Families who are Schoenstatt Living Shrines

Encounter for leaders of the Apostolic League of Families in the region of Sao Paulo

Padres y hijos, juntos Parents and children, together Eltern und Kinder waren zusammen dabei
Estatua de la Sagrada Familia Statue of the Holy Family Statue der Heiligen Familie Fotos: www.maeperegrina.com.br © 2007

BRAZIL, Sister M. Nilza P. da Silva. An atmosphere of joy, commitment, prayer and of reflection to discover the plan of God for the mission with the Apostolic League of families reigned in the encounter of leaders of the region of Sao Paulo on March 10^th and 11^th.

Thirty couples, who came from four states of the country, stayed in House Schoenstatt – Tabor in Atibaia, Sao Paulo to reflect on the mission of the Apostolic League of the Family Work, whose ideal is "Schoenstatt Living Shrines".

Arnaldo and Maria Clara S. Maior, from Rio de Janeiro, coordinated the study sessions and reflections along with Sister M. Tersila Prates and Father Pedro Cabello. Enthusiasm was reflected on the faces of the participants, for being chosen ones of the Mother and Queen of Schoenstatt to share the joy with which she lives in her family of Nazareth. To be chosen comes from grace, of higher demands, that are necessary to conquer lasting joys and to build a new society through holy families.

The ideal and the mission of the Apostolic League of the Family Work

This ideal and mission is the star with which the Blessed Mother enlightens us in all situations. It is a divine mission, which gives the strength to be faithful in the marriage and in the family, and it gives the joy of being witnesses in the world of work, of parish life and in all the areas in which they live.

Three points were formulated to clarify the mission of the Apostolic League of the Family work:

1. To contribute, in virtue of the Covenant of Love, in the moral and religious development of families, working to make them true communities of life and of love, a source transformation and the birth of a new society.
2. To be loyal to their ideal of being "Living Shrines", with the Holy Family as a model, and in virtue of the Covenant of Love, to contribute to the evangelization of the families, creating, as Church, a solid foundation for the formation of the new man in a new society.
3. In virtue of the Covenant of Love, to work for the formation of solid, Christian families, as a place of shelter, transformation and apostolic zeal, contributing to the evangelization and religious renewal of the world.

Each leader couple carries out their apostolic task with the originality of their place of residence. Throughout the year they will gather more experiences so that this mission, for which everyone is striving in practice, will be more clearly profiled.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA