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Libertad nueva A new freedom Eine andere Freiheit Foto: Helen Assaf, StockXchnge © 2007 |
ARGENTINA, Jualn and Lis Álvarez. In December 2006 the Prison Pastoral concluded as well as the activity of the Rosary Campaign of the Pilgrim MTA within the jail. Last March, the activities resumed for the year 2007, the missionaries renewed their commitment to continue with the group of Schoenstatt missionaries for Unit 24 of the Marcos Paz Prison in the province of Buenos Aires, and they decided to make a monthly visit on a Monday morning for a general encounter, and to make another visit on another Monday of the month about 1:00 p.m. for the group of missionaries who are inmates. In this way the visits will be doubled this year.
It was "necessary" to double the visits because of the successful development of this pastoral in the area of maximum security of this prison, as part of the plan of spiritual accompaniment that has been developing without interruption since 2002.
During the entire year of 2006, the missionaries of the Rosary Campaign who are committed to the jail pastoral have visited the inmates monthly. The interpersonal attachments have been strengthened with those who participate in these encounters, in the sense that there is a greater dynamic and participation by the inmates. This can be attributed to the continuous visits, the work that is carried out with the youth, and the participation of the inmates, who not only have become accustomed to these visits, but they have responded with respect, interest, by paying attention, and they look forward to the visits with enthusiasm. The dynamics that are carried out monthly include stories, films, debates and workshops.
New inmate missionaries
During the year of 2006 the group of missionaries of the Rosary Campaign also increased. In December of 2006 there were nine Pilgrim MTAs under the care of inmate missionaries.
These boys have demonstrated great interest in the preparation, catechism, and in the commissioning for this mission, so when they have deepened their faith and grown spiritually, they will be offered special preparation so that they can consecrate themselves to Mary and to seal the Covenant of Love with her. It is understood that this means that they will begin on the road of great giving of self to God, of interior transformation, and of spiritual maturity.
Fourteen inmates were prepared for this, but unfortunately because of prison matters on the day chosen for the Covenant of love, November 13, 2006, only 4 boys attended.
However, it can be said that by the end of 2006, the group of Schoenstatt Missionaries for Unit 24 of the Marcos Paz Prison, had consolidated and had grown in depth, commitment and in an apostolate with new missionaries. Four of them have already sealed the Covenant of Love.
The Schoenstatt people who work in the jail pastoral would appreciate for those who wish to pray to the Blessed Mother for these young men, for all the fruits of the Covenants of Love that were sealed recently and for the group itself.
Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA