August 3 will signal a full course curriculum when the Solteros (Single Men & Women) resume and the Families follow suit immedeately, on Sunday the 4th of August. Each year July is set apart for a break in all of our courses so that everyone can plan accordingly. Families and single men and women plan their travels and special projects for July.
Ruben and Belen are already back on track for the August Courses.
Trying to rally all of the troops and "call them to order" before public schools have initiated their regimine can be a challenge for the Seguidores de la Cruz. Always we are diligent to make invitations very personally and to follow up on previous inscriptions for courses. Some years the attrition is not noticeable. Lift up a prayer with us for those whom the Lord Jesus is calling to the Mission for the next nine weeks.
Renewing relationships on the broad scale is one of the joys of resuming the late Summer- Autumn sequence of courses.
In early April we sponsored these two missionaries to speak to Adolescents with their parents and address also our Single Men & Women on "Chastity". With wonderful examples and testimonies Eric and Quiqui, sent out from California by “The Culture Project”, illuminated the dignity of each human person and the current attacks against us. Did you know that pornography is now being specifically targeted by marketers to ensnare 8-9 year old children?
Eric immortalizes the moment of the cultural interchange.
The weekend conference entitled, Purity in Action, was designed to bring into the light the battle for hearts and minds for the dignity of the person, which is raging nowadays on all levels of society. We heard of the role of several principle agents, for good or for ill in this battle, specifically the telephone and social media. We want to bring the light of Christ into our relationships to be able to speak freely with prayer, encouragement and support in our families and friendships. The Evil One works against chastity in darkness and isolation.
"Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." (Jn 12:35-36).
In light of many meeting cutbacks and time constraints due to the insecurity in Reynosa, the decision was made that we would have no Pastorela this year at the Christmas celebration. In years past the Solteros (Single Men & Women) were the organizers and production directors of the Pastorela for Seguidores de la Cruz.
Belen (aged 13) was shocked at the announcement of the cancellation of the Pastorela and rallied the support of her contemporary, Melisa, to volunteer for the job of the organizing the entire operation. The two of them argued that they could not remember a Christmas without the Pastorela.
Sister Amada made permanent vows as a consecrated sister on the feast of the Immaculate Conception. The private vows were made after Sister Amada has consecrated herself for one year at a time for several years. As part of the Sisterhood of Servants of the Cross, Sister Amada takes on the Mission primarily to love the Lord Jesus with her whole heart and mind and strength. This is the first mission of each person in the consecrated life according to St John Paul II in Vita Conscrata (1996 Apostolic Exhortation).
Sister Amada has been serving in the Missionary Company especially with her expertise as a teacher. On Sunday mornings she has a class of children while the parents are taking courses. On Saturdays she is a mainstay and a favorite of the Single Men & Women (Solteros)