Since September 9, we have been publishing news about the International Congress celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate, which is being held in Santa Maria, Brasil. There are more than 700 participants from 25 countries.
The national and local media have provided a lot of information. Here we gather the testimonies of some participants, compiled and published by the Santa Maria Daily:
Fr. Alexandre Awi
I am Brazilian, and knowing that a gaucho conquered the world with his simplicity, with serious, profound, passionate, and enthusiastic work, is a source of pride. Perhaps many here in Santa Maria do not recognize the greatness of his presence. Still, this event shows that the city’s borders were opened to the world through the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate and João Pozzobon, now venerable. He walked the roads of the Fourth Colony, sleeping on the road to bring the Blessed Mother to families. João’s radical surrender to Jesus, through the hands of Mary, and his service to the poorest continue to inspire the world. This example is a sign of hope that is reaffirmed today at this international gathering.
We hope that he will soon also be beatified by the Church. Perhaps the first permanent deacon. He is a father, someone who serves as an example to many and continues to win many hearts.
Humberto Pozzobon (son of Venerable João)
As children, we were not aware of the greatness of the things (our father) did, because he was a normal father, like all the others. Now, with time, we realize that he was very different from what we thought, much greater than we imagined. For the family, he was very loving, very dedicated. He used to say, “If I neglect my family, it is useless to move the world.” We are very proud. It is a great joy to have a father like that. We feel that emotion, that gratitude for having such a wonderful father who brought so many people together. It is simply fantastic.
Guadalupe Teresita Benavidez (Argentina)
“I got to know João Pozzobon thanks to the Youth Pilgrim Mother Apostolate formation last year, and he really inspires me to keep going, always to walk hand in hand with the Blessed Mother. With his strength and momentum, I want to go everywhere she wants to take me and be her little feet. The Schoenstatt family is so big that I felt a call within me saying, “I have to go, I have to participate in this.” It has been perfect to be here, and it is something for which I will always be grateful to the Blessed Mother. I have really enjoyed everything so far. I love the city, and we have been welcomed with delightful weather and warm sunshine.”
Maria Eugenia Falcone (Argentina)
“I also got to know the life of Mr. João during the training for the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate. I loved the story because it inspired me to be a missionary, to continue sharing the love she gives me with others, and not keep it just for myself. After all, it is not a treasure meant only for me, but something to offer to others. I am also inspired by the fact that he lived with such responsibility: work, family, and at the same time, mission, bringing the love of Jesus to others. Being here seems like a miracle to me. It was not something I expected, but Mother gave it to me as a gift. It is incredible to be where it all began, to visit the places that marked the history of Schoenstatt and the Church. Here we can renew the Covenant of Love, the missionary impulse, and return to the source of grace where Mr. João began. Being in these places where he lived and with his family is to relive the beginning of the missionary sending. It is also like lighting that first fire in us to take it to the places where we will continue walking with the Blessed Mother.
Marta Cristina Pérez Martíne (Guatemala)
“I have known the story of João Pozzobon since my childhood because my aunt was the first Schoenstatter in my country. Through her, my whole family became involved in the Movement. I have been a missionary of the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate for many years. My city is Esquipulas, considered the capital of faith in Central America. That is why it is a great joy to be here, with representatives from some 25 countries, all united by love and by the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate. João Pozzobon’s story is fantastic. He was a committed layman who understood the need to bring Christians to an encounter with Mary. His work crossed borders and today reaches so many places. He brought the Blessed Mother not only into homes, but also into people’s hearts. Being here in Santa Maria is exciting. We can share this same love, lived in different ways, with people from all over the world. We are going to learn more about the story of João Pozzobon and also exchange experiences with other countries that have come from so far away.
Deacon Fernando Ignacio González Baquerizo (Ecuador)
“I worked in Guayaquil (the largest city in Ecuador), but I traveled to the interior of the country. Then a priest friend invited me to Schoenstatt, but I couldn’t go because I was traveling on Monday and would return on Friday. And what happened? Two years later, he passed away, and I went to Schoenstatt because the entire exhumation ceremony was held there. That day, someone approached me and asked if I wanted to participate in Schoenstatt activities. I said yes. I then began participating in a formation program, initially as a missionary group for married couples. I was there for quite some time until I was transferred and eventually retired. Then I went to live at the beach. One day, I was in charge of the church in my region, and some missionaries I didn’t know asked me to make the church available for a meeting. I opened the church, they met, and that’s how I met Sister Norma. She asked me, “What are you doing here?” I replied, “I live here.” “Then why don’t you work for the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate?” I’ve been doing it ever since. There were only eight missionaries then; now there are 44 of us.
The experience of living here at this moment is extraordinary. Being here filled me with great joy because I got to know the place where he lived. I read a book about his life and verified everything; we now understand perfectly that he is a holy man and an inspiration to us. We left on September 7 at 8 p.m., arrived in Lima at dawn, and arrived here in Brazil at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, but that’s okay. I totally agree. I can’t say it’s bad or boring, because I came with high expectations. I wanted to learn and know more about the deacon.
Fr. Johnson Panthappillil John (India)
“I learned about João Pozzobon’s story when I was studying with the Fathers in Schoenstatt, Germany. Then I returned to my country and began working with the Movement. Later, in Latin America, especially in Paraguay, I learned even more about Deacon João Pozzobon.
For me, he is a great inspiration: a humble man, a father, an ordinary person who did simple things and, in doing so, attained holiness. That simplicity is also a call for us: to live like him, in the family, as deacons, as Christians throughout the world.
I come from India, from very far away. I work there with the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate, which is growing and reaching many places. I came to learn more, to visit the areas related to him, to pray for my homeland, and to take this mission back to my country. I feel very blessed to be here, in this land so dear to João Pozzobon.
Fr. Ntiranyibagira Longin (Burundi)
“I am a Schoenstatt priest, director of the Mount Zion Gikungu Shrine in Bujumbura. The Movement in my country began strongly in 1962, and the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate arrived in 1974. Since then, it has been part of our pastoral work, with the Fathers and Sisters of Mary. What inspires me most about João Pozzobon is the pastoral activities that include the Marian mission, which involves taking the image of Mary to families and small communities, bringing people together to pray, and strengthening Christian life through the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate. It took us more than 20 hours to travel to Santa Maria. Nine of us came: a priest, two Sisters of Mary, and six lay people. Since we arrived, we have learned a great deal and had experiences that will benefit us in our pastoral work in Burundi and also in the region, including Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, and now Kenya.
Maria Eliane Nascimento Cesário (Brazil)
“I learned about the Movement a long time ago and was moved by the story of João Pozzobon. He was married, became a widower, had to work and raise his children, but he never used that as an excuse not to serve the Blessed Mother. He embraced the call and, thanks to him, today the images are in every home, not just in churches. This is my first time in Santa Maria, and I consider it a miracle to be here. I always wanted to come. When I arrived at the Shrine, I felt fulfilled, as if it were really a call from the Blessed Mother. I earned this gift of 75 years. The trip was long: we left Caruaru at 10:00 p.m., passed through Recife, then Porto Alegre, and arrived in Santa Maria almost 26 hours later. We hadn’t showered yet, but it was worth it. The story of João, told in the form of a play, moved me deeply. It is different from reading it in a book. I am a vocation promoter, I represent him, and I brought the little chapel with me.
María del Carmen Vázquez (Mexico)
“I came from Mexico with a joyful heart for this great jubilee, which we prepared with great affection, with many contributions to the Capital of Grace and with love for the Apostolate and service to our brothers and sisters. During the two days of the congress at the university, we learned a great deal, and now we continue to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate, something we have long desired. It has been a long journey, more than 12 hours, almost a day and a half. But it is not tourism, it is not leisure: it is spiritual preparation to learn more about the Apostolate. It may seem unbelievable, but when you are in love with the mission, it is worth dedicating time and effort to it. Being in Santa Maria is exciting. We see the greatness of a man who was so small in the eyes of the world, but filled with the Holy Spirit. I don’t see him as a hero, but as a humble man who knew how to listen to the voice of God. This teaches us that we can all seek holiness in our daily activities, whether as a mother in the family or by bringing the Gospel to the most fragile, even those who live in poverty of heart. I am very excited and happy. My spirit is filled with joy at being able to participate in this moment and to follow the example of João Pozzobon’s life.
Claudia Altagracia Magallanes Figueroa (Dominican Republic)
“The story of João Pozzobon reached us in the community of Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic, where we have a shrine founded in 1973. There we received formation and learned about his mission. What inspires me most is that he took the Pilgrim Mother to all countries, so that everyone could know the Mother and Queen, Thrice Admirable, Victorious of God.”
Maritza Hernández (Dominican Republic)
“What inspires me most is that he took the Pilgrim Mother to every country so that everyone could get to know the Mother and Queen, Thrice Admirable, Victorious of God.”
Photos: Guilherme Brum / PMSM
With information from diariosm.com.br
