published: 2007-06-28 | |
The humility and heroism of the "little donkey of the Blessed Mother"Groundbreaking of the John Pozzobon Memorial at the Shrine of Tucumán |
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ARGENTINA, Silvia Losada. June 27, 2007 was the 22nd Anniversary of the death of Joao Pozzobon, initiator of the Rosary Campaign. For the missionaries of the Campaign he will always be present with his humility, his heroism, and his missionary spirit which was a product of his immense love for the Triune God, the Blessed Mother, and Father Kentenich. His process of canonization continues; his house in Santa Maria has recently been renovated. Brother Germano Arendes – Joao’s companion for many years – is willing to share his memories and experiences of him to provide information for a pilgrimage following the footsteps of Joao in Schoenstatt. This pilgrimage will be traveling to the places and reviving the spirit with which he went on his pilgrimage accompanied by the Original MTA in 1979, to "enrich the original". In Tucumán, Argentina, the Rosary Campaign recently broke ground for the Joao Pozzobon Memorial. On Saturday, June 23rd in the shadow of her Shrine, the Blessed Mother summoned the missionaries of Tucumán to a special and blessed day for the local Rosary Campaign. They were assisting at the Conference in preparation for renewal of their commitment as missionaries, which will take place on August 5th the day on which the Joao Pozzobon Memorial will be blessed during the Celebration of the Campaign of Tucumán. Sister Maria Pilar presented the introductory talk that touched the hearts of each one of the missionaries: "In the light of Divine Providence, we renew our mission". Bearers of joy and hopeBut Divine Providence not only wanted it to be a work of preparation: the groundbreaking for the construction of the Joao Pozzobon Memorial also took place! Everyone who accepted the challenge of being "missionary disciples" is a bearer of hope and joy by taking the Pilgrim MTA on pilgrimage. Here in this favorite place, they want to root their hearts and their mission just like Joao Pozzobon did. "Brother John, Sowing seeds of joy and hopeThey held sunflower seeds in their hands that represented their sowing, their devotion to the Campaign. Today they planted, just as they do every day of their pilgrimage. Future growth depends on the care that they give to these seeds. And some day, the sunflower firm and robust will return the love given to it with its beautiful flowers always looking toward the sun. They did not leave the Shrine like other times desiring to return. A part of them stayed wanting to mature and to break through the ground in this fertile land. They will always be present in the measure of their self-giving and commitment. It is up to each one to return to the Shrine and to take care of the progress by watering and taking care of the sprouts with love. The harvest will be Hers; always guided by our beloved Mother of whom we are instruments. This is your mission: To sow hope and joy. Every home, every sick person, every school, every public institution, and every jail you visit with the Pilgrim MTA will be converted into a small sprout directed to God, fruit of your fruitful work. Silvia Losada shared a reflection about this: "We build a Marian Garden (the province of Tucumán is known as the "Garden of the Republic"), a new garden filled with sunflowers. This is a reflection of the other garden we are preparing everyday in our hearts and in our communities. In the places where we go on mission, we try to make the harvest fruitful like our giving of self. It is the arduous and beautiful work of the missionary! The seeds do not always fall on fertile ground. But do not become discouraged! The ones that sprout will have enough strength and courage to elevate their beautiful yellow flowers towards heaven greeting the Triune God and our Mother. In the Shrine we also greet Joao, who will smile from his memorial, beloved missionaries: Get ready to work! May each seed that we sow be an offering of sacrifice and constancy. Let us place all our love for the Campaign as a garden in this holy land, and may we maintain it. Let us remember that it is not we who invented the mission that we should carry out; rather, it was God who created me to carry it out and I gave Him my YES. May the Blessed Mother, our inseparable companion and Joao, the first missionary, be greeted every morning by us in this Shrine through the fruits of our harvest". Time to conquer, sacrifices and contributionsThey concluded the conference by breaking ground for the memorial loved by all the missionaries. Father Martín Aversamo blessed those in attendance and the ground for the memorial after the Holy Mass. Then Mercedes, co-leader of the Campaign, turned the first shovel of dirt. After this it was time for greater spiritual conquest, sacrifices, and monetary contributions for the construction. The fruits will be seen, after August 5th, like flowers that will bloom from the seeds of the sunflower. LET US SOW HOPE AND JOY! Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA/amj |
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