Argentina and Uruguay: Two neighbouring countries meet

On 14 and 15 September, members of the Teresian Association in Argentina and Uruguay organised a special meeting to bring together the two countries.  

‘We continue to dream ... And some dreams come true for us as we trust in Providence...’.  Pedro Poveda. 

This is how it was in our two countries, Argentina and Uruguay, when we started to think about how we wanted to celebrate the TA Centenary. As well as the local celebrations in each country, we envisioned a meeting of members and co-workers as a ‘Teresian Association people’. We have always had gatherings like this and now was a good occasion to do so again. There was a festive atmosphere during the weekend of 14 and 15 September in the city of Buenos Aires where we met. Eighty-five years of history in each of our countries and many years of sharing and journeying together motivated us to gather with grateful memory for the life of the Association and for our joint history. Those days were spent telling stories, being renewed, feeling gratitude and continuing to dream.  

The meeting was called ‘Camaloteando esperanzas’, in reference to a song by Mabel Quinteros, a TA member from Argentina. It speaks about camalote plants that grow along the Uruguay river that borders and unites our two countries. Thus the two shores relate to the same river not only in memory, for which we wrote a ‘Psalm of the two shores’, but also in the living presence of the TA in these countries. We are all challenged by the lines of mission from the recent Assembly and we mean to continue weaving networks and sharing the charism.  

In that context, illuminated by Poveda's texts, we danced to express praise and celebration, and we had conversations in small groups about being salt that seeks to ‘heal’ a broken world. We prayed in groups and referred to the early Christians as we looked at the current situation here where we live.  

We closed our meeting by going out two by two as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ to the feet of the Blessed Mother in a public square in the city. We gave thanks, prayed and made an offering of the life of the Association in Argentina and Uruguay. In this way we prepared ourselves and the whole Association for the upcoming Votive Offering in Covadonga.  

Celebrating together one hundred years of the approval of the Association and eighty-five years of being rooted in these lands, with a long road travelled so far, was a gift for all those who participated.  

Carolina Mancini, Uruguay. 

Marta María Olmedo, Argentina.