Invitación a la ordenación, interior Brochure with the invitation to the ordination, interior Einladung zur Priesterweihe, Innenseite
Invitación, frente: símbolo del Espiritu Santo de la capilla del Noviciado en Tuparenda Cover: symbol of the Holy Spirit from the chapel of the Novitiate in Tuparenda Vorderseite: Heilig-Geist-Symbol aus der Kapelle des Noviziates in Tuparenda
Oración con letra de Severino Prayer with Severino's handwritten prayer request Gebetsbildchen mit der handschriftlichen Bitte von Severino um Begleitung Fotos: Cabral © 2004
Agosto de 2003, Londrina: ordenación diaconal de Severino dos Ramos Lima Araujo August 2003, Londrina: deacon's ordination of Severino dos Ramos Lima Araujo August 2003, Londrina: Diakonatsweihe von Severino dos Ramos Lima Araújo
Uno de los pasos hacia la ordenación sacerdotal One of the many steps towards ordination Einer der vielen Schritte auf dem Weg zum Priestertum
Acompañadme rezando esta oración Accompany me praying this prayer Begleitet mich mit  diesem Gebet…
Entonces la capilla en Londrina, en mayo la capilla de la Madre y Reina... Then it was the chapel in Londrina, in May the feast will be in the chapel of the Mother and Queen Damals die Kapelle in Londrina, im Mai ist es die Kapelle der Mutter und Königin... Fotos: Wosny © 2004

BRAZIL, Javier Cabral. On May 29^th, 2004 a new Schoenstatt Father will be ordained, which means a lot of happiness for the Schoenstatt Family all over the world. His name is Severino dos Ramos Lima Araujo. His ordination will take place in his birthplace, Joao Pessoa, in the state of Paraiba, Brazil. Severino dos Ramos Lima Araujo is the first vocation for the Schoenstatt Fathers in this part of Brazil.

We met Severino in 1996 when he was still a novice, and together with his "Ita Sion" course stayed in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, on several occasions. He impressed us by his strong voice when he sang songs in Portuguese.

An encounter with Severino in Londrina

We met the Deacon Severino in Londrina, in February 2004, on the last Saturday before Carnival. We were in the Shrine and he was leaving in a hurry. He greeted us as he passed by and explained he had a wedding to celebrate and was already late. The following day we met him again in the Shrine in Londrina. He had a Bible with a leather cover bearing the symbol of Tuparenda, Paraguay. He invited us to come to the Fathers' house in the evening to share some pizza, conversation and to remember the old times.

The invitations for the ordination

During our dinner, together with Father Ottomar Schneider, Father Ignacio Cruz, Father Vandemir Meister and Mr. Daniel Ventura, a student of the Schoenstatt Fathers, Severino gave us the invitation to his ordination. It reads:

"The Institute of the Schoenstatt Father and the Lima Araujo Family, have the pleasure to invite you to participate in the Eucharist, in which the Church, through the hands of Jose Maria Pires, Archbishop Emeritus of Paraiba, will ordain Severino dos Ramos Lima Araujo a priest.

The celebration will take place on 29^th May 2004, Pentecost Eve, at 7:30PM at the "Cathedral Basilica Nossa Senhora das Neves", Praca Dom Ulrico, Joao Pessoa’s city centre, Paraiba.

With my prayers, I thank you for your support and company in this time of preparation for becoming a priest of Christ, and I ask you once more for your prayers toward the fruitfulness of my priestly service."

The invitation also mentions that his First Mass will take place on May 30^th , at 9:00 AM in the Chapel of the Mother and Queen in Joao Pessoa.

On the invitation cover there is a drawing of the Holy Spirit Symbol that can be found in the Novitiate Chapel of Tuparenda, Paraguay.

The Chapel of the Mother and Queen… seating for 1200 people.

Daniel, the Brazilian student, mentioned that the chapel, built especially for Severino’s First Mass celebration has a seating capacity of 1200. This gives us an idea of the importance of the ordination of a priest for this community.

How can we accompany Severino from the distance?

The ideal would be that all members of the Schoenstatt family could be together with him on the day of his ordination, but this is not possible. We can though accompany him in another way. How?

Severino gave us a leaflet with the Prayer to the Holy Spirit and a hand-written request on it: "Accompany me by praying this prayer… Thank you … Severino".

I think this is an excellent opportunity for us to feel like a family, for us to be together with Severino from anywhere in the world praying the Prayer to the Holy Spirit in any chosen language.

We can also accompany him in this stage sending him a message, in any language, through the Press Office in Schoenstatt (PressOffice@schoenstatt.de) and they will make sure Severino gets the messages.

On the May 29^th, Severino’s ordination day, an Illuminated Rosary will be offered in the Adoration Church in Schoenstatt, accompanying him in prayer.

The ordination… a very important step in the long way of a vocation

Since April 1995, when he became a novice, until May 2004, there have been years of perseverance in the faith and vocation that have brought him to this very happy moment.

I believe Severino deserves our greetings and prayers for this achievement and faithfulness in the upcoming new stage in his life as a Schoenstatt Father. It is important to share this message.

Translation: Flavia Cammarota, Glasgow, Scotland/Paula Dudgeon, MN, USA