Be the Blessed Mother’s arms and feet

Illuminated rosary and consecration of missionaries on the 24th Anniversary of John Pozzobon’s death

Entrega de peregrinas Commissioning of new missionaries Übernahme der Pilgernden Gottesmutter
Santa Misa Holy Mass Heilige Messe
Lydia y su familia Lydia and her family Lydia und ihre Familie
Rosario Iluminado Illuminated Rosary Lichter-Rosenkranz
La ermita de Don Joao Pozzobon The John Pozzobon memorial Pozzobon-Gedenkstein Fotos: Silvia Losada © 2009

ARGENTINA, Silvia Losada. John Pozzobon, who initiated the Rosary Campaign: lived for the shrine and he walked until he met his death. John’s memorial at Shrine in Tucumán was framed with leafy tree and fragrant flowers, sheltered by the Blessed Mother. This was the beautiful scene that welcomed the pilgrims and missionaries who wanted to pay tribute to John Pozzobon, the "little donkey" of the Blessed Mother, on June 27th.

An enormous rosary made with candles covered the floor of the memorial. Our Fathers and Hail Marys were prayed with much emotion by all the participants. And children and youth also participated.

The Rosary and the Pilgrim MTA, which was his shield, accompanied John during this commemoration. He also received the affection and gratitude of those who continue his mission, who joined the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign to be the Blessed Mother’s arms and feet.

Children before God

A highlight of the event was that 17 new missionaries received the Pilgrim MTA during the Holy Mass celebrated by Father Martín Aversano.

In his homily, Father Martin stressed that "as people grow, they become less dependent on their parents. But the opposite occurs in spiritual growth: the closer we are to God, the more we depend on Him.

"That spiritual infancy should be cultivated, we should feel happy to be children before God", he concluded.

As a conclusion for the Holy Mass, the opening of the Year of Priest was recalled, and we prayed for priests and for priestly vocations.

Always walking besides the Blessed mother

As the missionaries received the Pilgrim MTA they expressed their emotions in different ways.

Lidia had been invited by Father Martin to give her testimony to those who attended, but tears prevented her from doing it. After Mass, she related that her life and that of her family changed completely through the visit of the Blessed Mother, who had been brought to them by her sister.

Upon seeing the transformations that She was accomplishing in her home, she asked to keep the Pilgrim MTA for some time so that she could mission to her neighbors. And the Blessed Mother continued working…!

When she visited the Shrine she did not doubt that she should be a missionary. Today, she gave her Yes to the Blessed Mother with all her heart, and she embraced the Pilgrim MTA with emotion. She related that two of her grandchildren also want to be little missionaries and they have begun their preparation.

Besides the 51 missionaries, who were consecrated at the beginning of the month, the Rosary Campaign of Tucumán is growing with 3 new male missionaries, another task that was faced during the current year.

"The finger of God pointed, and the Mother of God led everything, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, and the little donkey walked…" John said. Like him, the missionaries want to walk through the road, carrying the graces of the Shrine, always walking resides the Blessed Mother.

Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, USA