Christ at Tabor

Regional Conference of the Brazilian Boys’ Youth

Santa Misa en el Santuario, con P. Mateus Bernardes Holy Mass in the Shrine, with Fr. Mateus Bernardes Heilige Messe im Heiligtum, mit P. Mateus Bernardes
Prédica Sermon Predigt
El Santuario de Jaragua The Shrine in Jaragua Heiligtum in Jaragua
Trabajo em grupo Working in groups Kleingruppenarbeit
Casa Padre Kentenich Father Kentenich House Pater Kentenich Haus Fotos: Cassio Aparecido Leal de Faria © 2007

Brazil, Cassio Leal. On June 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th the Schoenstatt Boys’ Youth from the southeastern region of Brazil carried out their annual conference in the city of Sao Paulo, close to the Zion Shrine of Jaraguá.

The year 2007 has been one of many activities for the Schoenstatt Boys’ Youth of Brazil. In addition to the daily activities that form part of the branch life, many events and celebrations are making their mark in the lives of the Youth. Some examples are the celebrations for the 60^th Anniversary of the arrival of the Father and Founder to Brazil and the proclamation of the Tabor ideal and more recently the visit of Pope Benedict XVI at the 5^th Conference of CELAM.

In light of these events, the Youth of the southeastern region, including the states of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Minas Gerais, realized this in encountering the central figure of "Christ at Tabor" in a moment of reflection about the important events that mark the lives of the Youth.

Many cities sent representatives to participate in the conference: Atibaia, San Bernardo del Campo, Caieiras, Araraquara, Niteroi and the hosts of the capital, Sao Paulo, from the neighborhood of Jaraguá, where the meeting took place. More than forty people participated. Many of the conferences and the experiences were organized by the youth from the different cities, with the participation of the advisor of the southeastern region, Father Matheus Bernardes. A time of adoration and celebration of the Holy Mass were special experiences during the three days in which the youth were working.

An encounter for much reflection

The conference began Friday night with a time for adoration. The work of reflecting upon the projects that the Youth were developing and reports about the 60^th Anniversary of the arrival of the Father and Founder to Brazil and of the Tabor ideal began on Saturday. A reading of the Pope’s discourse in Aparecida and group work occupied the participants during the afternoon. At nightfall, they went to the Shrine to celebrate Holy Mass and to listen to the testimony of Father Pedro Cabello, Regional Director of the Movement, who told the boys about his time as a youth when he lived in Santiago, Chile and he had to face dictatorship. It was a difficult period, but by always trusting in the MTA he was able to conquer and struggle for his ideals.

Sunday, the final day of the conference, was a time to finish the group work and to put the new projects into practice. The Youth committed to contribute to the Capital of Grace by praying a Hail Mary daily at 6:00 p.m. to be mutually attached at the same time in a simple and concrete way. Another proposal was that of carrying out missions within the region, like what is already done in other places of Brazil. During the closing Holy Mass held again in the Shrine, the circle of members of the region was established with the mission of living the commitment with Schoenstatt to become new men in a world that is daily becoming more incompatible with Christian values.

The Youth from the southeastern region continue to grow and these conferences make it possible to have an exchange of experiences among the different cities. It not only helps the Branch to increase in numbers, but also to grow spiritually through the giving of self for Schoenstatt by living the Covenant of Love in a concrete way.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA/amj