I hear the father calling for heroes strong and true…

Felipe Vera Meier, 17, from the Schoenstatt Boys’ Youth, died in Temuco

Felipe Vera Meier, 17 años, de Temuco, Chile Felipe Vera Meier, 17 years old, from Temuco, Chile Felipe Vera Meier, 17 Jahre alt, aus Temuco, Chile
Fue miembro activo y comprometido de la Juventud Masculina He was an active and committed member of the Boys’ Youth Er war in der SMJ aktiv und wollte immer alles für die Gottesmutter geben
Un juego en la JMJ en Colonia, ahora una realidad: descansa en los brazos de la Mater A play during WYD in Cologne, now reality: he rests in the arms of the MTA Spiel beim WJT in Köln, jetzt Wirklichkeit: er ruht in den Armen der Gottesmutter
En el Santuario de Monte Moriah, durante el festival de la Juventud en Schoenstatt In the Shrine at Mount Moriah during the Youth Festival in Schoenstatt Im Heiligtum auf Berg Moriah beim Jugendfestival in Schönstatt
Con sus hermanos With his brothers Mit seinen Brüdern Fotos: esa © 2006

CHILE, esa. "Great Felipe! I was able to know you and to share wonderful moments with you. Thank you for being as you were in life. I know that you are now with our dearest Mother…..happy because you fulfilled your mission…..you were an instrument…..you left footprints and you touched a thousand hearts who remember you today," writes a young girl from the Girls’ Youth. Yes, he left his mark in Schoenstatt and Cologne where he participated in the International Schoenstatt Youth Festival and in World Youth Day. "You and I for them," he said along with 3,000 youths on the 10^th of August at the Covenant of Love for the youths of the world. Felipe Vera Meier, 17, an active participant of the Movement – as a Schoenstatt Pioneer – and active in the pastoral life at his Green House College of Temuco, died on February 4^th.

He died after contracting Virus Hanta, a very aggressive virus which took his life in only 2 days. Felipe had participated in many activities at the end of the year, being a great motivator at the camp of Pioneers in the Temuco Branch, and he was also one of the organizers for the Summer Missions which his school organized each Summer. Some of the Schoenstatt Fathers attend these missions since they are chaplains at the school.

A great and concrete demonstration of God’s joy

His unending joy and his great sensibility always stood out as did his great love and dedication to his family which for many was always an example to imitate. He was a youth with a great missionary spirit…..he was very enthusiastic…..and he was committed to the max with everything. He was always seeking God’s will and worked so that our Blessed Mother would abide in many hearts….. In that sense, he always looked for new ways to unfold his capabilities to evangelize, whether it was in missionary activity, motivating other youths to go to the Shrine, being involved in social welfare, fostering the praying of the Rosary, etc…..

For many youths he was always a gift from God and a great and concrete demonstration of God’s joy for their lives.

He left for Heaven with his Pioneer’s Sword and his rosary in his hands…..

Now he has left, but he has left us his missionary strength and his joy to continue building the Kingdom of God here on Earth. Here we are conscious that he died for the mission: for Schoenstatt and for his school.

His funeral was very large and filled with symbols and a great deal of joy…..he left for Heaven with his Pioneer’s Sword in his hands (symbol of his Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother) and also with his Rosary. "We hope to guard his legacy," says a young man who was with him several times in the missions. "We are certain to count on more help from Heaven for all the activities we will undertake."

Translation: Carlos Cantú Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA