The second part of the Holy Mission 2022, under the motto “Listen, my people”, took place from 27 to 31 July 2022 in the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Villa Ángela. This mission took place within the framework of celebrating the 85th anniversary of the parish’s existence (1937-2022) and the 80th anniversary of the Redemptorist presence (1940-2020).
After the January mission in the city of 60,000 inhabitants, the July mission covered 16 rural chapels (countryside) belonging to our parish.
This time around 290 missionaries from the different communities of the parish took part in the mission, accompanied by the Redemptorist Missionaries of the parish, presbyters Martin Zubik, Marcos Copa Ruiz and Raúl Alcaraz, and the support of three other priests from the city, Fr Vladimir Meister, Fr Dario Bre and Fr Jorge Cardozo. Jorge Cardozo also accompanied as an advisor to 15 young people from different parts of the Vice-Province of Resistencia, who participated in serving and discerning during this time in the Rural Vocational Mission.
The logistics began with mapping sectors, meetings, the designation of missionary groups and the transfer to the mission centres. On Monday 25th at 20.00, the sending out mass was held, and then on Tuesday, the missionaries from the most distant centres were transferred to their places where they remained until the end of the mission. Those in closer areas came and went daily to visit and participate in the announcements. Each day’s schedule was organised as follows: visits during the day and announcements in the evening, at times that varied according to the community’s facilities.
Each day of the mission ended with praises, preaching and testimonies, for young adults and children based on the kerygmatic proclamation, with the following outline: Day 1: The Love of the Father; Day 2: The Sin of the World and Jesus Solution; Day 3: Conversion; Day 4: Accept Jesus: Faith and New Life.
The closing of the Holy Mission took place in each chapel, with the Closing Mass with the priest appointed for that community, followed by a communal lunch.
The rural mission stage came to an end but continues post-mission. 171 children, 62 youth and 200 adults participated in the announcements. In addition, 24 baptisms were performed, and 1250 houses were visited. The missionaries will continue with the permanent visit to encourage the revival of these communities, following the example of our founder St. Alphonsus, trying to reach all the most distant and renew the spirit of the Church.
Vicente Javier Ovando
