National Meeting of Coordinators

On November 22, 23 and 24, the first National Meeting of Advisors of the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother Apostolate was held in preparation for its 75th anniversary in 2025, continuing with the Synodal Path Project. Thirty-eight people participated in this online event, among them the National Director of the Schoenstatt Movement, Father Vandemir Meister, the other Regional Directors, the advisors of the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate and other invited advisors.

The meetings, which lasted approximately two hours each, began at 7:30 p.m. and their purpose was to prepare the celebration of the 75th anniversary in September 2025 of the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother Apostolate.

A look at the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother Apostolate in Brazil

On the first night, motivated by the words of Deacon Joao Luiz Pozzobon on September 10, 1980, the advisors began their meeting with a look at the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother Apostolate in Brazil.

It was an opportunity to delve into the birth and development of the Apostolate on Brazilian soil, and to take a look at the current state of affairs as we approach an important jubilee, following a pandemic that has had many consequences for the Apostolate itself. There were several presentations about the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate and the evening continued with some discussions, such as the nature and purpose of the Apostolate and its relationship with the other communities within the Schoenstatt Movement.

One more step on the “Synodal Path”

On the second day, the final summary of the answers sent through the online questionnaire was presented, referring to the first phase of the national investigation with the coordinators of the Schoenstatt Rosary Apostolate known as the “Synodal Path”. The first stage of this process consisted in receiving the responses from the different coordinators and missionaries of the Apostolate throughout Brazil.

The second stage consisted in returning these responses to the respective diocesan coordinators, who then had to prepare a diocesan summary.

The third stage, based on the diocesan summaries, consisted in the elaboration of a national summary.

Based on this national summary, the advisors were able to consider the proposals and, divided into groups, make concrete suggestions on each of the questions presented in the questionnaire.

Casting light on the National Coordinators’ Meeting

The third and final meeting had the goal of looking towards the National Meeting of Coordinators of the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother Apostolate that will take place between September 7 and 10, 2023 in Atibaia/SP.

This meeting of national coordinators will have as its main objective the immediate promotion of the Jubilee celebrations of the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother Apostolate in the different parishes and dioceses where they are located.

Several ideas and reflections have emerged for the celebration of this jubilee both at the national and international level, although they still need to be discussed and put into practice. Among the various suggestions, the importance of making the Apostolate and the person of Deacon John Louis Pozzobon known through different means of communication was stressed, as well as the need of taking a deeper look at the mission of the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother Apostolate for our times.

This historic meeting of coordinators from all over Brazil, with a rich exchange of ideas and opinions, was a strong contribution to this process on the road to the Jubilee. We trust that our beloved Pilgrim Mother, the Great Missionary, will continue to work many miracles.

Source: Schoenstatt Brasil