Piraju, Sao Paulo, Brazil - "We all know about Jesus' preference for the little ones of the earth, and it is for them that He came in our midst." Union with God and with the weaker brothers and sisters is what characterizes a group of young people from Piraju (Yellow Fish), - a town of about 32,000 inhabitants, in the interior of the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. They write to tell us of their experience and that it is worthwhile to offer themselves for the little ones of God.
t was the Year of 1997, after a three-days retreat, when some of us young people felt the need to deepen our experience of God. We were thirsty for God!
We began by partaking daily of the Eucharist and by getting together a few times a week to pray and be together. The sharing of some moments of our lives would create deeper bonds among ourselves.
Some time later we felt the need to live together as members of a larger family, seeking God together with vigor and putting ourselves at the service of the parochial community. We got involved in various areas of ministry where each one could use his or her talents with more ease and profit,
In time we needed direction and formation by a priest who would follow us in our spiritual journey. It was Good Shepherd Sunday, while the rosary was being said in church, when some of us approached our pastor for help and support. He asked to meet with the whole group. So on the day of our appointment we were all there, and we spoke with Father about our desires and expectations, and... he accepted to be our guide and spiritual director That same day we baptized our group with the name of 'ANAWIN' which means 'God's little ones.'
We spoke with Father about our desires and expectations, and... he accepted to be our guide and spiritual director That same day we baptized our group with the name of 'ANAWIN' which means 'God's little ones.'
On this journey the characteristics of the group were slowly becoming clearer: to be at the disposal of God's will and to the needs of our parish community, daily participation in the Eucharist for an intense encounter with the Risen Jesus, and, thus re-energized, to overcome our differences and nurture unity.
Everyday we recite together morning prayers, while reserving other moments of prayer to each one's initiative. After the Eucharist, frequently the group remains in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, and monthly we approach the sacrament of Reconciliation.
We of the group ANAWIN feel a special bond to St. Francis of Assisi whom we consider as our model of holiness. Of course we strive to translate this desire of union with God into concrete action in the midst of the needy of our town by assuming the Christian formation of the children and of groups of evangelization, helping the homeless, visiting prisoners.
To you, young people of the North, in your world of well-being, which can sway you away from an authentic Christian life, we say that when you earnestly wish to find what gives true happiness, you cannot find it far from God and from one's brothers and sisters. The experience of God made in community most fills our life with meaning.
(From Xaverian Mission Newsletter)