Inflamed with the fire of the mission

National Journey of Representatives of the Rosary Campaign, Argentina

Hasta los confines del mundo contigo... To the ends of the earth with you... Bis an die Enden der Erde mit dir… Fotos: Crivelli © 2007
Durante la jornada During the Convention Während der Tagung
Stand de Tucumán Stand of Tucumán Stand von Tucumán Fotos: Losada © 2007

ARGENTINA, Silvia Losada. On April 21^st and 22^nd the Journey of Representatives 2007 took place in the shadow of the National Shrine. Delegates from every diocese of the country gathered to set guidelines for the work of this year, to nourish themselves with the experiences of the life streams that flow in each community and to together look to the future of the mission of evangelizing and conquering hearts, with the beloved Pilgrim MTA.

There were testimonies, presentations, diocesan stands, time for prayer and the renewal of commitment and a special pilgrimage to Father Esteban’s tomb- that was mentioned before (LINK) that was the most touching movement for many participants of the Journey, this helped them to rekindle the fire for the mission. The journey began with the celebration of Holy Mass, officiated by Father Guillermo Mario Cassone in the Church of God the Father.

An audiovisual was presented by the Vice-postulation for the cause of of John Pozzobon gave them the incentive to go forward as "Campaign of a pilgrim people". The National Advisor of the Rosary Campaign, Father Juan José Riba, motivated the group work, by sharing the accomplishments and difficulties of each diocese which are common to the majority of the participants, since the campaign is like a bouquet of roses, that infuses us with it perfume, but it sometimes hurts us with its thorns. In any case, this is offered to Our Lord and Mary for the fruitfulness of the mission.

The persistent rain impeded the pilgrimage to Father Esteban’s tomb in Sion, but the spirit of the great protagonist of the Campaign at the international level was always among the participants while they carried out a symbolic walk from the Church of God the Father to the Solaz of Mary, with the papal flag and flags from Argentina and from some countries where the campaign is established. All the auxiliaries accompanied the walk, presided by pictures of Father Kentenich, Joao and Father Esteban. When they arrived at the conference hall a candle was lighted that represented the fire for the mission that Father Esteban had and each representative lit a candle from it as a symbol of their commitment to enkindle themselves and to re-enkindle the missionaries of their diocese.

After a talk by Father Guillermo Cassone about "Joao, a great pilgrim", they participated in an illuminated rosary in the Church of God the Father, and they renewed their rosary consecration. Another important moment was the presentation for the material for the VIA LUCIS –a way to meditate, as in the Stations of the Cross, on the life of Jesus during the time from Easter to Pentecost –that was prepared by the Diocese of Belgrano, and that everyone prayed with great fervor.

Awakening a great missionary spirit

This year they agreed to stress pilgrimages to the Shrines, and Wayside Shrine, as a way of life and to enkindle the enthusiasm for the Covenant of Love and to make the treasure that Schoenstatt can offer, with the graces that are received in these holy places known.

Sunday was the day for the youth. The adults shared group work with them, listening to their concerns and committing themselves to support them and to offer them the freedom that they need and that sometimes, as adults, we fail to respect.

At the conclusion of the journey and as children of the Founding Father, they participated in the Way of the Father, recalling his steps through the National Shrine, it was a moment that touched everyone; so that they will always recall the source and the giving of self of those who on October 18, 1914 began a new world for everyone who follow their footsteps, like Joao did.

The journey ended in the Church of God the Father, with a prayer prepared by the youth that with its freshness and courage gave the other leaders the impetus to return to their communities with a new fire in their hearts, to enkindle others.

As Missionary Disciples, they continue to go to homes, hospitals, schools, public institutions, and jails loyal to the example of Joao, of being A HERO TODAY, NOT TOMORROW".

What we experienced here spontaneously recalled the words of Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz during aninterview with ACIprensa: " There is another reality, for a long time we were fortunate to be a continent that was evangelized, it was fortunate that many missionaries from Europe, United States, , and Canada arrived to our lands and we became accustomed to welcome people and to receive help but we were not awakened to be missionaries and being more or less Catholic. The Catholic spirit of going out to others and to speak to them about Jesus Christ was dormant in many countries: if all of us are Catholics, why should we reach out to others to announce to the Good News of Jesus Christ? Then we called some orders: the Claretins, the Capuchins, the Redemptorist, but it was not usually done by the lay people or the diocesan priest. But this is changing and presently there are missions organized by the parishes, there are university missions, there are family missions, it is changing. What we want is for this be a great awakening of the missionary spirit in our Church.

We decided to conclude the V Conference with a Great Continental Mission. This has also been approved by the presidents of the Episcopal conferences but it needs the approval of the Assembly. It can only be a project until it is approved by the Assembly, it is desire, but the objective of this great mission is that it will awaken a missionary spirit…"

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA