Neither the cold nor the rain prevented us from walking through the streets

The first family mission of the Fountain of Life Shrine of Pocos de Caldas, Brazil

Ella es la gran Misionera... She is the great Missionary Sie ist der große Misisonar
Actividad con niños Activity with children Angebot für die Kinder
Me quiere a mi… como al Niño en sus brazos She loves me... like the Child on her arms So gern hat sie mich … wie das Kind auf ihrem Arm
Con la peregrina en alto... With the Pilgrim MTA held high... Mit der Pilgernden Gottesmutter auf Missionswege gehen
Misionerito A little Missionary Ein ganz kleiner Missionar Fotos: Clavijo © 2007 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

BRAZIL, Paulo and Odette; José Domngos and Maria Olinda. The Family Missions of the Fountain of Life Shrine of Pocos de Caldas, Brazil began! The first missionary week took place July 22^nd to 29^th 2007, at the Parish of Our Lady of Hope in the neighborhood of Parque Esperanza of Pocos de Caldas.

"Only one thing is necessary": This was the motto that motivated us in our mission, and joy was the main ingredient.

In 2006 we made a commitment to begin the Family Missions in 2007. We had the experiences of the novices of the Schoenstatt Fathers, who had participated in the missions in their countries, Argentina and Paraguay, and who were in Pocos de Caldas carrying out their practicum. In addition to the novices, Tito (Brazil), Matias (Argentina and Manuel (Paraguay, other participants were: two Sisters of Mary, Sister Lucia Maria and Sister Gercilia, members of the Boys’ and Girls Youth, the Mothers’ Branch, the Rosary Campaign, people from the parish, and the Pastor, Father Zezinho, who welcomed them with joy and who was always present to motivate and enrich the work of everyone.

To be a Church in action

Throughout the week there were daily activities with the children, Holy Mass, and visits to the families. The missionaries went out two by two carrying the Pilgrim MTA, who guided the way for the missionaries. They went out with the imperative: "She is the great Missionary! She will work miracles!" After the mission they returned to the parish, they ended the day with some fellowship and they shared experiences of their visits. They also raised their spirits with games, adoration and contributions to the Capital of Grace. There was an encounter with the youth, a session that included a movie for all the parish and they concluded on Sunday, the 29^th, with a Holy Mass and a tea that was shared by the missionaries and the parishioners.

It was a week of heavy rains and it was very cold, but the love for the mission and with the MTA in the lead, they had the strength and the energy to overcome the weather. That is what the lyrics of the mission song expressed: "neither cold nor rain will prevent us from walking through the streets", and the Blessed Mother took this song seriously!

The missions enriched the missionaries very much; it strengthened the attachment among the people and themselves, because the objective of everyone was the same: to go out to encounter the other person, to be a Church in action, that above all takes the joy of the risen Christ.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA