Mucho Gusto Porto
We returned from Lisbon, Portugal last Sunday evening after the International Congress for the New Evangelization (ICNE), where we had been the previous eight days. There were so many blessed experiences, both for us as missionaries, and for those we were ministering to. The Congress itself drew about 1,500 or so people from Portugal and around the world. The Emmanuel Community had a very strong presence and was in fact responsible for leading much of the mission activity, as well as liturgical portions of the program.The ESM was stationed in Portela’s Cristo Rei (Christ the King) parish, and we received such a warm and generous welcome there, that it was quite difficult to leave. All of the parishioners, and especially our host families really embraced us, and I believe they changed our lives as much as we changed theirs. In addition to our mission activity in Vasco de Gama, which I will elaborate on later, we organized two nights of mission in the parish. The first evening was for the youth and there was a Brazilian band that played outside, while we had adoration with music inside. The second evening was primarily for the adult generation and consisted of adoration and prayer with some music. The turnout was very good, and many of the parishioners also attended some of the events organized by the ICNE on the following nights.
Our mission in Vasco de Gama, which is pretty much a glorified Grand Central Station/Mall, was where we concentrated most of our mission work. As one of the other students here put it, the mission in Vasco de Gama was the place where, through our activity, we discovered our poverty with the gift of the salvation of God’s Grace. We learned so much about ourselves through the encounters we had with others. We were tested in ways many of us have never experienced before. Basically it was our job to reach out to the passersby on their way to the mall, home from work, or school, and invite them to either, come to the adoration tent we had set up on one of the levels—yes we had the Blessed Sacrament exposed everyday that week for people to come to—or to participate in some of the events that were planned for the Congress as a whole. We performed some skits/tableau presentations with various Christian messages. They went over really well. It was amazing to see how people stopped and really looked. Many were very touched, and it is our hope that even those people who didn’t stay around very long, at least could take some of the joy of the message, with them on their way.
It was also really difficult, at least for me, at points. The concept of working together as a team is a little challenging, for everyone I suppose, but we just had to make sacrifices and realize the ultimate goal was to be a light of Christ to the world. For me, it wasn’t until one of our last days in Vasco de Gama where I actually felt like I had achieved anything. I know that there were certainly encounters I’d had before that were important, and indeed my prayers have helped so many. But one particular day for me was truly blessed because of two people I met. One was a fifteen-year-old girl on the train. I invited her to a concert that night because it looked like she enjoyed music. I don’t know if she ever made it, but getting to talk to her on the train was so great. She’s an artist too, and we had so much in common…a common passion for creating and exploring truth! It was such a pleasure and blessing to meet her.
The other encounter was with a man from Mozambique, who’d been living in Norway, but was going to visit his family in southern Portugal. I was paired up with Fr. Thierry and we ended up speaking to this guy, who’s name is Flo. We invited him to join us at adoration in the tent. He was reluctant, and asked us why we had to go to someplace to be with God, if God was everywhere, and he could experience Him in his heart. We explained it in relation to a friendship. You have friends, and while you can carry the memory of them with you; experiences, joys, empathy in sadness—or you can talk to them on the phone, it’s just not the same as going to visit them in person, to be with them, at their house. He was moved by that and decided to give it a shot. Turns out—an hour and a half later—after spending a few moments in the tent, and more discussion—that he made the choice to go to confession; the first one of his life, even though he was raised Catholic. It was such an amazing gift for all of us of God’s mercy working actively our hearts. What a blessing to be able to close out our mission work in Vasco de Gama with that experience!
The experience of the other conferences and events organized for the Congress were just as fruitful. In addition to the testimonies, teachings, and liturgies we celebrated, three major events to speak of would be Fatima, the evenings of mercy, and the procession on Saturday. On Wednesday November 9th we took a pilgrimage to Fatima, which was the first time I’d been there. I’ve been to Lourdes, so I think I have at least one more major Marian pilgrimage site to get to before I die (i.e. Medjugoria). This pilgrimage was extra special to me because it was on the day of my best friend’s birthday, so I got to pray for her all day long. It was also the first time I think I really discovered and embraced the message of Fatima—to pray the rosary daily for sinners, for the conversion of the world. I was literally floored by it, and walking into the basilica I couldn’t help but fall to my knees in prayer. We didn’t have as much time as we would have liked to spend there, but I did get to visit the tombs of Jacinta and Francisco Marta; and I decided that if I ever have children I’m going to name one of them Jacinta—mainly because my Mom wanted to name me that, but my Dad said no.
On Thursday and Friday evenings we had a night of Mercy in one of the churches in Lisbon called San Domingoes (St. Dominic). In addition to veneration of the Blessed Sacrament there was also confession, and prayer teams available for those who wished to be prayed over. I was also asked to help lead prayer through singing. With the other Emmanuel Community school’s representation, the music ministry team numbered about fifteen. There are so many talented musicians; guitar players, flutists, pianists, and singers in this group, and it was a pleasure to pray with and learn from them. The church was jam packed both evenings, with young and old alike. It was especially touching to see families coming up to light a candle and spend a moment in prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament. And I think nearly every priest for about four hours was occupied with someone confessing.
Saturday was for us the culmination of the Congress. That evening there was a procession throughout the streets of Lisbon with the original statue of Our Lady of Fatima. She had been outside of Fatima only twice before. Once to Rome and the other to Lisbon. The procession drew a crowd of about 1 million people, following her in prayer and song. It was truly an awesome sight to behold. She was then placed in San Domingoes where there was confession available and overnight adoration. I went in with a few friends for about an hour, and even after that, the church was still packed, and difficult to get into and out of. It was such a time of grace.
We completely exhausted ourselves that week, but the contacts we made and experiences we had, have touched us all, and there is no doubt it will help us in our following missionary encounters. Please keep us, and the city of Lisbon in your prayers.
”Personal holiness, and intimate union with Christ, are the source and efficacy of evangelization.” JPII
posted by Mish @ 18:13
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