguel – missionary of GM 20 • I do not know if it was an invention, if we imitated it from somewhere or if the desire was stronger. What I can say is that what is happening with the young missionaries over 25 years of age is strong and it is making its own mark in Schoenstatt as well as in the Church. — Many believe that at a certain age one can no longer go on mission. Thus, a kind of “retirement” arises that no one
Read More ARGENTINA, Agustina Suvá • Between December 26 and January 5, more than 400 young people from different provinces of Argentina went on mission. Although everything was going against them because of the increase in the number of cases of COVID at the national level, they were able to carry out the missions… and they were truly a celebration. — Sixty young people from Salta went on mission in El Galpón, eighty from Tucumán in Trancas, 120 from Córdoba in Colona Caroya and 150 from Buenos Aires in Balcarce. They were
Read More COSTA RICA, Milena Fonseca • In the course of a pandemic year, the Eastern Schoenstatt Mission in Costa Rica was reinvented. The missionary spirit remained present to arrive this year at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Santa Cruz de Turrialba even in the midst of adversity and restrictions. — The union of the team and Father Claudio Andres Gomez Martinez, priest of the community, made a new missionary modality possible. The weekend day was replaced by fortnightly visits distributed between the Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning masses. During
Read More CHILE, Natalia Jáuregui / Maria Fischer • “There is another social-educational project: the Father Hernan Alessandri Foundation, which has a large school in the commune of Puente Alto, in Santiago de Chile,” commented Father Francisco Pereira, spiritual director of Maria Ayuda, Chile, a few months ago in an exchange with schoenstatt.org about concrete projects of the development of a new social order, from the Covenant of Love. This is the Colegio José Kentenich in Puente Alto, where 834 boys and girls from the neighborhood are taught. It is a different
Read More PARAGUAY, Patricia Domínguez • Through a labyrinth of paths I came to the Schoenstatt Shrine. I would like to tell you how deeply I remember when I first entered this place of grace, but I do not. I would like to say that I felt a burning in my heart when I gazed at the MTA for the first time, but that is not so. I would like to say that my life has changed forever since that meeting of hearts. But it was not like that. At least I
Read More BOLIVIA, Alexandra Kempff • I could write an article every day on the emotions experienced in preparation for the construction of the Santa Cruz Shrine. From the euphoria and confidence that everything is possible, to the overwhelming doubt of whether we will be able to afford all the projected expenses. In between, a lot of meditation and prayer, listening to Divine Providence, and trying to avoid the confusion caused by our own voices. — Something that at the time simply seemed a curious fact In 2016, while visiting San José
Read More MEXICO, Brenda Rocamontes • After months of preparation, the day finally arrived to begin the mission. Youth from Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Guadalajara, Chuihuahua, Monterrey, and Iguala responded to the Blessed Mother’s call to live Holy Week in “Mexico: Mary’s Light” Missions. More than 500 young people gathered at St. Michael the Archangel parish in Tancanhuitz de Santos, San Luis Potosí and thus began the National Day.— In this encounter, where as Schoenstatt Youth from Mexico, we lived and experienced workshops, activities, and we celebrated the Eucharist together. It
Read More USA, Zachary E. Larson • Austin CARITAS is a 5-day Schoenstatt mission trip hosted yearly in Austin, Texas. The mission began in 2013, inviting university students to serve their city. Missionaries volunteer with charitable organizations during the day, and receive spiritual formation in the evenings, building community throughout the week. Thomas Quintero and Alexander Chunda, of the Life Group “Knights of Our Queen,” led CARITAS 2019. Zachary Larson interviewed them and provides their testimony below.— The Impact of World Youth Day “CARITAS is a mission in Austin TEXAS, inspired by
Read More ARGENTINA, Facundo Gauto (via schoenstatt.org.ar) • On December 26th after a farewell Mass at Carmen Arriola de Marín School, 220 missionaries left from Buenos Aires for Balcarce and its surroundings accompanied by Fr. Manuel López Naón, Fr. Tomás Dell’ Oca, seminarian Juan Molina, and Sr. Rafaela.— A motto in our hearts became action: “I am here because you have called me.” We were seven communities in total, three remained in Balcarce (they stayed in the gardens, but they carried out their activities at San Cayetano, María Auxiliadora and María Luján
Read More COSTA RICA, Rafael and Jessica Pérez de Araya/Michelle Ramírez • Mission Monterrey 2018: Every new activity generates fear, uncertainty, and internal questioning about not knowing what God wants of us and what his will is. However, this never diminished our desire to serve him.— We eagerly prepared spiritually for this important task from the moment we received the first call last February. Despite this, in the days prior to the start of the mission, things crossed our path that frustrated our ability to participate. However, we never lost the eagerness
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