You and I for them…We are going inflame the world

Youth Vigil in Guayaquil, Ecuador

Misa en la madrugada

Morning Mass

Messe in der Morgenfrühe

Fotos: Tomala © 2005

Vigilia Juvenil 2005 en Guayaquil, Ecuador Youth Vigil 2005 in Guayaquil, Ecuador Jugendvigil 2005 in Guayaquil, Ecuador
Fuego de José Engling, fuego de capital de gracias Joseph Engling Fire, fire of the capital of grace Englingfeuer, Feuer des Gnadenkapitals
Adoración Adoration Anbetung
El Santuario se llenó de jovenes The Shrine filled with youth Das Heiligtum füllte sich mit Jugendlichen
Fotos: Tomala © 2005
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ECUADOR, JULIO Tomalá Delgado. On the 4th of October of 2003 the Schoenstatt Boys’ and Girls’ Youth of Guayaquil physically and spiritually conquered the Joseph Engling memorial that is behind the Shrine of this city. Since then these youth meet every year in a vigil that is considered the most important one of the year, they continue in adoration, as a group or individually and a profound atmosphere of prayer and integration between the members of both branches is accomplished.

This year the vigil was different, since heroism and giving of self were the main factors that motivated the participants; no one slept during the entire night. It started at 8 o’clock at night with a welcome in the Pilgrim’s Church. The meaning of the encounter was explained at this place.

Then the fire was blessed, that was remained lit all night as a sign of vigilant people. Then Father Eduardo Auza, Assessor of the community, gave a special blessing with the Blessed Sacrament to begin adoration. All the participants signed up to be with the Blessed Sacrament in the Shrine and at the memorial with Joseph Engling, the older brother of the youth.

To live the covenant with the youth of the world

Like every year, the main part of this vigil is adoration and meditation about the death walk of Joseph Engling, which consists of a pilgrimage through the surroundings of the Shrine with stations in which episodes of the life of this Schoenstatt hero are deepened. This year there were several events that made this encounter more than a vigil. It was a youth feast. There were workshops throughout the night with different activities, among them was a compendium of the experiences of the youth who went to Germany to attend the festival in Schoenstatt and the encounter with the Pope during World Youth Day. There was also a workshop "SMS de Dios" (text message from God) that was part of the Pope’s catequesis. It was directed by the same youth that led it in Schoenstatt, in other words, it was like bringing part of the festival to those who did not attend. Furthermore, continuing with this idea, they had a concert outside of the Shrine at the close of adoration, and during all the vigil each one prayed for one of the participants that they randomly picked. During the Holy Mass at the sign of peace they had to find that person.

Youth with a commitment

It was beautiful to see so many youth together to adore Christ to make Him a central part of their life. For those who had been in the festival in Schoenstatt it was way of saying: "You and I for them", and in some way live the Covenant of Love that they sealed for all the youth of the world.

From this Shrine: "Family of the Father, home for the world" the youth have committed themselves with Jesus to inflame the world, holding the hand of the Blessed Mother, and they have proclaimed this year as a "Missionary Year". Many projects are emerging that they hope to accomplish with much Capital of Grace. The best thing is to see how the Blessed Mother opens the way and she wants to arrive to the Galapagos island: that is the next destination. Not only the youth from Guayaquil want to arrive, rather, all the Schoenstatt Family from Ecuador (with the Schoenstatt youth from Quito). So loyal to the Covenant and continuing with ideals: "Yes, Father, field of lilies" and Yes, Blessed Mother, Light of Christ Tabor of the world" as the Schoenstatters in Ecuador say this year:

"With Christ and with Mary, we are going to inflame the world!"

Translation: Celina M Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA