Encounter with John Pozzobon

Conference for missionaries at New Schoenstatt

Conferencia: Ana y Guillermo Echeverría Conference: Ana and Guillermo Echeverría Vortrag: Ana und Guillermo Echeverría
Trabajo final Final work Puzzleteile kommen zusammen
Trabajo grupal de los jóvenes Group of the young missionaries Gruppenarbeit der Jugendlichen Fotos: Bellone © 2007

ARGENTINA. Alicia Bellone. On a sunny and cold Sunday about 150 missionaries gathered at New Schoenstatt to participate in an Encounter with Deacon John Louis Pozzobon to commemorate the 22^nd Anniversary of his departure to the home of the Father. This event was organized by the Vice-Postulation.

Upon arrival everyone received an identification card with one of John’s phrases written on it. Next, they went in procession with the Auxiliary MTA’s to Father’s statue near the Shrine for the opening prayer. In this prayer, the missionaries committed before the beloved Blessed Mother to grow to love John Pozzobon and attain his fire and power by following in his footsteps in order to accomplish their mission. They also asked for his prompt canonization. Then continuing the pilgrimage to the Church of God the Father, everyone joined in procession behind the Auxiliary MTA’s.

Experiences and personal work

Father Guillermo Mario Cassone celebrated Holy Mass for all the pilgrims, and he dedicated a special part of his homily to John and to his total self -giving in the mission entrusted to him like a good disciple comparing him, on a smaller scale, to Saint John (whose feast day was celebrated that day). He also especially stressed the love that John had for the Founding Father and his attachment to Father Esteban Uriburu.

The Conference of missionaries continued with a beautiful talk presented by Guillermo and Ana Echevarria, which set the tone for the conference and motivated them to learn more about his life and his mission. They shared a documentary about John, which transported them to Santa Maria following in his footsteps– step by step.

After these powerful personal experiences, they divided into seventeen groups. Each group worked on a different aspect of John’s life. Each group received part of a mural (which was a puzzle) with John’s footsteps representing his life. The pieces were: the Shrine, the sky, the poor, Jesus and Mary, the Founding Father, the Rosary, and the Pilgrim MTA and so forth. They also received material with John’s phrases concerning the subject each group had received. Each group had to choose the phrase that was most representative for their group. Upon returning to the hall, each group began to solve the puzzle by placing the phrase below the completed mural represented by John’s footsteps, which was his entire life.

Thank you John

At noon they shared a picnic lunch where the missionaries could share their experiences with each other, which was very enriching. In the afternoon they listened to beautiful testimonies given by another group of missionaries. Next there was a talk presented by Father Guillermo Mario Cassone with the title: John, an Untiring Pilgrim. In this talk Father Guillermo Mario expressed his love for John, whom he knew personally, and for Father Esteban Uriburu, who was his course brother and friend. This provided the missionaries with a true meeting with John who seemed to be in the hall close to them. The journey concluded with a touching Illuminated Rosary in Adoration in the Church of God the Father. The participants departed happily with a deeper appreciation of John’s life convinced that he was close to them throughout the journey.

Thank you John, for everything you did and for your total giving of self. Now you are at our disposal to accompany us with the vigorous work of daily life in our beloved Rosary Campaign.