"Whom shall I send? Here I am, send me."

Tabor Youth Mission in Tremembé, Brazil

Adoração na Noite Jovem Adoración en la Noche Jóven Adoration in the Youth Night Anbetung in der Nacht der Jugend
Bispo Dom Carmo e os Jovens Missionários Mons. Dom Carmo com misioneros jóvenes Bishop Dom Carmo with young missionaries Bischof Dom Carmo mit Missioneren
Carmelitas que rezaram pelas Missões Carmelitas que rezaron por las Misiones Carmelite Nuns prayed for the Missions Die Karmelitinnen beteten für die Misiones
Famílias recebem os Missionários e a Peregrina Familias reciben los misioneros y la Peregrina Families receive the missionaries and the Pilgrim MTA Familien nehmen die Missionare und die Pilgermutter auf
Festa na Noite Jovem. Fiesta en la Noche de la Juventud Feast at the Youth Night Jugendfest
Jovens Missionários caminham ao Santuário Misioneros jovenes caminando rumbo al Santuario On the way to the Shrine Auf dem Weg zum Heiligtum Fotos: Cassio Leal © 2008 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

BRAZIL, Cássio Leal, Danilo dos Santos and Juliana Gelatti. The Apostolic Youth from the Southeastern Region held its first youth mission in Tremembé. Carrying the Pilgrim Mother Thrice Admirable in their hands, they took Mary and her Son everywhere they went, demonstrating the joy and enthusiasm of being young Catholics.

The city of Tremembé, located in the valley of Paraía 130 Km. from San Pablo, will never be the same. On July 18^th thru the 26^th, about sixty missionaries from different places in Brazil and Chile changed the routine of the city. Each missionary walked along the roads with the Pilgrim MTA, displaying the young face of Christ and the Church.

The Tabor Youth Mission is a response to a petition from the Pope in a speech directed to the youth in the stadium of Pacaembu, in May of last year: "I send you out, therefore, on the great mission of evangelizing young men and women. Be apostles of youth and you will know the new civilization of love." As a response to this call, the motto for the missions was a verse from book of the Prophet Isaiah: "Whom shall I send? Here I am, send me." (Is. 6:1-8) This motto guided the missionaries throughout the mission; each one placed themselves as an instrument of God, with all of their gifts and limitations. They always trusted in Divine Providence, each missionary felt called to be here to serve Christ, the Church, and the people of Tremembé, living an authentic communitarian life.

The Pilgrim MTA opened the doors for the missionaries

The preparations for the arrival of the missionaries to Tremembé took place in the Atibaia Shrine. The youth were sent forth from the Shrine, where each one was given a missionary cross. The missionaries were divided into groups of twos and threes, and each group received a Pilgrim MTA, which accompanied them everyday during the visits to the homes and during the rosaries and Holy Masses. The Pilgrim MTA showed her strength during the visits to the families, since she was the key that opened the doors of people’s hearts; they could not resist the Mother of God, and they welcomed Her in their homes.

Everyday of the missions there was a "missionary sending forth" with the phrase: She is the Great Missionary! She will work Miracles! And the groups were commissioned with a Pilgrim MTA. The daily sending forth was essential so that everyone would have the confidence and certainty that they were truly being sent forth to evangelize, and the MTA would work the miracles necessary in the mission.

The youth were divided into two missionary communities, which corresponded to the two parishes of Tremembé: Good Shepherd Parish and Saint Joseph’s Parish; there were about 30 people in each community. The support the coordinators of the Rosary Campaign of the city and that of the pastors were basic in carrying out the missions. The affection and the welcome that was given to the pilgrims turned Tremembé into a "home for each missionary". Every detail was anticipated from the donation of the food, the preparation of the schools that served as a dwelling for the communities. Posters and signs throughout the city announced the missions and welcomed the missionaries. For this reason, the dream of sending young missionaries to Tremembé would not have been possible without the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign.

During the week of the missions, the youth had the support of four advisors, two for each community: Father Matheus Bernades and Sister Ana Maria do Santos Lima for Saint Joseph’s community and Claudio Daniels, a student of the Schoenstatt Fathers from Chile, and Sister M. Diná Batista de Souza for the community of Good Jesus. Each community also had a Rector and Spiritual Advisor: Rodrigo Biasini (Atibaia) and Marcia Micha (Jaraguá) for the Saint Joseph Community; Cassio Leal (Jaraguá) and Adrian Kismajoros (Jaraguá) for the community of Good Jesus. The Main Nucleus of the Missions assisted the Rectors and the Spiritual Advisors, coordinating the teams and the tasks. Each community carried out work with the children, youth and adults. After their work they prayed the rosary and they celebrated Holy Mass in the parishes.

The Bishop’s visit and the young face of the Church during Youth Night

At mid-week, the young missionaries were surprised by the visit of the Bishop for the Diocese of Taubaté, Bishop Carmo Joao Rhoden; Tremembé belongs to this diocese. This visit made the youth more enthusiastic, and they felt acknowledged by the Church for their work and the Bishop gave them a blessing.

One of the outstanding moments was the Youth Night, an event that was held in the Square of the Basilica of the Good Shepherd, which enthused the youth from the two parishes involved with the missions. More than 200 youth attended. Two Catholic bands from the city and the missionary band excited the youth, who sang and danced praising Christ. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament took place that night, and Jesus was made present in the young face of the Church through the Eucharist. Father Matheus gave the blessing, which closed the great missionary night that demonstrated the strength of the young Catholics.

She worked miracles and "Tremembé trembled"

On the last day of the missions, the missionary youth were invited to lunch with the coordinators of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign. During the afternoon, they visited the Carmelite Convent of Tremembé, where the Carmelite Sisters, who were praying for the intentions of the Mission, welcomed them. During the closing the Holy Mass of Thanksgiving, each missionary felt their hearts ache when they realized that the mission days were over. At the same time, they were all very happy for the many fruits and blessings that this visit brought to the inhabitants of Tremembé. A certainty calmed their hearts: "She worked many miracles: The Tabor Youth Mission was given the name, Timbre Trembles, since the intention was to make the city tremble.

Undoubtedly, with Mary’s intercession, the missionaries made Temembré Tremble. God was present in every home that was visited, in each person who welcomed the missionaries joyfully, in the smiles and purity of the children, in the welcome, and in the life stories of the people. The phrase used for the sending forth resounded in our hearts at every moment: "Whom shall I send? Here I am, send me."

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