Laity and the charism of Betharram

“Here we are, without hesitation, without reserve, for the love of your mission” is the motto of the hundred young lay people who have taken the path of mission, a great experience in which God has not failed to surprise us and to fill us with joy.

Organized by the FVD Group, the mission took place from 30 September to 3 October in the city of La Colmena, located 140 km from Asuncion, capital of Paraguay, where religious Betharramites work in 29 “chapels” (or “Christian communities”). Fr. Osvaldo Caniza SCJ, Superior and parish priest, greeted us and helped to ensure the smooth running of the mission in nine of the twenty-nine “chapels”: Potrero Alto, Potrero Garay, San Antonio, San Miguel Barrientos, Jahapety, Barrero Azul, Apyragua Martínez and Cue.

It is difficult to explain all that we experienced during the mission. Days of rich experiences and emotions filled our hearts with indescribable love and showed us once again that Jesus still calls us and sends us to share joy.

If the mission took place during the first weekend of October, the preparation began much earlier, with meetings of the organizing group, preparatory visits to La Colmena and training meetings and prayer with the missionaries.

During this mission, we were fortunate to be received by the families with whom we prayed, meditated on the Word, shared stories, laughed and cried. We also ran workshops for young people and children, we took time to play with the children and chatted with the young people. In addition, thanks to the support of the priests of the Congregation of Betharram, we could share the Eucharist with the members of each of the chapels.

We had a particularly moving and emotional moment during the adoration of the Eucharist, presided by Fr. Raul Villalba SCJ, spiritual assistant of our FVD group, with whom we shared what we experienced during those intense missionary days.

Getting to know all these people, listening to the story of each one, their difficulties and weaknesses, as well as their joys and successes, allows us to believe that we can help Jesus into many hearts, allowing us to be used simply as instruments. We had the opportunity to live and pass on to others the idea that happiness is not based on material things, but on the love that can be found in God.

The mission is one of the best experiences that can be given to us to live to grow in faith. To be able to trust God completely and reach out to other people, some of whom have an urgent need for us and others who teach us what loving God really means, in the turmoil of everyday and financial problems. This simplicity invites us to see the face of God in the essential things of life.

The work was intense, but so is the presence of God at all times and in every person. God makes us perceive his presence in many ways. It was manifested amongst other ways, by giving us the gift of providential rain after a long drought that hit farmers in the area. Again He offered us the opportunity to play a modest role in His project.

After that experience, we thank God and all those who contributed to this mission in one way or another, a mission we have accomplished for His love and according to His will. We will face again the realities of the world, but we are convinced that being a missionary is a lifestyle worth living. God is with us all the time, but now it is up to us to continue to discover this love and to share it with others. We are always instruments in the service of Christ and of the Church, saying, “Here I am, without delay, without reserve for the love of your mission. “

Noelia Fleitas Acevedo
Commission for the FVD Missions