They entrusted their youth to the Mother and Queen of Schoenstatt

Catholic Youth Conference in the Diocese of Frederico Westphalen

convocó a trescientos jóvenes el domingo 31 de mayo Some 300 youth came on May 31st Gut 300 Jugendliche kamen am 31. Mai zusammen
Coreografía Choreograph Szenische Darstellung
Mons. Antonio Carlos Rossi Seller Bishof Antonio Carlos Rossi Séller Bischof Antonio Carlos Rossi Seller
En la catedral In the cathedral In der Kathedrale
Oración Prayer Gebet
Consagración Dedication Weihe der Jugend an Maria Fotos: Frederico Westphalen© 2009

BRASIL; Laisa Bisol y Hna. M. Rosangela de Souza. Three hundred youth in the city of Frederico Westphalen, Rio Grande Do Sul on Sunday, May 31st were convoked for the first Catholic Youth Conference. The Catholic Youth demonstrated that they were happy, had fun, sang, were vibrant, and above all that they sought to conquer a great ideal.

This conference was an initiative of the Schoenstatt Girls’ Youth. In order to carry it out, they invited the Youth Movements from Frederico Westphalen parish, and they prepared the conference with them for youth from other cities of the diocese. They worked with great effort and untiring dedication for three months to plan and organize the entire conference. In this way, they experienced the blessings of the meeting, which was a complete success in spite of the rain, cold, and wind.

Youth from the parishes of Palmitinho, Vista Alegre, Taquaruçu do Sul, Erval Seco, Ametista do Sul, Tenente Portela, Humaitá, Crissiumal, Seberí, Rodeio Bonito Bonito, some from Santa Catarina, from the cities of Tunápolis e Inora d’ Oeste, and Tunápolis e Iporã d’Oeste attended the conference. There were youth from other cities that tried to come, but the torrential rain on the eve of the conference made it impossible to cross the Várzea River, which prevented them to reach Frederico Wesphalen. The joy and enthusiasm of the conference was not diminished in spite of the intense cold and wind that blew all day.

United in Christ, together for an ideal

The conference began with the welcoming of the Cross and picture of the Mother Thrice Admirable Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt. Next a video was shown about some of the preparation for the conference, and in the opening prayer, they implored the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Father Jerónimo Garardi then gave a talk about the motto for the conference: United in Christ, together for an ideal. What's more during the morning, there was time for reflection, which was led by two of the youth.

After lunch they met again to continue the program. Of course the schedule included time to rest, there was dancing and music in which the youth demonstrated their joy on the stage, and all of this was accompanied by the conference band with music and songs composed by young Schoenstatt musicians, who prepared many songs and activities. Within this atmosphere of joy, the choir from the regional University presented three songs. The Diocesan Bishop, Monsignor Antonio Carlos Rossi Seller, participated, and he displayed his satisfaction with this conference and with the youth. In his presentation, he spoke about the importance of having clear goals, objectives to reach in life, and an ideal that can only be fulfilled in Christ.

Caravan to the Cathedral

The bishop descended from the stage, and he mingled with the youth by conversing with them. In this way, they were able to ask him many questions and clarify some doubts that they had.

The highlight of the conference was when they went in a caravan to the Cathedral for the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and to receive the Eucharistic blessing followed by the Holy Mass presided by the Bishop and con-celebrated by four priests from the diocese: Father Leonir Fainello, pastor of the Cathedral, Father Tiago Womman, youth leader for the diocese, Father Jacson Pinheiro, pastor of Severi, and Father Leandro Piffer, parochial vicar of Nonai. After the celebration, the Bishop invited the youth to consecrate themselves to the Blessed and Mother, and kneeling before the picture of the Blessed Mother, they prayed the prayer that had been prepared for this moment. The priests and the youth also knelt, and together they prayed the consecration prayer entrusting themselves to the Mother and Queen.

• Source: www.tabormta.org

Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, USA/amj