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Misioneras de Mercedes, en la parroquia San José Missionaries from Mercedes, at St. Josephs’ Missionare aus Mercedes, in der Pfarrei St. Josef |
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ntercambio con el Padre Fernando Mazzola, recientemente designado párroco allí Meetings with Fr. Fernando Mazzola, recently appointed parish priest Treffen mit dem neuernannten Pfarrer, Pfr. Fernando Mazzola |
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La Campaña en la Junta Parroquial – se ve el cartel en el fondo The Campaign is part of the parish council – display in the background Die Kampagne gehört zum Pastoralteam der Pfarrei, wie die Tafel im Hintergrund zeigt |
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Ella lleva la peregrina al carcel She brings the Pilgrim Mother to the local jail Sie bringt die Pilgernde Gottesmutter ins Gefängnis |
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En la biblioteca de la catedral: un cuadro de la MTA In the library of the cathedral: an ancient MTA picture In der Bibilothek der Kathedrale hängt ein altes, kostbares MTA-Bild |
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La Virgen de la Merced Our Lady of Mercy Statue der Mutter Gottes vom Loskauf der Gefangenen Fotos: Crivelli © 2005 |
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ARGENTINA, Monina Crivelli. We work so that the ways of the world will open themselves for Christ" and "so that his Gospel and the joy of Redemption reach all people". On the same 21st of May, in which Benedict XVI said these words during a talk in the Vatican, there was an encounter of the Campaign in the city of Mercedes, Diocese of Mercedes Lujan, some 200 kilometers from Buenos Aires, where one could experience how the coordinators of the Campaign put them into practice in their life. The reporter from schoenstatt.de traveled along with Mercedes MacDonough and Cristina White, from the Coordinating Team of the City Campaign, whom Luisa Cullen - alma mater of the Campaign in the Diocese of Mercedes Lujan - asked that they take her place at the meeting with the coordinators, since she was unable to attend. Once again, they experienced "live" what the spirit of the Campaign does to cultivate a close contact and collaboration with the parishes, since the pastor can count on an evangelical means that brings families closer, it promotes a sacramental life, and it collaborates so that the parish can be a "community of communities and of movements", On the other hand, the "Great Missionary" again astonished them with her faithfulness to the covenant...
They left close to noon, with a radiant day, of spectacular sunshine and also spectacular cold weather, which at moments was harshly felt. After a time consuming trip, with an "update" in a wave of information and news that flow in the Campaign day by day, they arrived in Mercedes. They were surprised at the beauty of the city, that they were able to take in fully and with plenty of time since they got lost and they arrived at the place of the meeting - Saint Joseph Parish - an hour later than they had planned! In spite of this, the pastor, and the coordinators who were gathered received them with enormous joy and cordiality. After many apologies by the three of them, the pastor also apologized because he could not stay more than a few minutes, since naturally, he had previous commitments.
Neither "visitors" nor "islands"
After the greetings, the meeting began by consecrating themselves to the Blessed Mother. The first news they received, when they arrived, was that the Campaign was invited to form part of the Pastoral Council. Father Fernando Mazzola, recently named as pastor, related that when the coordinators had asked permission to meet at the parish, a short time after he became pastor, he asked himself: why not? Or better said, why, yes! Then he invited them to form part of the Parish Council. In this context he mentioned two "requirements" not to be visitors (like those who stop to fill up with gas at the service stations and then they continue on their way) nor to be "islands" within the Church but to offer the Church its own charisma, working within the body of the Church in this small part of the Church which is the parish, in links of unity.
Unity that has two points: a unity of faith and a unity of love. This last one, like Christ, is manifefsted by a mantle of mercy before the limitations and the sins of others. He gave as an example the case of a priest who is haughty, and he knows he is,but that does not keep him from striving to overcome it, he suffers very much, for him it is cross that he must carry. With time you will begin to know yourself and see your limitations (and his too) what should you do in this situation, what attitude should you have? Unite or separate? Finally, he affirmed that "if we obtain this unity, we will have a great evangelical force.
Taking the Pilgrim MTA everywhere her presence is needed
The second part of the meeting followed, with the coordinators, very much on fire and more than extraordinary "burritos" (little donkeys) of the Blessed Mother. They spoke of the concrete contributions of work in the parish, among which they stressed some ways: to organize activities with other Movements, be it a rosary or a special celebration; the renewal of the coordinators commitment in their respective parishes; to use a notebook to offer information about the different parish activities, celebrations, to inform about Mass schedules, confessions, etc. for the purpose of serving as a channel of communication between the pastor and the people, above all those who have fallen away. They also mentioned some aspects that the Campaign team does within the parish structure, so that each parish can depend on the presence and committed participation of Schoenstatt in all its activities and in the Parish Council.
The coordinators told about their experiences of work, which were marvelous and very enriching. There are a total of 15 coordinators, but they do the work of 100! Besides visiting families, they take the Pilgrim MTA to the jail, the hospital, schools and institutions, making the MTA present in all of these places.
The "competition" for the wayside shrine
For some time now, they have had the great desire to build their wayside shrine. A couple of months ago, they finally found a place, which later they noticed belonged in the jurisdiction of the Cathedral. Meanwhile they asked the pastor of the Cathedral for the necessary authorization, which he gave immediately. Happy as could be, they sent the news to Father Fernando, who responded:
"By no means, the wayside shrine has to be in the Parish of Saint Joseph"!!! His next step was to propose a place: the Saint Joseph Square in front of the parish, Obviously, that is how it will be, although the coordinators did not abandon the idea of building another one later in the place that was first selected.
Time flew, with so much life, and regrettable it was time to leave. Not without making two visits that could not be postponed...The first was the local Hospital, where Father Pepin Estrada works, whom the coordinators mentioned throughout the meeting, in different contexts, always as a great supporter of the Campaign and of Schoenstatt in Mercedes. Formerly, he had been a pastor at Saint Joseph's Parish, where he launched the Campaign, as he does now in the Hospital, where beginning last May 18th,he offered a Covenant Mass in the chapel.
A re-encounter
Curiously, or not so much, knowing the MTA - many years ago Father Pepin sealed his Covenant of Love before the Auxiliary, in the home of Cristina White, in Henderson, Ninth of July, where she lived at the time. A little later he felt the call for the priesthood, which he affirms with gratitude that he owes to the Blessed Mother. It was not Cristina who remembered this detail, but the "reporter", who was very much impressed at the time this testimony was made. Father Pepin was not in the Hospital, but thanks to the intervention of a seminarian who collaborates with him -he insisted on finding him - Cristina was able to get in touch with him, and for her joy, when he knew who it was, Father Pepin greeted her: "Nos cum prole pia" (Virgin Mary, meek and mild) a greeting and a "countersign" that he began to use since sealing his Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother! Maria Elena, the coordinator who had accompanied them with great enthusiasm and cordiality, also related that the first place Father Pepin went after his ordination had been to the Cathedral, and when he saw the picture of the MTA, he affirmed: "this is my place". How marvelous is her loyalty to the Covenant, sealed by the hands of a lay person, who full of enthusiasm transmitted her testimony, that he did not doubt for an instant to also seal his covenant immediately! Time passed, places of destiny passed, people passed, but that Covenant of Love sealed with Mary before the Auxiliary Shrine has remained indelible.
And this Saturday, She wanted to reunite both protagonists of that special time, in a totally unexpected and surpising manner. Those of us who were fortunate to be witnesses of this reunion, felt a profound emotion to again see the proof, of the fruitfulness of the Covenant of Love brought to life.
A visit to the Blessed Mother in the Cathedral
The second visit was to the library of the Cathedral, to see the picture of the Blessed Mother that arrived a long time ago, no one knows how she arrived, but apparently, according to the pastor of the Cathedral, it could be one of the three pictures that Father Kentenich brought on one of his trips! Which is corroborated by age of the image. After contemplating and touching the picture all over, they prayed, asking the Blessed Mother for all the people of Mercedes, for the Campaign and for the future wayside shrine. They also visited the Cathedral, with a beauty and splendor that is striking, all white marble, with a beautiful picture of Our Lady of Mercy over the main altar. In one of the side altars, in its showcase, there is a historic image that presides in the pilgrimages: that according to the story, on a certain occasion there was a terrible drought in the area, and the people went in procession with Our Lady of Mercy to the Lujan river. On their return, all of a sudden a torrential rain fell, which obliged them to leave the image in the jail, that was close to place where the Parish of Saint Joseph is now located, and it stayed there for a long time.
They finally left Mercedes, full of joy and gratitude for all the gifts of the Blessed Mother: the coordinators, Father Fernando, Father Pepin, and the picture brought by Father..."By now, Mercedes is not only one more city, but it occupies a very special place in our hearts", a place that surely also occupies the heart of the Blessed Mother.
Translaton: Celina M Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA