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 published: 2006-10-24

In you we hope, with you we dare to live the Covenant

Leaders’ Convention in Australia – awaiting World Youth Day 2008 in Sidney

 

Jornada de dirigentes en Mulgoa, Austrália: P. John Evans durante su conferencia

Leaders’ Convention in Mulgoa, Austrália: Fr. John Evans during his conference

Jahrestagung in Mulgoa, Australien: Pater John Evans bei seinem Vortrag

 

 
 

Padre Denis Foley

Father Denis Foley

Pfarrer Denis Foley

 
 

Dennis y Bee Foo

Dennis and Bee Foo

Dennis und Bee Foo

 
 

Eucaristia em la Jornada de dirigentes en Mulgoa, Austrália

Holy Mass during the Leaders’ Convention in Mulgoa, Austrália

Heilige Messe bei der Jahrestagung in Mulgoa, Australien

 

Trabajo em grupo

Working in groups

Arbeitsgruppen

 
 

Cangurus perteneces al paisaje del Santuario de Mulgoa

Cangaroos are part of the “landscape” of the Shrine

Känguruhs gehören zur Landschaft des Heiligtums dazu

Fotos: Avarena © 2006

 

 

 

AUSTRALIA, Father Marcelo Aravena. "In you we hope, with you we dare to live the Covenant" is the motto with which the Schoenstatt Family of Australia celebrated their Journey of October 2006 that was held from Friday the 20th until Sunday the 22nd. About 50 participants from Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland gathered along with the priests and Sisters of Mary.

The motto was the thread that led the entire encounter. The conferences, the testimonies and the discussions were about how to make the Covenant of Love alive in the world in which we live, in present day Australia. The conference was enlightening and the signs of hope and the enthusiasm were abundant.

A unique and inspiring experience

It was a unique, inspiring and a very enriching experience especially for those who were participating for the first time, as affirmed by the couple, Eric and Yvonne Roche, coordinators who came from Melbourne: "Now we feel we can do much more with the strength of the covenant". They are leaders of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign in Melbourne; where there are 39 Pilgrim MTA’s traveling in that place. "The 2006 Journey has been one of the better ones in which I have participated, for two reasons; in the first place, because it has made an important contribution for my spiritual growth, and in the second place, because of the testimonies of life in the covenant. The testimony of Father John Evans touched me very much because of its personal richness and the information about Schoenstatt history in Australia", Frank Karuana opined at the conclusion of the journey.

Father’s victory

Several times during his conference Father John Evans stressed that his Covenant of Love experience has been a constant Victory of the Father – Victoria Patris. In some very touching parts of his presentation Father John stressed that on the road with his covenant the presence of the God the Father and of the Founder Father has been essential. "That is why the covenant has been fruitful in my life, and in part, in the Australian Schoenstatt history in which took part in building. In my case this covenant life has not been easy, on the contrary, it has been difficult, with many times of struggles, especially when Schoenstatt had to define itself before the Pallottine Society, but everything has always ended with the Victory of the Father.

The World Youth Day with Holy Father on the horizon

A high point of the encounter was the looking forward to the celebration of World Youth Day with the Holy Father that will be celebrated in July of 2008. The enthusiasm was notable among the participants of the journey. Everyone contributed ideas to make themselves part of this great youth celebration. Sister Rebecca, a presenter on this important subject, explained the stages of the preparation and she invited the Schoenstatters to help creatively so that the World Youth Day will be a time of grace. It is very probable that in 2008 the cross and the icon will be in the Shrine of Mulgoa at some time. (In anticipation of this visit, on this same day, the icon of the World Youth Day, not the cross, arrived at the Schoenstatt shrine in Bujumbura, Burundi). Within the preparations it is foreseen that an invitation will be made to all the Schoenstatt international youth to come to Australia.

Think about what you will do with your covenant of love and why

With these words Father Denis Foley, the coordinator of the headquarters of assessors, motivated the participants of the journey. His presentation as well the homily of the final Mass of sending forth, "to live the covenant of love", motivated the participants. For him it is clear that each Schoenstatter is called to be a leader in his own way conscious of the graces that he receives through the covenant of love. Each one should offer the gifts received to the others.

Faithful in a big way

Sunday afternoon the participants departed for their places of origin. Some had to travel more than 4,000 kilometers to reach their homes. The small Schoenstatt Family of Australia was again encouraged to be faithful in a big way with intense love for Mary and for the mission of the Founder. This was stressed by the testimony of Bee Foo, a representative from Perth, when she affirmed that for her the Covenant of Love is a complete reality that embraces every minute of her existence. That is to say, it is an experience of the past, of the present, of the future and of all eternity.

The October journey of the Australian Schoenstatt was characterized by a delicate balance of prayer, Eucharistic celebration, attachment to the Founder, visits to the Shrine, exchanging ideas and life experiences, group and individual work, building community, meals, and rest.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA / Christi Jentz, Milwaukee, USA

 

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