Our peoples’ hopes and sadness are an appeal to the Dawnbreakers

4th Andean Conference of Dawnbreakers in Lima, Peru. June 29, 2007

Madrugada en el Santuario de La Molina, Lima, Perú, el 30 de junio a las 6.00 de la mañana. Dawnbreaking at the Shrine of La Molina, Lima Peru, on June 30th at 6:00 am. Madrugada im Heiligtum von La Molina, Peru, am 30. Juni um 6.00 Uhr früh
Santa Misa celebrada después del Santo Rosario en el Santuario de La Molina. Holy Mass celebrated after the Holy Rosary in the Shrine of La Molina Heilige Messe nach dem Rosenkranz im Heiligtum von La Molina
Música espectacular: los madrugadores de Santiago, Chile. Phantastic music: the Dawnbreakers from Santiago, Chile Tolle Musik: die Madrugadores aus Santiago, Chile
La delegación de Achumani, Bolivia The delegation from Achumani, Bolivia Die Delegation aus Achumani, Bolivien
Desayuno Breakfast Frühstück Fotos: Victor Morillo © 2007 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

PERU, Víctor Morello Aquije. About 52 "Dawnbreakers" from Chile, Bolivia and Peru met on June 29th until July 1st in Lima, Peru.

On June 29, 2007 the 4th Andean Conference of Dawnbreakers began in Lima, Peru. Dawnbreakers from Arica, Calama, La Serena, Quillota and Santiago, Chile participated. The Dawnbreakers from Bolivia were from Achumani. The hosts came from Lima, Peru and Trujillo in northern Peru. All totaled, there were fifty-two Dawnbreakers from the three countries. Fathers Maximo Rodriguez, Raul Francisoc, Jose Luis Correa, and Luis Velasques participated alongside them throughout the Conference.

The Dawnbreakers have met twice a month in parishes, Shrines, or Wayside Shrines for men’s retreats with the Lord and the Virgin Mary. It has been a stream of life emerging from among men willing to give the best of themselves to Christ and Mary. Two years ago, during a conference of all the communities, they formulated the "Dawnbreaker Mission". "The purpose is to promote and to give impetus to a joyful fraternal attachment to Christ and Mary by strengthening and conquering through everyday sanctity along with the apostolic determination of Christian transformation of the world as Marian instruments, through men’s prayer meetings and the Eucharist at dawn in Shrines, Wayside Shrines or Churches. "

The Conference began with praying the Holy Rosary in the Shrine of La Molina. Father Claudio Velasquez, a Dawnbreaker’s advisor from Arica, Chile celebrated Holy Mass along with concelebrants Father Maximo Rodriguez, also an advisor from Calama, and Father Jose Luis Correa, Advisor of the Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement in Peru. The Dawnbreakers from Santiago, Chile were in charge of the music and choir during the Mass, while the Dawnbreakers from Quillota oversaw the technical aspect with video projections, along with Manuel Huapaya who helped them set up the projector in addition to presenting the first meditation.

Work with the theme of the 5th Celam Conference

Based on the preparatory document of the 5th Conference, Father Claudio Velasquez motivated them to reflect on their responsibility to the world. The subject of his

presentation was: The hope and sadness of our people should appeal to the Dawnbreakers.

For motivation, Manuel Huapaya, Secretary of the Schoenstatt Coordinator in Callao, Peru, presented a reflection on the document: the role of the disciple and missionary of Christ that every Dawnbreaker should assume.

On Sunday, July 1^st, Father Jose Luis Correa spoke about the subject of missionary holiness; as Dawnbreakers they should emulate the Holy Missionaries and grow in everyday sanctity.

Testimonies about the apostolate

It was very inspiring to share testimonials about the apostolate. The Dawnbreakers from Arica spoke about the accomplishments and experiences they manifested through development in the city and supporting groups at other Shrines by their visits, just as the group from Santiago offered to visit the groups in Peru where the current of Dawnbreakers recently began.

Dawnbreakers from Santiago, Chile have carried out their apostolate in the field of education by supporting the best 4th grade students. They also have offered support to Peru.

Dawnbreakers from Quillota, proposed to accomplish 100% of the commitments that they made in addition, they help the unemployed. Those from Calama intensified their prayers for more men to join the current of Dawnbreakers. The Dawnbreakers from La Serena have had an average of thirty or forty in attendance but have had up to 170 Dawnbreakers at their Shrine. They built a cross that measures a meter and a half (almost five feet) that traveled throughout all the Shrines of Chile. They have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at dawn. Their members, generous people, do not make life complicated and each one offers his abilities to the Dawnbreaker stream.

Each community has something to offer

Juan Segura, from Trujillo, Perú, expressed his intention to attend to nourish himself and to support the Dawnbreakers in Trujillo more. The openness of those from Achumani was contagious throughout the entire conference so that when they were chosen to be the next headquarters, they were overcome with happiness. Those from Lima were responsible for carrying out this conference, and they discovered the talents of members responsible for assignments, and some who did not have a task supported them with donations, sacrifices, and prayers for the success of this Conference of Dawnbreakers.

All the communities of Dawnbreakers have something to offer to the others. That is why the integration that took place in the Conference needs to be broadened by regular communication.

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