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Participantes del Rosario de Hombres en el Santuario de Olinda, Recife, Brasil Participants of the Rosary of Men, in the Shrine in Olinda, Recife, Brazil Teilnehmer des Rosenkranzes der Männer im Heiligtum in Olinda, Recife, Brasilien |
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Torta de fiesta del primer aniversario del rosario de hombres en la parroquia de Cruz de Rebouças, PE Feastday cake at the first anniversary of the rosary of men at the parish in de Cruz de Rebouças, PE Festtagstorte beim ersten Jahrestag des Rosenkranzes der Männer in der Pfarrei von de Cruz de Rebouças, PE Fotos: Tabor em paginas © 2005 |
BRAZIL Carlos Alves. The Holy Spirit has shown itself to be extremely creative in the Church throughout these years. The Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement is also experiencing this impulse of the Spirit in its ranks. When it seemed impossible to again bring men close to the Church, suddenly a new apostolate, typically masculine surges. It is called "Rosary of Men". At the same time of its unexpected irruption, this apostolate grows with an impressive speed in all of Brazil. Carlos Alves, General Coordinator of the Rosary for Men in the Archdiocese of Olinda/Recife, speaks about its beginnings and the objective of the Rosary of Men, as a new sprout of life.
The Rosary of Men was born of a very fruitful seed launched by the Deacon Joao Luiz Pozzobon. It was on September 10,1950, at the moment he received the large Pilgrim MTA to take to the families, hospitals, school, prisons, that this seed began to germinate.
The first restlessness that Joao Luiz Pozzobon felt was converting himself into an instrument willing to take the Blessed Mother every possible
place. The concrete manner of reaching the people was through the prayer of the Holy Rosary. With this, in some way, at that moment he was planting the seed of the Rosary of Men, that is so fruitful for the Schoenstatt Movement, especially because through the years, in the Rosary Campaign, generally speaking, it was the custom that mostly women would come to pray the Rosary.
Since Joao's time a group of men had formed around him that grew to number approximately 100 participants. It was among them that the idea to make Pilgrim MTA's to take to the families to pray the Rosary was born, in this way beginning the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign. It is also known that in the end, of that group of men, Joao was left alone. Even so, he persevered in his mission because, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, he knew his responsibility.
Fruit of the Rosary of Men
In 1996, in Maceio/Al>, Jurandir de Oliveira, the current Coordinator of the Archdiocese of Campana of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign, initiated by Father Miguel Lecastre, Portugese, Schoenstatt Father, who works in Brzail, implemented the Rosary of Men in that city, uniting up to 60 men with the objective of praying the Rosary. But, the Rosary was only prayed every two weeks, and little by little the men became unmotivated to keep their commitment; some because of the distance that separated them from the place. In this way over time this group began to dwindle. In 1997, incredilbe as it may seem, the Rosary of Men was implemented in Jaboatao dos Guararapes/PE, by a woman, Dona Oneida, a Rosary Campaign Coordinator, who also participated in the Interstate Encounter of that year in Igarassu. Seeing the task that Jurandir en Maceio accomplished, she took this initiative to her community of Jaboatao, forming a group of Rosary of Men that has lasted until now. Immediately, Father Jose Pontes, who at that time collaborated in the Northeast, started with a group of Rosary for Men in the MTA Shrine in Olinda, on the last Tuesdays of the month. Father Jose Pontes received the valuable collaboration of Mr. Antonio Medeiros Costa Filho, may he rest in peace, (+13.03.2000), father of Rodrigo, a seminarian of the Schoenstatt Fathers from the city of Olinda.
The secret of its fruitfulness - the Shrine
At the beginning, the Rosary was prayed once a month, but later on, the men felt the need to meet weekly to pray the Rosary, an idea that was unanimously supported by those who participated. Futhermore, as they saw that it was a very strong initiative, with a very broad participation, they decided to spread the Rosary of Men in other parishes, and communities, with which several groups were formed, that are still functioning today.
The secret of its fruitfulness is because of its bond with the Shrine of the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt and the graces that the men receive from this place. It is about, therefore; of a "Cristocentric" apostolate but it is preceded by the Blessed Mother, as a great intercessor. From there the fruits surge with an impressive speed. As Joao, himself, said, the Blessed Mother is in haste, such a great haste that her children cannot keep up. This group grew and is stronger every day. This growth is due, in a great part, to the support that the apostolate of the Rosary of Men has received from the Schoenstatt Fathers. But is also because of the approval and the incentive, in the Archdiocese of Olinda/Recife, of Archbishop, Monsignor Jose Cardos Sobrinho, and also of the Auxiliary Bishop, Monsignor Antonio Fernando Saburido, along with other Bishops from other dioceses where groups of the Rosary of Men have surged, for example, in Caruaru, Joao Pessoa, Frtalez, Alto do Sertao and Salgueiro, among others.
This support has been important, as well as the encouraging words and blessing imparted recently by Monsignor Jose Ivo Lorscheiter, Bishop Emeritus of Santa Maria/ RS, during the celebration of the Congress that took place on the occasion of the Centennial of Joao Luiz Pozzobon in September of last year. In this way, they received the support of the current Diocesan Bishop of Santa Maria, Monsignor Helio Rubert, and of Father Marcel Rossi, with whom they met in Sao Paulo, on the return trip from the Congress of Joao, who was elated with the dimension of this marvelous apostolate, about which he wanted to learn in more detail.
Swift rhythm of growth, with 126 groups
But, above all, it is important that the groups of the Rosary for Men get the support of the pastors, given that this apostolate is characterized by their obedience to the hierarchy of the Church, making it each time more fruitful.
For this, in Olinda/Recife a Diocesan Coordination exists, whose task is to direct, guide, and watch over the rapid growth of the groups of the Rosary of Men, and at the same time take care of the number of participants so that this apostolate does not deflower at the root of the rapid rhythm of growth. It is perceived that there is a need for the apostolate of the Rosary of Men to be better organized and orderly. As of today, there are 126 groups of Rosary of Men officially registered, extended principally in the Northeast, although they are some in other states of Brazil. In Fortaleza/CE, the Rosary of Men is growing with great intensity, as it is in Teresina/PL, in Pernambuco and in Alto Sertao. Today there are 13,000 men who pray the Rosary weekly.
That is why, it is recognized that there is an overflow of capacity to guide the number of persons as it should be, at the same time conscious that the number will continue to grow, they are therefore striving to guide these groups more efficiently, and with every day that passes the number of groups keeps growing everywhere.
This statistics are for the whole country, although the majority - approximately 90% - come from the Northeast. In the meantime, there are great expectations that the Rosary of Men will also grow in the South, the East and the West of Brazil, especially after conversing with people from all over the country at the Centennial Congress of Joao Luiz Pozzobon, in Santa Maria, where they had the opportunity of presenting the Rosary of Men and distributing informative pamphlets and enrollment forms, not only among Brazilian participants, but also among those from other countries.
Many persons seemed interested, fundamentally outstanding were the ecclesiastic authorities who were present, who perceived the importance of this apostolate, manifesting their desire to incorporate it in their regions or countries. On October of 2004 they also took part in the Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly of Olinda/Recife, where, for their joy, the Rosary of Men was included in the third Operative Objective, that is the Gospel, the Liturgy and Charity. In the meantime, the Rosary of Men became in the Archdiocese the official and operative way of taking the Gospel to the people and to the communities.
On the other hand, they felt the need of meeting more often. The "First National Encounter of the Prayer Group of Rosary of Men" of Brazil which will take place in the Sports Stadium of Recife, Geraldao, on May 29, 2005, is already scheduled. This stadium has a capacity of 15,000 persons. "We are sure", the organizers affirm, "that we will fill it, in this way demonstraing the force of the apostolate of the Rosary of Men.
Objective of the Rosary of Men
The objective is precisely to make that seed that was sown by Deacon Joao Luiz Pozzobon bloom and give fruit, it is important to mention, an active participation in the New Evangelization, which is a mission of the Shrine in Olinda/Recife. They not only committ to pray the rosary, but also to promote a change of life and a transformation of the atmosphere in which they work and live.
While representing the Rosary of Men, each one is invited to fundamentally watch over, the family and the community, with the incentive of cultivating fraternity, becoming brothers to all. With enormous happiness, they can affirm that they have accomplished this, mainly taking the Gospel, given that to pray the rosary always incorporates the proclamation of the Word of the God, especially of the Gospel. From there they are truly bearers of the Word and fraternal community, with a fully active participation in all the meetings of the men.
Concrete cases of transformation
There are many concrete examples of transformation among the men that participate in the Rosary, persons who have totally changed their attitude of life. Here are some testimonies sent during the meetings for praying the rosary:
There was a family in which the lady prayed the rosary daily, and the husband did not in the least pay attention, he took no notice of it and he did not respect his spouse. This man owned a van, and on one occasion he was contracted to take a group of men to the Shrine to participate in the Rosary of Men. When he returned to pick up the men he stayed outside until the Rosary was finished so he could take them on the return trip, but he could hear the prayer of the rosary over the loudspeaker. In that way, without realizing it, he didn't have a choice, so he had to participate in the Rosary. Since that day, this man became an active member of the Rosary. He reconciled with his family and now he brings the men in his van, without charging for the trip and he happily participates in the Rosary.
There is another case, about a man who always carried a weapon in his pocket. One day, while taking out the weapon, he also took out a rosary. It was at this moment that he questioned himself, feeling that he should decide between the rosary or the weapon. Since that day, he left the weapon aside and today his weapon is the rosary.
Another very strong testimony took place in Garanhuns/PE, with a friend, a member of the Rosary of Men. He was driving his automobile and it plunged over a cliff, rolling over five times. The automobile was completely destroyed. He was wearing his seat belt, so he was saved. When he took his head out of the wreckage that covered him, the first thing he saw was the rosary that he was carrying, he took it in his hands. At that moment he was conscious that it was the rosary that had saved him.
There were also members who were not baptized, other had not made their First Communion, others had not gone to confession for years. Through their participation in the Rosary, they began to assume a stronger commitment with the Church, and they began to normalize their religious life.
A colleague who was to undergo a heart transplant was depressed and without any hope of survival. He was young, only 29 years old. He went to the Shrine and he asked the Blessed Mother to help, and although not really wanting to, he underwent the heart transplant. It has been three years since he had it and to he regularly participates in the Rosary of Men. He is in a perfect state of health and he did not suffer from rejection of the new organ.
There many more testimonies to cite, but these were enough to demonstrate that Rosary of Men has accomplished its objective in it apostolic pilgrimage. In the future, over the months, we will share more of this new divine initiative of graces.
Source: Tabor wem pagina magazine, Brazil
Translation: Celina M. Garza, Harlingen, Texas, USA