We tried to be present for him and we cried with him while gathering him into a big hug to show our love and support for him. It was a horrible experience for him and all of us. One of them, Danillo, who was part of my group doing visits, lost his father. Two of the members of the mission lost members of their families in a car accident. However, during our mission, a dark and sad cloud covered the shining sun. A total of 345 men gathered that day, and everyone came with an open heart and dedication to pray together. I cannot say enough about the beautiful devotion to Our Lady of Aparecida here in Brazil, It was really wonderful to be present to pray the Rosary with a big group of men who every week gather to pray the Rosary. I was called to be a disciple and plant seeds in this soil so they could to produce good fruit. I was called to be part of this mission to awaken and nourish my missionary vocation. 8: “Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” So I was able to realize how blessed I am because among all the people, among all the Dehonians around the world, I was there in Terra Boa, which in English means “Good Soil.” It is a perfect fit for the Gospel of Luke 8. Even days after our visit they remembered us and greeted us again with a nice smile and big hug every time we met. But these challenges were nothing compared to the gratitude we saw on the faces of the people we visited. It is true that it was a tiring experience that included long walks, super-hot weather, and visits at night that included different celebrations. And that is what Pope Francis is doing by inviting us to engage in inter-cultural and religious dialogue with other people and faiths. This is how this mission also gave me an intercultural and inter-religious experience that taught me again to be more respectful and understanding of other cultures and religions. “My ancestors are going to be very happy with your presence and offering,” they said to us. Furthermore, to make this experience even greater, I was invited to light incense as an offering to their ancestors. I was amazed by their knowledge about our founder as well as their love for Pope Francis. I was impressed by the way they spoke about Catholics and even more how they spoke about Fr. To my surprise and joy, in one of the many houses that I visited I had the opportunity to meet and get to know a Buddhist family. We met really humble people who opened not just the doors of their homes but their hearts to us as they shared with us their feelings. Entering each house was like opening a book and each page brought something completely different and new. The weather was very hot, but that did not stop us from our mission. In the same way, the people of Terra Boa were expecting our visits. What an incredible experience it was to see the young Dehonians who had so much enthusiasm in their heart for this experience. Divided into nine communities of mission in different areas of the city we visited many houses to share stories, ideas, and the Word of God. In 2017 the mission began in Terra Boa with 122 participants including priests, fraters (seminarians) and young lay Dehonians. Every three years a different city is selected to be the host city of the Brazil Youth Dehonian Missionaries. The first phase of the Youth Dehonian Mission (M.D.J) took place from January 13-22 in Terra Boa, Parana, in Brazil. On February 1 he will renew his temporary vows along with other SCJ students in Brazil. “Entering each house was like opening a book and each page brought something completely different and new” -Frater Juan Carlos Castañeda Rojasįrater Juan Carlos Castañeda Rojas is in Brazil, where he is doing a ministerial year with a focus on youth ministry. Participants at the Dehonian Youth Mission experience in Brazil
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