Earlier this summer, our bishop, Bishop Eugenio Andres Rugarcía Lira, celebrated Mass with us on a Sunday morning. Soon after our diocese was recognized anew by the Holy Father who conferred on us a new name.
In the past we have offered courses for Couples and a separate series of courses for Single Men and Women. Since the end of the pandemic we are offering some courses which overlap, opening the possibility of Couples and Single Men and Women studying together. The results are worth continued monitoring.
Twice per year we organize family days on two of these Sundays on which there are no courses. Spring and Fall are designated because the weather permits outdoor activities in a mild climate. This year our Family Day fell in mid-April, with lotería (think “bingo”) as the main event.
Team Leaders and Secretaries for the Sunday "School for Families" have been tackling safety training in many areas for several years. For example, Healthy Environment policies and precautions have been implemented and updated for several years for children's classrooms and bathrooms. In February, those in charge of different teams and environments were instructed on the use of fire extinguishers as well as warning signals, communications and related policies.
One of the "dinamicas" (a word borrowed from Spanish, meaning “activities”, “exercises”) was surrendering our crowns to our Lord as a gesture of yielding to His Authority. In Rev 4:10-11, an expression of worship by the four living creatures (four awesome beings) is their act of casting down their crowns before the throne of the God. They acknowledge His sovereignty and express that their power and authority is a service of sharing and participating in the same authority which is His.
Collateral damage we all recognize as the very often unforeseen consequences of a decision and its implementation which calls into question an entire strategy. In our case a collateral improvement– or we might assert collateral blessings– needs to be highlighted. One of the main objectives in our mission, "Seguidores de la Cruz", is to construct and to continually fortify a culture of life and love. Is the culture catching on?
Our adolescent girls were invited, accompanied by their mothers, to a conference on fertility awareness. Germaine Herman, who has a doctorate in physical therapy and is certified to teach Natural Family Planning, presented the material on the first weekend of October.
It was in the throes of the COVID restrictions that four adolescents from the mission celebrated their communal "quinceañera", their fifteenth birthday event. This is a long-standing tradition in the Latin American culture, akin to a debutante introduction of a maturing young girl to society, though usually the ceremony and festivities focus exclusively on one young lady.
We celebrated the Solemnity of Corpus Christi on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, according to the original calendar. In many diocese of Mexico the Bishop retains the Thursday observance. Many of the families of the mission were able to participate in the rites and procession in their home parish.
The Holy Week Retreat is a longstanding tradition for our Solteros (Single Men and Women in Seguidores de la Cruz). This year's format and focus were somewhat different. Catch the reaction of several participants. . . Joseph recounted his surprise at how easy it was to spend several days with no telephone.
Twenty couples made their annual one-year commitment to serve the Church primarily through their Sacrament of Matrimony and their apostolate in our mission, the "Seguidores de la Cruz".
Sister Dulce made her first full consecration to the Lord with the "Sisters of Servants of the Cross" on December 8. With the Blessed Mother interceding and being honored for the Immaculate Conception, Dulce is now called Sr. Dulce and joins the three other Consecrated Women who have made vows in our mission.
We will print and mail only one more issue of "La Semilla" our newsletter which keeps you up to date on the Mission of Servants of the Cross. After our next issue you will have to receive the newsletter digitally online. Get the details.
In April of 2019, shortly after the COVID 19 health measures were put in place world-wide, our bishop took to the air to bless all of his people in the major cities and populous areas of the diocese. He ascended after blessing the parishes from a pickup truck. Don't miss the video linked in the story which provides more details.
Seven pilgrims participated in the Canonization Mass of St Charles de Foucauld on May 15 in St Peter's square. Two of these were representatives of Servants of the Cross from the mission in Reynosa, Mexico. A pilgrimage presents the pilgrims a microcosm of life. Our existence on earth is a journey, in the presence of the Lord, to our true home in heaven for eternity.
Sunday, August 8, will initiate a new cycle of our "school year". Even though the COVID rate of infection has spiked on both sides of the boarder, we will move forward with a good number of courses with Couples, Families and Single Men & Women (Solteros) in attendance at El Rancho Nazaret. We'll be observing all of the Church and secular guidelines for protection from contagion, and are grateful to the Lord for this renewed opportunity.
Seven pilgrims participated in the Canonization Mass of St Charles de Foucauld on May 15 in St Peter's square. Two of these were representatives of Servants of the Cross from the mission in Reynosa, Mexico.
We have finally begun courses at "El Rancho Nazaret". While we continue to meet virtually in many instances, the courses which follow Sunday Mass, began on April 3rd.
Pepe and Mary celebrated their fiftieth Anniversary Mass on February 19. They have been foundational members of "Seguidores de la Cruz" since we arrived in Reynosa, Mexico.
Four of our young ladies are making waves in the movement of "Seguidores de la Cruz". Adrianna, Sarah Abigail, Ariadna and Monica celebrated their "Quinceañera" pageants together; an almost unheard of feat. In Spanish, the translation of fifteen (quince) and years (años) forms the contraction which indicates the title of the celebration. The word "pageant" is an apt description of how this rite-of-passage custom has come to be celebrated nowadays, but our four really toned down that aspect.