With a Pilgrim MTA, "the Great Missionary", in their hands

University Missions Florestópolis 2006

Envío con la Virgen Peregrina Sending out ceremony with the Pilgrim MTA Aussendung mit der Pilgernden Gottesmutter
Visita Visit Besuch Fotos: Di Osti Romagnolli © 2006

BRAZIL, Lucas Di Osti Romagnolli. The Pastoral of the University of Londrina made history again. After carrying out the first University Missions in Brazil for two consecutive years in the city of Lupionópolis/PR, Diocese of Londrina, this year they carried out the mission in the city of Florestópolis/PR that belongs to the same diocese.

This mission was a new challenge for the University Pastoral, since the population of the city of Florestópolis is double of that of the city where they had been on mission before; therefore, they needed twice as many missionaries to cover the city. And since it was God’s will, the pastoral was able to gather 90 university youths for this mission.

The University Mission had missionaries with diverse charismas representing the different movements of the Church, furthermore they had a good number of Universitities from Brazil and even some from South America, they were the following: The State University from Londrina, Northern University from Parana, University of Philadelphia from Londrina, the Faculty of Cornélio Procópio, Mackenzie Presbyterian University (Saint Paul), Catholic Pontifical University from Paraná (Londrina Campus), PUC of Rio de Janeiro and PUC from Santiago, Chile. They also had missionaries from the cities of Barbosa Ferrza/PR and Lupionópolis/PR.

The Mother and Queen worked many miracles among the families of Florestópolis

The mission took place during the period of July 14^th – 22^nd, vacation time at the university. The 90 missionaries were divided into three communities distributed to three points of the city. The communities carried out their activities separately, each group covering a part of the city. Each community lived and felt like a family, cultivating very strong and profound bonds among the missionaries, which helped very much in the development of the missions, since they supported one another, and all of them were strengthened by the Mother of God. The missionaries carried out different activities each day in the community of Florestópolis, among those activities: they made home visits, they had activities with the children, youth and adults, they prayed the Rosary and there was Mass.

The missionaries were sent two by two or by threes to visit the homes of the city, with a Pilgrim MTA, "the Great Missionary", in their hands. At the homes they shared a little bit of love, joy, peace and time with the people of the city, and the Mother and Queen worked many miracles among the families of Florestópolis. The Masses and the daily activities with the children, youth and adults were well attended by the people. In addition to the activities there were was also a Youth Night with an incredible participation by the youth from the city. The night was very animated and it ended with time for Adoration.

The first step for the Permanent Missions of the People in the Archdiocese of Londrina

The University Mission also wanted to be the first step to carry out the Permanent Missions of the People in the Archdiocese of Londrina. Therefore they chose the motto: "Revitalize hearts, made disciples of Jesus!", it is the same motto as that of the Permanent Missions. And in fact, the mission revitalized many hearts and made many disciples of Jesus. One of the fruits of theses missions was that three youth groups were formed in the city, this was one of the pastorals that was lacking in the parish. Three Children’s Pilgrim MTA,s were also commissioned for the children who attend catechism.

Father Renato, the pastor, commented during the last Mass, the mission "surpassed expectations", it was a great success, thanks to God. A strengthening of faith can be perceived in the people and there is a strong motivation within the Church. The city was happy to participate in the mission, after experiencing a "week of heaven" along with these youths.

The University Pastoral also returned strengthened from the missions and the university students are much more motivated to build a university filled with Christ and Mary, revitalizing hearts and making disciples of Jesus.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA