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| El “Rosario de hombres” - uno de los proyectos de difusión pastoral más importantes de Schoenstatt The “Rosary of men” – one of the fastest growing pastoral initiatives of Schoenstatt Der “Rosenkranz der Männer” – einer der am schnellsten wachsenden pastoralen Initiativen Schönstatts |
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Los más jóvenes The youngest ones Die Jüngsten |
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Rosario de hombres en una parroquia en el Noreste de Brasil Rosary of men in a parish in Northeastern Brazil Rosenkranz der Männer in einer Pfarrei im Nordosten Brasiliens |
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Llegada de una delegación de Pernambuco al encuentro nacional A delegation from Pernambuco arrives at the Nacional Encounter Eine Delegation aus Pernambuco kommt zum Nationalen Treffen |
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Entrada de la Mater durante el Encuentro Nacional Entrance of the MTA during the Nacional Encounter Einzug der MTA beim Nationalen Treffen |
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Fotos: www.tercodoshomens.com.br © 2007
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BRAZIL, Tomás Garzón. "It is one of the most important pastoral projects spreading today". That is how Father José Maria García defined the initiative that is mobilizing thousands of men throughout Brazil. They meet weekly to pray the rosary with the Mother Thrice Admirable Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt as the standard bearer. This proposal that emerged in the northeastern part of Brazil has experienced a great growth in the shadow of the Shrine of Olinda. This project also has a very concrete mission- firstly to conquer and then to provide men with incentives to help them grow deeper in faith.
The best way to illustrate the strength of this masculine prayer is found in The Second National Encounter of Rosary Prayer Groups of Men. In Geraldao, about 14 thousand men, belonging to more than 200 groups, met in December of 2006 to share their faith and their Marian devotion. The First National Encounter had taken place in Olinda, Pernambuco, in June of 2005, with the participation of 9 thousand men, and in 2007, the third encounter will take place in Fortaleza, during the month of November.
The foundation of the Rosary for Men
The initiatives of popular devotion exclusively for men are not common in the Catholic Church. Man however, continues to play a fundamental role in society and the family. For that reason, the proposal tries to offer a space within the heart of the Church for the growth of man, to "better carry out his paternal role and his Christian mission". By praying and cultivating his spirit, man can again occupy his place as a shepherd and a teacher like Christ.
Another virtue of these groups is that they facilitate the encounter among equals. Bonds of sincere friendship are built and in this way they are able to strengthen each other in their role as a father and spouse. This is why the prayer group initiative is exclusively directed toward men.
With the example of John Pozzobon
The Rosary Campaign also emerged in Brazil, from the work of Deacon Joao Pozzobon, one of the great "men of the rosary". For that reason those who participate in the Rosary for Men take Joao as a role model. Many attribute the affection and respect that they have for him as an underlying basis for the success of this similar campaign. During the rosaries, they pray intensively for his process of canonization and they distribute brochures about his life and work.
Although the prayer groups take place in the parishes of each diocese, the Shrine is the backbone of this initiative. At each encounter, the Blessed Mother is welcomed by those present with a solemn procession. At the same time, the Marian devotion is accompanied in the Rosary for Men by establishing closeness to Jesus and his Word. During the rosaries they read and meditate on the Gospel for that day.
Faith with deeds
The men of the rosary are also men of action. The goal of these groups also includes accompanying the sick in the hospitals and collecting food and clothing for the most needy.
The Rosary Groups for Men first emerged in Maceió, where the rosary was prayed monthly. Then it reached the Parish of Jaboatao dos Guararapes, in Pernambuco, also in the northeastern part of Brazil. But the initiative multiplied in the Shrine of Olinda, Recife, where Marian pilgrimages have been organized in the past.
Rosary for Men on the Internet (portuguese)
With Material from "Tabor em paginas"