She calls us to live and gives us the grace of transformation

1,000 Hail Marys in Adoration and Conference of Reflection

Taller Workshop Arbeitskreis
Conferencia Talk Vortrag
El P. Juan D'Amico oficia misa, a las misioneras de la Campaña Holy Mass for the missionaries of the Campaign Heilige Messe für die Missionare der Kampagne Fotos: Zunini © 2008

ARGENTINA, Diann Zunini. Since the road to the Shrine of the Mother and Queen of the People in Paso Mayor was impassable, the Conference of Prayer and Reflection for the Rosary Campaign was held at the Chapel of Saint Cayetano in Bahia Blanca.

At 10:00 a.m. the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, and the prayer of the one thousand Hail Marys in Adoration began by uniting spiritually with the Shrine of the Mother and Queen of Pueblo de Paso Mayor. During each mystery the difficulties that everyone held in their hearts were offered by asking the Holy Spirit to transform them.

At the same time another group meeting in a classroom of the school began a series of reflections and sharing of experiences: the subject was inner transformation. Afterwards as is the custom, the groups shared so that everyone could pray and reflect.

The road of faith is one of transformation

There was a meeting during the afternoon where the summary of shared experiences was presented. This is what was said: "The first transformation of a person occurs when he/she is developing in the mother’s womb, until he/she is born to life; then there is the road of transformation that the Church offers us: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. A full life is the greatest thing a person can receive." There is also the transformation the Blessed Mother gives in the Shrine, "the Mother’s fire of love transforms and is experienced in our own missionary and familial life. The road of faith is one of transformation." It was also said that crises are moments of great transformation, where the person can get angry, but then they can also use this experience to grow especially when one feels connected to other brothers and sisters who help them and welcome them. One missionary said, "When my mother died, I did not feel detachment, because the most important thing was the connection with others and how they were with me at this time." Another testimony: "When you know Jesus, more than knowing Him when you decide to follow Him, you must choose and that also presumes a transformation in one’s life, which may bring difficulties; but to say ‘yes’ when one feels that he is called is also transformation." The Campaign was presented as a road of one’s transformation and that of our brothers and sisters, "To make life different, to die in order to be born again", said one of the participants.

A renewed heart to continue in the mission

Finally it was decided to continue with the same motto as the previous year: In the Covenant with Mary we transform our lives. During the next four years as we walk towards 2014 with this novena, the word, transformation, appears in three of the mottoes. Like our Paso Mayor Shrine, Easter and the Resurrection call us to live and give us the grace of transformation.

The Conference ended with the Mass celebrated by Father Juan D’Amico. During the celebration we prayed especially for the Campaign’s mission in the African region of the great lakes, where during these months the Third International Auxiliary MTA is visiting the people in Burundi and the neighboring countries. We also prayed for new missionaries, Covenants, and for the people’s desire to crown the Blessed Mother as Queen of Peace.

During the offertory each missionary offered a bit of incense that was burned in the Capital of Grace, offering that which they want to change or transform in their own lives and they received a medal in the shape of a heart as a symbol of a heart renewed to continue the mission with new strength.

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