|
| Juventud de Schoenstatt, en marcha, con la MTA Schoenstatt Youth marching, with the MTA Schönstatt-Jugend auf dem Weg, mit der MTA |
 |
 |
Conquistar la altura... Conquering the heights... Auf die Höhen... |
|
 |
|
Un momento de descanso en la cruzada de María de la JM de Tucumán y Salta A moment of rest during the Cruzade of Mary of the Boys’ Youth of Tucuman and Salta Kleine Pause beim “Marsch für Maria” der SMJ Tucumán und Salta |
|
 |
|
¡Lo lograron! They made it! Geschafft! |
|
 |
|
Cantando, rezando… Singing and praying Betend und singend unterwegs |
|
 |
|
El grupo feliz The whole group, tired but happy Geschafft und glücklich! Fotos: Novillo © 2007 |
|
|
ARGENTINA, German Novillo. It all began during the National Camp 2007, where a group of about eight youth from Salta and Tucumán accompanied by Pope, one of our beloved seminarians, decided little by little to do something new with the aim that we could share something enjoyable and in this way unite and strengthen ourselves as a branch. The idea ended with a commitment, signed by all of us, to plan this which at the moment seemed something remote. Our feat began to take form little by little thanks to the small grain of sand that each one contributed in his own way. Parents, seminarians, Father Martin, and Father Martin’s father, young boys, boys, and more boys joined. Each one of these people ultimately became absolutely indispensable.
And that is how we departed on May 25th, at six o’clock in the morning, there were almost 50 members at the station ready to depart for Tafi del Valle; we began our crusade at approximately at nine o’clock in the morning, on an unbelievably sunny day, destination: Cienaga, beginning with the most difficult part "the ascent" during which at the beginning we sang, counted elephants, and conversed, but little by little we were overcome with weariness, but we still arrived to Cienaga thanks to the effort of each and every one of us, who arm in arm were able to make this difficult journey. When we arrived at the "Little School", where we slept .we had a short testimony where the subjects such as authenticity, commitment and many others that emerged were discussed; then, we continued with Mass, we ate and then the thing all of us desired the most:" we rested".
An unforgettable experience
The following morning we arose very early and we departed seeking the heat that we missed so much during the night, we traveled through unforgettable landscapes enjoying each moment to the utmost, and with each step we left the weariness and the pain behind, giving way to joy and with it a smile that was spread to all those who were walking. We arrived to Anfama where we enjoyed the afternoon and we shared a testimony followed by Mass that made us enter into a very special atmosphere, at the conclusion of the Mass we all gathered singing and jumping around the Blessed Mother, who made this moment something very special. We concluded the journey with a bonfire where we left the last laughs of the day, we had a vigil and this ended the second day.
The last day we began with our batteries charged, we crossed the river many times and we all started to run using up the last of our strength, but above all with the great desire to arrive, as "Warriors of Christ", no one wanted to give up. Little by little we arrived to Siambon where they were waiting for us with a meal and they took us to the Shrine where we had the official closing, a very touching closing and full of new proposals and commitments to embody.
During the weekend, while we walked and at each moment each one took time to converse, to share, to enjoy ourselves, to think and to reflect, all of this added to the fact that the "Marian Crusade" transformed a simple weekend into an unforgettable experience.
Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA