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Valdir Luis Barbosa (der.) Valdir Luis Barbosa (right) Valdir Luis Barbosa (rechts) Foto: Tabor em paginas © 2005 |
BRAZIL, Dona Oneida de Araujo. Close to 25 years of its arrival to northeast Brazil, the Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement is reaping mature fruits of spiritual life and apostolate. The testimony of the life of Valdir Luis Barbosa, who died unexpectedly on the night of November 8, 2004, is a sample of the strength of the Covenant of Love.
Valdir was born on December 9, 1951 in the city of Gravata, Pernambuco. As an adolescent he chose to be a mechanic, without forgetting his studies and the participation in the life of the Church. Since his youth he was in a Salesian group: Community of Christian Youth (CCY), that was assessed by Father Genario Augusto de Melo. At the age of 24 he married Zenilda, and Andreia, who is now 22 years old, was born of this union.Valdir was a simple, humble and very open man. In 1999 he enrolled in the group of Rosary of Men. His participation attracted the attention of everyone because of his great dedication to the Schoenstatt Movement. Trying to deepen into its spirituality, he studied the life of Father Joseph Kentenich. Valdir knew the life of the Founder of Schoenstatt with a certain depth, and also that of Sister Mary Emilie Engel and of Deacon Joao Luiz Pozzobn, for whom he felt great admiration. He held him as a model for his life dedicated to the Movement and his parish community.
Sister Mary Emilie was an example for him
Valdir actively participated in the group of the Rosary of Men. He did not miss his meetings or scheduled activities, and he was in charge of a position in the Commission of Evangelization. He was accustomed to pray the Rosary with the families, with the sick in the hospital and he participated in the eucaristic celebrations in his community. He was also a coordinator of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign, serving as secretary of this organization, in spite of losing his left arm in an accident at work. He also participated in the Choir of the Group of the Mother and Queen. Valdir liked to write. In one of his writings he especially emphasized the work of the woman in the Movement. His role model was Sister Mary Emilie, one of the first Sisters of Mary, who is now in the process of canonization. He also cited some women who collaborate with the Movement today, especially those who have collaborated in the organization of the groups of the Rosary of Men in several cities and parishes in the state of Pernambuco.
The first group of the Rosary of Men in Pernambuco was started by Oneida de Araujo, Coordinator of Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign in the city of Jaboatao dos Guararapes, on March 5, 1997. Immediately other women collaborated, giving an incentive to create groups of Rosary of Men, for example, Joana D'Arc, en Lagoa de Itaenga; Maria do Rosario, en Cajueiro Seco; Leticia, em Gravat; Lucrecia, en Afogados...In his reflections, Valdir said: "These and many other women, have also given their "Yes" to Mary"
Valdir always participated very punctually, in the monthly meeting of the Campaign with Sister Marisa Meister, and he never missed the Interstate Encounters of Coordinators, which took place annually at the end of October or beginning of November. Two days before his unexpected death, at only 53 years of age, he still participated in the General Encounter of Coordinators of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign, close to the Shrine of the New Evangelization in Olinda, Recife, standing out because of his joy and for being full of projects for the future.
Surely, now, he will help to accomplish them from the eternal Schoenstatt, where the Mother and Queen chose to call him at the height of his apostolic activity.
Valdier died on the night of November 8, 2004, leaving in the hearts of his collaborators of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign and especially in the Groups of the Rosary of Men, with whom he totally identified and was committed to, an edifying memory, full of nostalgia...In this way, he also said his "Yes" of Mary for always.
Translation: Celina M. Garza, Harlingen, Texas, USA