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Campamento Nacional de la Juventud Femenina de Argentina National Meeting of the Girls’ Youth in Argentina Landestreffen der Mädchenjugend von Argentinien |
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Tiempo de encuentro y comunidad: almuerzo Noon meal, a time to meet and live community Mittagessen, Zeit zur Begegnung und Gemeinschaftspflege |
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En la gruta At the grotto An der Grotte |
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Misión ... Mission ... Mission ... |
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...con la Virgen Peregrina ...with the Pilgrim MTA ...mit der Pilgernden Gottesmutter |
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Villa Warcalde, Misa Villa Warcalde, Mass Messe in Villa Warcalde Fotos: Hna M Jasmín © 2005 |
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ARGENTINA, Sr. M. Jazmin. From January 3rd -10th, 2005, the Girls' Youth from Argentina held its National Camp in Alta Gracia, Cordoba. Motivated by the motto for 2004 "One Heart in the Father", the organizer group, "Cor Unum", composed of representatives from almost all the dioceses that have Girls' Youth, did an excellent job of motivating and organizing the camp. 170 girls from all the country participated and were accompanied by six Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, Father Guillermo Mario Cassone, Father Marcelo Gallardo, and the Pastor of the Lourdes Grotto Parish located a few blocks from the Colony were they were staying. They were also accompanied by five German girls, and one Swiss Girl who were volunteering for some months in Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil and who delighted everyone with their songs and joyfulness.
This year there were two simultaneous camps on the same site. The house was ideal for this because it permitted them to have separate activites for the the most part, but they could also share much time together. The University Girls were on side and the Secondary Girls were on the other side. They shared days of outings, missionary work, and some bonfires. During the morning they worked on the formative part through talks, panels, and workshops that allowed them to deepen a different value each day, and at the same time to work with one of the parts of their branch symbol The workshop of prayer in the afternoon and the Holy Mass at the end of the day were the strongest moments of encounter with God and the Blessed Mother and with a profound communion with each of their branch sisters. Also the hours of Adoration and having an excellent Camp Shrine were incredible experiences of fraternal communion with God whose infinite love could be seen reflected in the Sierras of Cordoba which surrounded them.
Evangelizing the homes and nursing homes in the area
On January 6th they had a day of retreat. The University Girls stayed at the colony and the Secondary Girls were divided into two groups, some stayed at the colony to participate in the workshop on the Personal Ideal, and the rest went to the Lourdes Grotto concluding with a beautiful Eucharistic Adoration.
In the afternoons they enjoyed the swimming pool, the beautiful cascade, and the radiant sun in Alta Gracia. During this time they also deepened the bonds among themselves and they had a very good time. They also enjoyed the bonfires and their outing to the spa, Los Aromos. They dedicated an entire day to do missionary work visiting the homes and nursing homes in the area. Divided into groups they gave a message of faith, joy and hope to all the people the Blessed Mother placed in their way. At the same time they invited them to Tajamar where there would be time for prayer for the adults and games for the children. It was more difficult to evangelize among the youth. They had prepared some workshops, but they were not able to present them because of lack of interest, but they found an alternative, music, and with songs they sowed a seed in their hearts that perhaps one day will give fruit. They also gave out rosaries and holy cards of the Blessed Mother. In all their work of evangelization the Pilgrim MTA Shrine," the great missionary, who works miracles", was present. It was a spectular experience in which they were able to prove that they were not afraid to give testimony to their ideals. They ended their day of evangelization with Holy Mass in the Parish of Mercy and a long walk back to the colony.
At last a worthy name
The following day was historic for the Girls' Youth of Argentina because the Secondary Girls were no longer called "secondary" because they discovered the name that Father wanted to give them. They had already begun this search at the cascade where they completed various activities that helped them discover the values that they wanted to live in society. The two values that emerged unanimously as the most important were: Heroism and Purity. Then the most desired task began: to begin formulating the future name that would identify them and would help them to live in an original way the beautiful branch ideal: Daughter of the Father, Builder of the Kingdom. After much searching and discussing, they found the symbol that identified all of them: Dawn.
Why Dawn? Because it takes a lot of heroism to overcome the night and it is also a reflection of Sun. The rays of dawn (daybreak) can cross mud without getting soiled therefore; they remain pure.This was the broad outline of the content that they later formed into their consecration prayer. The University Girls were very curious to know the name, but they did not want to mention it because they wanted to ask at a more solemn moment. The Secondary Girls invited them to accompany them that night for the proclamation of their name. It was a very beautiful and emotional moment because they named the Blessed Mother with the name that she and Father had given them. Now the challenge is to transform this name into life for all the Dawns of the Father who were unable to participate in this important moment.
The camp ended in the Shrine in Villa Warcalde and during the Eucharist they offered all their enthusiasm for their ideals. The girls from Germany thanked them for these beautiful days and everyone thanked the Girls' Youth and the family from Cordoba for all their work to make this camp so spectacular. They also thanked Patricia (the mother of one of the girls from Cordoba who accompanied them and took care of them during these days) and especially: Thank you Blessed Mother for each girl in the Girls' Youth of Argentina, thank you because we could feel as "One Heart in the Father".
Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, Texas, USA