Aparecida is not a document; it is an event of the Spirit

National Conference of Leaders in Querétaro, Mexico

El Pl Sidney Fones en la Jornada Nacional de Dirigentes en Querétaro, México Father Sidney Fones during the National Leaders’ Conference in Querétaro, Mexico Pater Sidney Fones bei der Nationalen Leitungstagung in Querétaro, Mexiko
El documento de Aparecida The document of Aparecida Das Schlussdokument von Aparecida
Conferencista: la Hna. Lourdes Macías Speaker: Sister Lourdes Macías Referentin: Schw. Lourdes Macías
Presentación de la Juventud Presentation of the Schoenstatt Youth Präsentation der Schönstatt-Jugend
Envío Sent forth from the Shrine Ausgesandt vom Heiligtum Fotos: Leslie Pablo Infante © 2007

MEXICO, Leslie Pablo Arteaga Infante. Father, building your family of missionary disciples in Mary. With this motto, the Schoenstatt Family from Mexico began a new work cycle, beginning with the National Conference of Leaders, that took place at the Schoenstatt Shrine, Mary Mother and Queen, Loyal Heart of the Church, on September 1^st – September 2^nd. This year there were about 140 representatives of the Movement from all over the country.

This Conference was very special. Father Sidney Fones, right hand of Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz Ossa and Adjunct Secretary of the present Episcopal Council of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAM) was present by word and testimony, to show the Schoenstatt Family – gathered around the first MTA Shrine in Mexico – the importance of an event of the Spirit, which took place in Aparecida, Brazil, last May, for the present time and for the future.

Father Jorge F. Ávila, National Coordinator of the Movement, opened the Conference by stressing the need to look at the history, the development, the vision, and the mission of the Schoenstatt Family in Mexico.

The Schoenstatt presence in Aparecida

For his part, Father Sidney made a precise summary evoking the atmosphere of the 5^th Episcopal Conference of Latin America and the Caribbean leading the participants to:

• To pray with the Pope.
• To immerse themselves into the event.
• To savor the contents.
• To discover the Schoenstatt presence in Aparecida.

"Aparecida isn’t a document, it’s an event of the Spirit – Father Sidney insisted frequently – and, we should see it, understand it, and live it as such. However, in the final document there are many lines of meditation and action that disciples of Christ will have the opportunity to follow, beginning with having a vital experience with Him, the Lord of Life and of History."

Everyone who wants to be a better missionary disciple of the Lord will have to:

• Read and meditate on the Voice of the Lord in Sacred Scripture
• Personally encounter Him in the Sacraments, essentially in the Eucharist.
• Cultivate a life of a fraternal faith community
• Share what we have received, through concrete action and by fulfilling our mission.

Mary, the perfect disciple of Christ

Sister M. Lourdes Macías, advisor of the Family Work, spoke clearly about the Marian Road of the Founding Father: How Father Joseph Kentenich became an example of Mary, which was the result of his deep and filial attachment to the Mother of God throughout his life.

As the perfect disciple of Christ, as an instrument of the Work of Redemption, as a companion, and permanent collaborator of her Son, she shows us the road to follow to convert our Schoenstatt Shrines throughout world into capitals of the Kingdom of God on earth, through the continued offering of our lives, of ourselves, and through our contributions to the Capital of Grace until the world, like a sea of flames, is inflamed for the glory of the Holy Trinity.

The Boys’ and Girls’ Youth made a very interesting presentation about the Schoenstatt Heroes – precisely on the same weekend that throughout the world Schoenstatt Youth were gathered for the Night at the Shrine.

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