Mission of university youth and Easter celebration to make known the new chapel dedicated to Pedro Poveda in Uruguay.
On April 12, Mgr. Milton Tróccoli, Bishop of Maldonado-Punta del Este-Minas, blessed the new chapel of St. Pedro Poveda and St. Francis of Assisi located in the seaside resort of Buenos Aires, in the diocese of Maldonado-Punta del Este-Minas-Rocha. It was a joyful and participatory celebration, weaving Church in the Poveda style
Weeks before, the Teresian Association of Uruguay established its presence there, on the Uruguayan Atlantic coast, with the projection of animating a socio-educational proposal. It is a very diverse population that has been arriving in this area. About ten thousand people live permanently, most of them workers, while others live intermittently in summer residences.
The community is small but fervent, as this testimony shows: “For years we have been part of a community of faith that prays to have a physical place of worship and prayer. At present, it seems to us a miracle to have made this dream come true, with so many people adding their love and donations. We need this community to grow and we need you to bring the good news to the families of the resort.”
Youth and local community
To make the new chapel known, during Holy Week, a group of young missionaries made up of students from the TA university residences and Conventual Franciscans came to the place to live and share Easter with the local community, which was waiting for them with great hospitality.
It was a wonderful occasion to strengthen community ties, to live the Easter Triduum with its respective celebrations, and to attract new people from the area to the Christian community that now has a clear reference in its new chapel. Families were visited starting from the farthest streets, playful activities were developed with local children, and in the evening, it culminated with a very lively liturgy every day accompanying Jesus.
“The mission was a big step of God in my life, –recalls Lucía from the TA Residence in Montevideo–, because I could see Him in the community that received us, in every home we visited, in those difficult situations due to drug or mental health problems... Just like Jesus carrying his cross, they carry their difficulties, but once we went, they opened their doors to us or went to the celebrations and their lives changed because of the good news or the hope of God in their lives. The looks changed... as if with a different peace. Also the passage of God in the group was very strong. Each one came out differently. Personally, I put aside my fears and frailties in that surrender and placed it in the hands of Jesus and I came back renewed... You put aside your fears and anxieties and surrender yourself to Him in His hands and everything changes and that is how the mission was for many of us. Our looks were different, the celebrations were different. It took place in the union of our residences that have been sisters for a long time and allowed us to live this experience and share what each one carried in his heart and that love for God. That was the mission for me.”
Grateful for these joyful Easter signs, we share the joy of the Risen Lord and entrust this new presence to him.
Ximena Mazzetti, Uruguay.
Original text in Spanish, translated using AI.
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