February 2012 – year 12 – nº 85
INTRODUCTION…
New Prayer’s Corner
Christ invites us to journey toward him and to love him and to love our neighbor so that we might become holy. Thus we attempt to give to others, to offer ourselves, to put aside our selfishness, to go beyond our possibilities, to trust in the power of God who multiplied the five loaves and the two fish, who made a fisherman the visible head of his Church, and who made saints of other men and women who were “fishing”. For the members of the Vincentian Marian Youth Association this challenge is summarized in the motto that the International Council presents to us this year: Like Mary, give something more! LIKE MARY. If our beloved Mother remained faithful even at the foot of the cross, it is because one day she dared to give herself unconditionally to God and thus placed the past, the present, and the future in God’s hands. This “yes” was proclaimed at a specific time in Mary’s life but she renewed this affirmation at every moment in her life, regardless of her mood or the circumstances. This yes, we say it in VMY through the Marian Consecration, which is the soul of our Association and needs to be rediscovered. This is a unique act that the members pronounce in a solemn manner at a specific time and is renewed each year as well as in their daily lives. This is the case for many members and should be the experience of all our members. This year, as an Association, we want to come to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the meaning and the implications of our consecration, of our “yes” to God through Mary. We have formulated some catechetical lessons that will help us in this effort. Are we giving 100%? Do we attempt to give 100%? Under the motto, “GIVE A LITTLE!” the International Team has proposed, with the help of everyone
to raise money in order to increase our Patrimony Fund and thus guarantee for the next twenty-five years the selffinancing of the Association on an international level. We are profoundly grateful for the economic support of our elder brothers and sisters in the Vincentian Family and we want to let them know that the sense of belonging to the Association and co-responsibility are a test of our maturity and our love for the Association (Final Document, 2010, #5). We have proposed a specific amount for each country that will enable us to achieve our objective. In accord with Jesus’ recommendation: should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles (Matthew 5:41), we hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity to create or increase your own Patrimonial Fund. For each member of the Association, this campaign means going beyond what one feels he/she is capable of doing: let us personally commit ourselves to be bold and to invite others to collaborate with us in the mission of the Association; let us commit ourselves to be generous in our poverty and despite the economic crisis … the perspective of this campaign is to allow us to better serve youth and the most disadvantaged. This campaign of self-financing will extend from 2012 to 2014. As we begin this campaign the Council wants us to remember something essential: this is not only a time to do more (create more activities, etc), but it is also a time to be more, to live in a more authentic manner that which we are called to be. So then, with confidence in Mary, let us offer to the Lord our loaves and fish, our small steps toward self-financing and let us do this with the surety that God will make us capable to remaining faithful to our plan of love, thus enabling us to produce much fruit. Like Mary, give something more! Throughout this year of 2012 this is our prayer for you, members and friends of the Association.
Yasmine Cajuste INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
VMY International Bulletin - February 2012
AMERICA... Brazil: On January 29th, the National Council had a virtual meeting with the Provincial Secretaries of the Vincentian Marian Youth in Brazil in order to deal with the VI National Assembly (among other things). This Assembly will take place from June 7-10, 2012 in Belém, Province of Amazônia. The theme of this assembly will be: Vincentian Marian Youth: live the mission through the unity of our faith; the motto of the assembly is: Like Mary, offer more of yourself.
The Vincentian Marian Youth in Brazil are involved in activities to prepare for World Youth Day that will be held in Rio 2013. The members actively participate in the events and collaborate with the organizing commissions of the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro. United States: The Association in this country is organized in two regions: the Southeast (Perryville, Saint Louis and Bloomington) and the West (San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Anchorage [Alaska]). On January 15th the National Council met in Perryville and the international president was present for this meeting. Argentina/Paraguay/Uruguay: From January 15-29, twenty members of the Vincentian Marian Youth participated in a provincial mission that took place in a rural area of Argentina called Quimili which is located in the Province of Santiago del Estero. For the third consecutive year they visited Santa Rosa, Cejolao and Otumpa… this took place with twenty-nine missionaries among whom were laymen and women, three seminarians, two young men discerning a vocation, three members of the Congregation of the Mission and a Daughter of Charity.
Guatemala: the National Assembly and the election of a new council took place on January 13, 14, and 15. Peru: In February the members of the Association sent us their plan for activities during the year 2012. Costa Rica: From January 6-8 there was a National Meeting in Palmares (the nature of which was formation of the members). The participants in this encounter visited a nursing home and there distributed to the residents some items that were made in the workshops during their meetings. Haiti: From February 18-21 the Association will hold its Tenth National Assembly with the theme: Mary, through your Immaculate Conception, you make us poor and humble of heart.” Cuba: On February 3-5, they held their National Assembly in Madruga, with the theme: “Christ is our hope”. WESTERN EUROPE... Portugal: On December 29th, 2011 the members of the Vincentian Marian Youth and the Vincentian Family honored Sister Conceição Laranjeiro de Cucujães during a program that was broadcast by RTP “Portugal no Coração”. The leaders of the Association gathered together in Fatima for a formation session (the theme of the session was acceptance of others).
On March 3rd there will be a special musical activity (featuring some of the finest music in Portugal) that will be part of a special dinner. This activity is meant to help the Association move toward autonomy in the area of finances. Spain: On February 5th the National Council met to plan their activities: Assembly, gathering of advisors, rural easter and youth easter, youth meetings and convocations, school of Benegalbon, encounter at Benegalbon. Italy: Bebruary 25-26 the National Council will meet in Naples to evaluate their previous activities and to plan new activities.
VMY International Bulletin - February 2012
CONSECRATION IN THE VMY “To Jesus with Mary”… We are the young children of Mary and naturally as we take the Virgin Mary as our model this supposes that we are continually inspired by her example, trust in her intercession, and identify ourselves with her (especially in her practice of virtue and her unconditional surrender to God). With the desire to reinforce these values in the Association, the participants in the General Assembly in Rome 2000 committed us to promote and deepen the Marian consecration that is proper to the Association as a sign of our belonging to Mary. The same formula will be used by all the National Assemblies (Final Document 3.3). Throughout these years the International Team has taken a first step and has drawn up a beautiful and simple formula for the Marian consecration and has prepared some material that will guide us in this matter. All of this material has been made available to the National Councils. The Association offers to the youth the Consecration to Christ through Mary as a way of making explicit their baptismal consecration and to make of their life a total gift to God through service and evangelization of the poor, choosing Mary as Mother and model. The Consecration to Christ through Mary will be the result of deep knowledge of the Association, of formation within the perspective of faith, and of a serious discernment in the Holy Spirit (International Statutes 10.1 and 10.2). This consecration/self-surrender/option is made as a way of following Christ, a path that young men and women opt for in order to journey through life like Mary did. The act of consecration is not some superficial act of piety or the end of some regulated routine. Rather it is a way of living, a lifestyle: it is a way of harmonizing our life with that of Mary and provides us with a way of living our baptismal consecration with greater intensity and fidelity. The Marian consecration is a personal and free option; it is an invitation to live the demands of baptism and to wholly commit ourselves to the following of Christ, using as our model the generous self-offering of the Virgin Mary. Our act of consecration is a response of faith that becomes a program for life. It is our “yes” to Christ’s invitation: If anyone wishes … follow me (Cf., Luke 9:23). To consecrate one’s self is to live in an intense manner in Christ and for Christ, following the gospel and searching for the perfection of love. Lord Jesus, following the example of Mary, I want to DISCOVER you! With her, Mother of the Church, and in the heart of a serving community, I want to be a youthful presence, committing myself generously to evangelization. Lord Jesus, following the example of Mary, I want to FOLLOW you! With Mary, favored daughter of God the Father, and in faithfulness to my baptismal consecration, I want to be like You, the evangelizer of the poor, by being a builder of Life, Love and Peace! Lord Jesus, like Mary, I want to LOVE you! With her, the prayerful Virgin, full of the Holy Spirit, I want to make of my life a way of Prayer and Service, in simplicity, and humility, assuming the spirituality of the Magnificat. Lord Jesus, like Mary, I want to OFFER myself! With her, the first disciple, I want to open my heart and my mind to the mission, so that the gifts that You have given me may be at the service of the young of the world, thus becoming your hands, Lord, for others. "Oh Mary conceived without sin. Pray for us who have recourse to you."
Argelys Vega
INTERNATIONAL COUNCILOR
" I beg you, my dear Sisters, to use these gifts willingly and joyously for His love in the service of the poor. Encourage one another, and may your mutual good example speak louder than any words could. Profit from all the instructions you will receive from the charity of the good Abbé de Vaux. Above all practice holy cordiality and mutual respect toward one another. (SWLM:450 – Letter of Saint Louise de Marillac to the Sisters at Angers)."
VMY International Bulletin - February 2012
WORLD YOUTH DAY… For many years I dreamt of being able to participate in the activities of the Vincentian Marian Youth. Finally as the result of circumstances (or perhaps I should say as a result of God’s will) I was able to have such an experience in August 2011 in Madrid. There I met about fifty Vincentians from Lebanon … the majority of these men and women were members of the Vincentian Marian Youth Association. That was an unforgettable experience. It was incredible to be in the presence of young people from all over the world, all speaking in different languages and sharing their customs and traditions. All had gathered together in the name of the Christian faith and the Word of God. I will also never forget one of the catechetical moments in which there was a presentation on the Blessed Virgin Mary. There was much enthusiasm as we gathered together and celebrated in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. It was very moving to listen to the testimonies of some young men and women as they spoke about the difficulties they encountered in expressing their Christian faith in their country. For me, those times when we gathered for Eucharistic Adoration were the most important prayer moments. I also remember some of the small details of our daily life during that time: the crowds in the metro and the restaurants, the ice cold water in the school where we slept, the last night of the World Youth Day celebration in Cuatro Vientos. I give thanks to God for this experience!
Marie Claire Mubarak VMY LEBANON
INTERNATIONAL…
CAMPAIGN
The Director General confirmed the following appointments: Father Mizael Donizetti Poggioli, CM (advisor, Brazil). On January 3rd, in Madrid, Ghislain Atmezing and Fr. Pavol Noga, CM participated in an evaluation meeting of the Organizing Committee of the last International Gathering of Vincentian Youth. From January 13-15 the international councilors, Ghislain Atemezing and Anh Thu Nguyen Thi represented the Vincentian Marian Youth in the International Meeting of the Vincentian Family which took place in Rome. The formation aspect of this gathering was focused on Frederic Ozanam and the Social Doctrine of the Church. Thirteen branches of the Vincentian Family were represented at this gathering. We remind the different countries to send the following items to the International Secretariat of the Vincentian Marian Youth: Annual report on activities and finances (by January 30th), annual plan of activities (by February 28th), National Formation Plan (first quarter), payment of annual quota (before June 30th if possible). On February 16-19, the meeting of the International Council will take place in Madrid, with the participation of Fr. Gregory Gay. We count on your prayers. The ISVMY thanks all the Advisors who sent their annual report for the year 2011. In March Argelys Vega (Councilor) and Fr. Pavol Noga, CM (Sub-director General) will participate in a formation session for the Advisors of the VMY in Central America. Be assured of our prayer!
We want to thank Fr. Alexis Cerquera Trujillo, author of the logo, for his collaboration and his creativity which he has placed at the service of the Vincentian Family. We also want to express our gratitude to those persons and countries who are supporting our campaign and we ask that those who have not responded to us to please do so in the coming days.
www.secretariadojmv.org