EMAUS MANUAL

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ESENCIA

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 INTRODUCTION

hese pages are prepared to guide and help all those who have the mission of facing an
Emmaus. For all those within the Church who want to carry out this undertaking.

Emmaus was born out of the fundamental importance of the personal encounter
with Jesus in our spirituality. In this sense the message of Christ is profoundly
liberating. Man's salvation does not come about, as we have sometimes believed,
through the systematic fulfillment of certain moral standards. Jesus, unlike the other
founders of religions, is much more than a moral teacher like Buddha or a prophet
like Mohammed: Jesus is God. "I am the way, the truth and the life", he is not
telling us that he shows us the way, but that HE IS the way, he does not teach us
the truth, he IS the truth, he does not give us life, he is the life. The essential of
Christianity is not its forms of action, its ethos, but Jesus Christ, who is the
essence of its own message. His name, "Here I am and I save you".
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For this reason our life of faith is our personal love story with him
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I take this opportunity to recall the introduction to the Stame
Missions Manual, these pages: "They should be taken with the greatest possible
integrity, demonstrating the humility of one who intends to learn from the mistakes
made by others, while obviously letting reality take over and the Spirit make its own
as much as possible. 2"

The Emmaus is a service, whoever organizes it should not lose sight of this. The assistant

is the servant, the one who is there not only to give talks but to get the sheets, to serve

the table, to do the little heroics of service that are the real daily battle.

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 DEFINITION OF EMMAUS

It is clear that Emmaus has to do with the reading known as "The Disciples of

Emmaus". This is also the name given to those who make this retreat, they are disciples of

Emmaus. I recommend a slow and meditative reading of this passage:

"That same day two of them were going to a town called Emmaus, which was threescore furlongs
from Jerusalem, and were talking with one another about all that had happened. And it came to
pass, while they were conversing and arguing, that Jesus himself drew near and went on with them;
but their eyes were withheld, that they might not know him. He said to them, "What are you
arguing about among yourselves as you go along?" They stood with a saddened air. One of them
named Cleopas answered him, "Are you the only resident in Jerusalem who does not know the
things that these days have happened there?" He said to them, "What things?" They said to him,
"About Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the
people; how our chief priests and magistrates condemned him to death and crucified him. We had
hoped that he would be the one to deliver Israel; but, with all these things, it has been three days
since this happened. The fact is that some of our women have startled us, because they went early
in the morning to the tomb, and, not finding his body, they came saying that they had even seen an
apparition of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of our people also went to the tomb and
found him just as the women had said, but him they did not see." He said to them, "O foolish and
slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ
should suffer that and thus enter into His glory?" And beginning with Moses and continuing
through all the prophets, he explained to them what was in all the Scriptures concerning him. As
they approached the village where they were going, he motioned to move on. But they forced him,
saying to him, "Stay with us, for it is evening and the day is far spent." And he went in to stay with
them. And it came to pass, as he sat at table with them, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it,
and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared
from their side.They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us when he spoke to
us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?"
Luke 24:13-32

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How does Jesus' encounter with the disciples of Emmaus take place?

Many times along our life's journey the Lord has accompanied us. This companionship was
not always perceived but only when it becomes evident that the Lord gives himself for us
and to us.
This retreat aims to lead a group of young people to an encounter with a living Christ, a

Christ who has been at work in their lives since before they came to us and will continue to

do so afterwards.

The team working in the name of Christ will keep the boys company, talk about the

scriptures and begin to set the heart on fire, however, the only way for this retreat to

make sense is for the boys to have a personal encounter with Christ. Our task and function

is to guide them, accompany them, contain them, help them see where it is dark, always

respecting their time, without forcing anything.

Only the personal encounter with Jesus renews and changes the person. Only love for Him

justifies works and faith. Jesus is alive, he is not dead as those disciples believed, and

that reality transforms our life from one end to the other. That is the meaning of this

retreat. May the children encounter a living Jesus acting in their own realities.

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6
 EQUIPMENT AND FUNCTIONS

From the first day of the team meeting, it is said that we are in shooting,
therefore, we are in Emmaus.
What is a shooting? The team meets weekly to get to know each other better and to

unite spiritually. They share their weekly experiences, the talks, the tasks within the

retreat, etc., are distributed.

But more than all these tasks is the merger of the team. This is the most important

function of the shoot: that the team is integrally united, but united at the level of the

eyes. In the Acts of the Apostles it says that people were converted by seeing how

Christians loved one another. If the attendees perceive that we are a uniform whole, they

will concentrate on the retreat when they see the image that "Everything is planned".

We should not feel that we are more than anyone else because we are assistants.

Even the opposite, because one knows that God does not call out of trust, but often out of

mercy. While it is true that it makes us feel important, we must be fully aware that we are

Christ's chosen ones and that we are only His tools. We are not going to convert anyone,

we are only going to be a bridge between Christ and the children, we are going to try to

facilitate an encounter. This requires an attitude of dedication, service, humility and

prayer.

It is not What am I going to say in the talk or in a conversation, but What does
Christ want me to say? We must be well prepared. Prepare the talk thoroughly, study it,
rehearse it, etc., and the day we are in front of the children, within all that we have
prepared, read and studied, we are going to tell them what He wants, because it will be
what the children need at that moment.
Within the Emmaus, the assistant's function is precisely to ASSIST, to assist the

person in front of me insofar as he/she needs it. And what does that boy need at that

moment from me, maybe a smile, maybe to get him a glass, maybe not to say anything,

maybe a hug. Therefore, we must ask God to enlighten us to know what I have to do at

every moment.

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 And we can't go with a hard and fast rule, ask What's wrong with you? What

happens to him is his problem, we must find out what he needs from us, what he wants

from us.

We must put ourselves in God's hands and then everything else will be given to us.

Worry about the things of the Lord, He will already give us a hand to fix our things of the

earth.

We must have humility, because the assistant who looks from below, sees much

better. When that boy comes with his problem, one should not get big and think that he is

going to solve all the problems, but shrink and be much less than him. But we must keep in

mind that to be humble is to speak the truth, to accept what we truly are, and that

without God we are nothing.

It is also important not to want to stand out, and that costs. The important thing is
to be an assistant in and out of the retreat. To be an assistant outside of Emmaus
following the boys with the same attitude we had during the three days of the retreat. It
must always be sincere and transparent, the best testimony is the testimony of someone
who fights, who finds it hard, who finds it difficult, but who continues. No one is a saint,
we all want to be one. The assistant must live, especially in the first time after the
Emmaus, close to the children, because although it may seem the easiest, it is the most
difficult. It is when they decide to give their definitive YES to Christ. Let us help them to
take this important step in the life of a true Christian, let us not allow them to miss this
opportunity.

Assistant functions

The assistant during the retreat has three types of tasks:

1.Hall work: The most important part of the retreat.

2.Specific task: These are given by the rector, from guitar playing to
audiovisuals.
3.Talk.

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 EMAUS FILMING 3

Shootings are a fundamental part of the role of the rector and vice rector, the

Emmaus does not begin on the day of the retreat but on the day of the first shooting. In

this sense, it is essential to insist on the obligation to attend filming. Whoever commits to

Emmaus must do so seriously and take it as a responsibility from the first day of filming.

It is important to discover that the shootings are the moment to integrate the

group, to get to know each other, for this it is interesting to leave certain moments

(without exceeding too much) for dispersion and entertainment, for socializing; in this way

the group is integrated. It must be a vision of the rector to try to integrate all the

"cliques" that are formed at the beginning so that everyone can open up and integrate the

"group".

What you see in a film is the finished film, but behind that there were many shoots

that were shaping what the film is. In the same way, an Emmaus is rooted in the filming

that forms the essence of every Christian community, that is, its character: fraternal,

prayerful and missionary.

The following is a proposal for the filming, each one can vary it according to the needs of

the group (perhaps there are groups that need more prayer, others that need to be more

integrated, etc.) but each of the elements listed here are important for the preparation

of the group.

1 er. Filming: The Call.

Shooting objective: Presentation and awareness of the call.

This shooting is a little bit to get to know each other. The idea is to make a fairly

long presentation by each of us. Tell them who they are, what they do, what school they

went to, how they arrived, who they live with, why they came, etc. The idea is to meditate

a little on the call. Encourage everyone to let go little by little.

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 Finally, the call is prayed over. A suggestion: hand out to each one a quote about the

call and ask them, after meditating on it for a while, to tell what it said to them. The

meaning of spiritual treasure is proposed and explained.

Each attendee is asked to choose three talks they would like to give and three talks they

would not. In this way the Rector can administer the talks according to preference.

Provide photocopies of assistant's responsibilities.

2 do. Filming: Apostolic Zeal

Objective: To evaluate how we are witnesses of Jesus in our daily lives.

What it means is explained, with much testimony. How Jesus is shared in everyday

life. Where is our willingness to share it, etc. Then everyone is invited to share how they

believe they proclaim Jesus in their daily lives. The spiritual treasure is prayed for and

uploaded.

The talks are distributed to each of the attendees. And the photocopy of how to

give a talk is given.

3 er. Filming: Adoration

Objective: To pray deeply and revalue prayer in daily life.

Gathering strength from the greatest source, the Eucharist, all of us as a

community and group kneel before the master to leave everything in his hands.

4th shooting: Spiritual motherhood and Emmaus.

Objective: To revalue the place of Mary in one's own personal salvation history.
The main topics discussed are Marian devotion and Emmaus. How spiritual
motherhood fits into the missionary life and what it means.
He wonders how the talks are going. The accompaniment in the talks is key, giving a
lot of support to the new kids, always asking how they are doing and how we can help them.
The schedule is reread. Tasks are divided.

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5th shooting: Family

Objective: To deeply unite the group. Open and revalue the assets received.
It is part of the opening shootings. The family is our first and most important

community. It is the community that forms the person in the first instance. To share what

our family is is to expose ourselves. It is not for nothing that "tell me what your family is

like and I will tell you who you are".

Request talks for the next shoot

6th shooting: Meeting with the spiritual director (priest).

Objective: to clarify all those doubts that prevent us from persevering.

It is a shooting that will help us to reach the Emmaus without any doubt, the talks must be
ready for this shooting.

7th shooting: Jesus

Objective: to see what place Jesus occupies in each of our lives.

Jesus is the center of Emmaus and therefore must be the center of our lives.

8th shooting: Coexistence

Objective: To generate trust among all. Getting to know each other on a daily basis.
The idea is to spend a whole day together. It is preferable to start with a mass as a
meeting point in the morning. Go somewhere outdoors and share fun, everyday activities.
BBQ, lunch together, chatting about life. To join the group more and more.
The schedule is read again. Each person is asked to explain his or her talk and give an
account of the tasks assigned to him or her. Explain what the hallway work is and its
importance, give photocopies, the same with the post Emmaus, finish with the
administrative things and a good time of prayer together.

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12
TEAM

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 RESPONSIBILITIES AND ATTITUDES OF THE ASSISTANT

From the first day of the team meeting, it is said that we are in shooting,
therefore, we are in Emmaus.
What is a shooting? The team meets weekly to get to know each other better and to

unite spiritually. They share their weekly experiences, the talks, the tasks within the

retreat, etc., are distributed.

But more than all these tasks is the merger of the team. This is the most important

function of the shoot: that the team is fully united, but united at the level of the eyes. In

the Acts of the Apostles it says that people were converted by seeing how Christians

loved one another. If the attendees perceive that we are a uniform whole, they will

concentrate on the retreat when they see the image that "Everything is planned".

We should not feel that we are more than anyone else because we are assistants.

Even the opposite, because one knows that God does not call out of trust, but often out of

mercy. While it is true that it makes us feel important, we must be fully aware that we are

Christ's chosen ones and that we are only His tools. We are not going to convert anyone,

we are only going to be a bridge between Christ and the children, we are going to try to

facilitate an encounter. This requires an attitude of dedication, service, humility and

prayer.

It is not What am I going to say in the talk or in a conversation, but What does
Christ want me to say? We must be well prepared. Prepare the talk thoroughly, study it,
rehearse it, etc., and the day we are in front of the children, within all that we have
prepared, read and studied, we are going to tell them what He wants, because it will be
what the children need at that moment.
Within the Emmaus, the function of the assistant is precisely to ASSIST, to assist

the person in front of me to the extent that he/she needs it. And what does that boy

need at that moment from me, maybe a smile, maybe to get him a glass, maybe not to say

anything, maybe a hug. Therefore, we must ask God to enlighten us to know what I have to

do at every moment.

And we can't go with a hard and fast rule, ask What's wrong with you? What

happens to him is his problem, we must find out what he needs from us, what he wants

from us.

14
 We must put ourselves in God's hands and then everything else will be given to us.

Worry about the things of the Lord, He will already give us a hand to fix our things of the

earth.

We must be humble, because the assistant who looks from below sees much better.

When that boy comes with his problem, one should not get big and think that he is going to

solve all the problems, but shrink and be much less than him. But we must keep in mind

that to be humble is to speak the truth, to accept what we truly are, and that without God

we are nothing.

It is also important not to want to stand out, and that costs. The important thing is
to be an assistant in and out of the retreat. To be an assistant outside of Emmaus
following the boys with the same attitude we had during the three days of the retreat. It
must always be sincere and transparent, the best testimony is the testimony of someone
who fights, who finds it hard, who finds it difficult, but who continues. No one is a saint,
we all want to be one. The assistant must live, especially in the first period after the
Emmaus, close to the children, because although it may seem the easiest, it is the most
difficult. It is when they decide to give their definitive YES to Christ. Let us help them to
take this important step in the life of a true Christian, let us not allow them to miss this
opportunity.

Assistant functions

The assistant during the retreat has three types of tasks:

4.Hall work: The most important part of the retreat.

5.Specific task: These are given by the rector, from guitar playing to
audiovisuals.
6.Talk.

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 HALL WORK

In general, this point is not given the importance it should have, either because we

do not understand what it means or because it is one of the things that cost us the most.

 The Hall Work is: the "personal contact", the "dialogue" and the "sharing of every single

moment" that the attendees have with each one of the retreatants.

The objective is: To help, to deepen and verify the "Triple Encounter" (with oneself,

with Christ and with others) and to show us, to open ourselves so that they see that being

"equal to them" and not perfect, we TRY to live a Christian Ideal of a life in God's Grace.

The Hall Work represents an attitude of constant service (like Christ's attitude

when washing the feet of the apostles) and must be done fundamentally with: Humility,

Charity, Respect, Common Sense.

Respecting the children's freedom at all times (without pressuring dialogue). We will

talk to them about the "things of God", but more importantly, we must also be willing to

listen: demonstrating our true love for others: "Whoever says he loves God, whom he does

not see, and does not love his neighbor, whom he sees: he is a liar".

 The foundations of the Corridor Work are:

Prayer: "Before speaking to men about God, we must speak a lot to God about those

men".

Knowledge: Knowing who I am talking to, through the study of the cards.

The talks: These are the ones that give us the basis for personal contact.

Aisle Work should be at all times and at all opportunities. The best times are: the

bus, meals, breaks and times set aside especially for this task.

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 It should be addressed to everyone without exception. Let us not only look for the

friend or the most representative, but for everyone equally.

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 SPECIFIC TASKS OF THE ASSISTANTS

ORDER DESCRIPTION MANAGER

Controls the list of assisted people at each
List of Assisted shooting, keeps track of the number of
people. It reminds each attendee of his or
her assistants.
You should buy at the lowest price, candles
Buy Liturgy for the rosary, plastic rosaries, and a rosary EDA
beads or a gift for each child.
You will have to compare at the lowest price
Buy Bookstore notebooks, biros, wood paper envelopes per
child and cards and posters, ribbon. Give it EDA
to those who have to assemble the
notebooks.
You will have to buy the food for the 3 days
Buy Food of the retreat, taking into account the menu
already prepared and the quantities EDA
according to the number of children
attending.
You will need to buy all kinds of goodies,
Buy Team Room tasty drinks for the whole team, taking into
account the 2 nights of team meeting
Photocopies should be made for each child
Making Photocopies prior to pick up.
Notebook cover. Songbook. Find me. 15 min.
with Jesus. Examination of conscience.
Explanation rosary.
They should cover the notebooks and glue
Assembling notebooks the Emmaus cover with the Emmaus number EDA
on the front.
Personal signs with each child's name and
Personal posters and safety pin. Quarter posters with the name
EDA
rooms of each child and a drawing.

Name each envelope with a name and a

Assembling envelopes drawing or something. Make them look nice
EDA
for letters

Assemble the grid to put the names of the

Rosary Poster rosary chain. EDA

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 Support group and some team members who
know the house.
They go home an hour or two early to
prepare everything. From posters in rooms
Advanced (list names and numbers for the principal),
tidy up equipment room (post schedule) Set
up dining room for lunch. Leave notebooks,
pens and personal posters at the entrance
of the conference room. Ordering of the
lecture room for the introduction. Order
chapel.
Receive the children at the place of
Reception departure, make sure no one is missing, take
roll call.
Prepare the team room for each meeting.
Equipment Room They keep the equipment room clean and
tidy at all times.
They prepare the masses. They collaborate
Liturgy with the Father in whatever he needs. They
keep the chapel always tidy and leave it
ready for every activity there. They deal
with confessions.
They prepare the stationery so that it is
Stationery always ready when it is used. (Finding
myself, examination of conscience, 15 min.
with Jesus)
They make sure that each child has cards.
Letters They separate the letters from each boy
EDA
into envelopes and leave one from each one,
for the rector, in the chapel.
Bring the equipment for the activities.
Music equipment

He is in charge of putting together the

Songbook songbook, which has all the songs that are
needed throughout the retreat. He is in
charge of the chanting during the retreat.
He takes care of getting someone to take
Photo the photo, develop it and bring it back to
the retreat house on Sunday to give it to
the kids at the closing.
Collect the data from the children, put
Data sheet together the spreadsheet by patrols and

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 get someone to computerize it and make
copies for everyone.

First Aid Kit Carry the indispensable things just in case.

He is an assistant chosen by the rector on

Testimonial closing the last day to give his testimony from the
boy other side, from the preparation to the
retreat itself.
Maintain order during the retreat. They
Surveillance take care of the movement in the house.
They are the last ones to enter each
activity, thus signaling the entrance of
everyone, whether it is to the chapel, the
lecture hall or the dining room.
They wake up first the team and then all
Bell ringer the kids.

Bring DVD, film, script, music equipment.

Passion Reader

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 THE TALK

STEPS.

1-Must be prepared: At the desk, in the Library and in the Reclinatory.

2-Must have 1 objective: What do I want to convey?

3-Must have 3 central ideas on which the talk is based. And throughout the course of it I

go around these in order to make the objective known.

4-Do the written talk as I would say it.

Study it.

Pass the basic ideas in large print (so that they can be used as a guide).

Give it to someone.

5-Know how long it lasts, do not exceed in time. For that, it is good to give it to someone

first.

6- It must be deeply prayed. One learns more about Jesus in front of the Blessed

Sacrament than in libraries, without detracting from the need to read books.

7-Ask for a model so as not to "step on" other talks given during the retreat. The retreat

is a global message that is being revealed little by little. Be humble enough to bring out the

good in others. If in doubt, ask the rector or give it to him/her to read.

TALK ON ITSELF.

1-Visit to the Blessed Sacrament.

2-Sentence at the beginning (of the booklet).

3-Clock.

4-Recall the previous talk and its main ideas. Also, to be based on the dynamic that

initiates the talk. To go spinning the retreat.

5- Use the Gospel (to be read by one of the children to make them part of it).

6-Repeat the 3 ideas throughout the talk. Be clear about what I want to convey.

7-Personal experience: It is very important. With conviction.

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8-End with a sentence.

9-Questions for the dynamics.

10-Thanksgiving with the team.

IMPORTANT.

 Peace of mind. It is the Holy Spirit that speaks. When a talk was prepared

conscientiously, it is God who is in charge of making up for our mistakes. God not

only acts through us, but often in spite of us.

 Do not be nervous at the beginning. If you get lost, don't worry...

 "Enlarge."

 Have passion to speak. Get across what we want to say.

 Do not put them to sleep. Speak loudly, change the tone, etc. Theatricalize, make

what you say come alive. Acting, etc. Without overdoing it, of course.

 In the right measure: moving, some blow to wake up, some shouting, standing up,

walking, managing the tone of voice, silences, etc.

 Use our language. Adapt to the children using the words they use.

 Avoid using the following phrases: eeehhhhhhh, esteeeeeeeeee, bueno, etc.

 If someone asks a question: "We'll see you later," etc.

 Have them score. Give them time.

 Use the blackboard.

 Respect the time of the talks. Watching the clock.

 It is a talk, not a: Sermon, speech, lecture, conference, class, etc.

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23
 Talks

FRIDAY

1- Introduction. Rector. Presentation. What is Emmaus. Retirement Times (clocks) Data

slips. Presentation of all.

2- Sense of life. (30). It is divided between men and women because they are different.

It aims to help them get to know themselves, to see what life they are leading. It seeks to

awaken questions and the need for God. Shows, does not give answers, animated and

motivated. No Bible. It does not seek to make the kids feel bad. Neither God nor religion

is mentioned. It is about setting an ideal, a purpose for living and how to achieve it through

the scale of values, the goals.

3- Life movie. It leads the kids to an analysis of their life. It has two parts, the first

part analyzes the relationship with God, with themselves and with others at this time. The

second is a chronological tour through all the stages of life. It is to guide the children

through the path they have already taken, how they have led their lives up to now, so that

they can open up and consider the "from now on..." It is advisable not to speak directly

about God yet, but in some way without naming him.

SATURDAY

1- Who do you say I am (15). Pose the question for the day. Mc. 8.27-30. It raises the

importance of Jesus in the history of mankind. This is a very important question. It fills

the kids with questions. He introduces the day, questioning everyone about who Jesus is,

and then opens us to the testimony.

2- The love of God. (45). It aims to help them discover the place that God has been

occupying in their lives even though they have not seen Him. Totally positive and biblical.

There is no mention of man's response. Let there remain the image of a God who loves

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unconditionally and waits. The aim is to take God out of the pigeonhole of the image that

each one of us may have and place him in a paternal and loving God.

3- Sin and grace. (50). Sin as the denial of God's love. The reality of sin. Confession. The

love of God that overcomes and erases that sin. The 7 deadly sins. It is man's response

many times to a love so perfect, that it scares us and we tend to turn away through sin,

but returning a little to God's love so unconditional and merciful that He also gives us

grace, to draw us closer to Him.

4- Jesus. (45). Present the person of Jesus by responding to the problems that may have

arisen yesterday. Jesus who saves presents himself as teacher (model, the one who

teaches me), friend (the faithful one who accompanies me), Lord (to whom everything

belongs, the one who unifies and gives meaning to all the plans of our life). Very

evangelical; Jesus close and personal. To show the humanity of Jesus but also the divinity.

The love of giving one's life for a friend and not only that, but also staying through the

Eucharist.

5- My life in prayer. (45). It shows the importance. of prayer, its value, prayer as

dialogue. It teaches how to pray with different types of prayer. Rosaries and sacrifices

are shown. Basis and support of faith.

6- Charity. (90). It is divided between men and women. Beware of cheap sentimentality,

yes to feelings. The response to God's love is love, charity. The theme of charity is

developed as an axis pointing to friends, girlfriend, women, family. The talk is given

marking the contrast between charity and sin. The goal is for them to discover what they

are like and not to make them feel bad. Above all, based on love, the only important thing.

It should not sound like a set of rules to be happy, but like an ideal, that is to say,

something that can never be completely fulfilled but that guides the way. It is important

to prevent the children from becoming discouraged when the retreat is over.

7- Tres Miradas(15). Jesus' encounter with Zacchaeus. Reach with a door ajar.
25
SUNDAY

11- Jesus' attitude towards sinners. (15). He came looking for us sinners. With our

defects. Let's not walk away because of them,

12- Maria. (30). The figure of Mary is very human. Mother's heart. Who she was, what

she fought for and what Mary has to give me today. Mother who leaves everything. To

show her characteristics as a woman and mother. Simplicity - Humility - Simplicity -

Support - Company... It ends with the rosary.

13- Apostolate and Church. (45). Very motivating. Let it sound like a challenge. Jesus

needs these kids to continue to make himself known to others. Very testimonial. Place in

the Church of all, the mission of every Christian. Place of the apostolate in the life of

faith.

14- Perseverance and life project. (45). It gives the means to follow the path of faith.

It helps to set short and small objectives and not for the children to go out wanting to eat

the world because the world is going to eat them. Everything that was not said in Emmaus

is said in that talk. It would be good to have a testimony from someone experienced in the

journey of faith to tell their experience. To seek pillars for what follows after

retirement.

26
SCHEDULES

27
 4-DAY EMMAUS SCHEDULE

THURSDAY (MOTTO: SEE)

17.45 The whole team is concentrated.

18.00 Mass for the team.

18.30 Part of the ADVANCED AND SUPPORT TEAM. The advance party is a group that
arrives at the house before and puts the name signs in the rooms, posters in the rooms,
the chat room and the dining room are tidied up and the house is prepared.

18.45 Concentration of the boys. COLLECTION AND RECEPTION are doing their

homework, taking care of rosaries, offerings and letters.

19.15 Departure for home. Seriousness and good vibes from the attendees. Neither too

dry nor too friendly. It's the way to get the kids into retirement. It is always ANSWERED

IT IS ALL FORECASTED.

20.00 Arrival at the house. COBRANZA confirms the number of children and adds signs if

there are any new ones. Rector names the boys and they settle into their rooms, assistant

brings him the bag and places it without saying a word. They are advised to make their

beds and wait. Once everyone is in place, they are asked to bring their notebooks and pens

down to the conference room. We confirm lunch time and number of people.

20.30 Tokens are handed out to be filled out with the data. They are picked up by the vice

president.

INTRODUCTORY LECTURE (60') - RECTOR

Everyone introduces themselves... attendees and kids.

28
 SILENCE BEGINS

21.15 Dinner. Silence with music. They serve (old assistants). In the meantime, the support

team distributes the FIND ME and prepares the team room for the meeting.

LITURGY prepares the chapel, dark, little light

22.15 Life movie (30') The kids make the movie of life and its scale of values until today

in the rooms. To sleep in silence.

22.15 VIGILANCE controls order and silence.

22.30 Composition of patrols. PAPERWORK is in charge of preparing the slips of paper

with the names according to the patrols, ROSARIO prepares the cardboard with the chain

rosary, prepares the cage with the motto on the blackboard "AL ENCUENTRO DE MI

VIDA" and the VICE is in charge of arranging the cards for the photo.

TEAM MEETING: Evaluation of the day, group, schedule, motto (SEE & HEAR). Visit to

the Blessed Sacrament, night prayer.

FRIDAY

MOTTO "MEETING MY LIFE".

(SEE & HEAR)

10. CAMPANILLEROS raise the attendees.

7.15 Picking up children. Remember that silence follows. Let them come down with

notebooks and biros.

29
7:40 a.m. Morning Prayer. TO DIE IN THE TURKEY. Hand out prayer books and song

books. Morning Prayer.

END OF SILENCE

8.00 Breakfast. New assistants serve.

8.30 Organization of patrols. RECTOR is calling the names to enter the conference room

and VICE is handing out the posters. The children are placed in the chat room according to

patrols. The working groups, coordinator and secretary are explained. Individual and group

dynamics are explained.

8.50 Personal dynamics. What is my scale of values? Ideal?

9.15 The group is divided between females and males. Meaning of life (30') After the

talk, the VICE for women and the RECTOR for men remain and the others go to the chapel

to give thanks with the speakers. Questions for group dynamics are given.

Support team makes beds, finishes passing rosaries.

10.00 Group dynamics by patrols. Scale of values.

10.45 The Love of God (45')

11.40 Group dynamics by patrols.

12.00 Photo. The order is named and they are placed.

12.15 Lunch. Serves as a support group.

13.00 Break. vigilance attentive.

30
14.30 Wake up everyone. Advise them to come down with notebook, pen and Gospel.

14.45 Sin and Grace (50. Individual and then group dynamics by working groups.

EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE IS DISTRIBUTED. Confessions are invited.

16.30 Tea. Serves patrol: Santa María. LITURGIA prepares the chapel for 15 minutes with

Jesus.

17.00 Chain rosaries are shown. CHARITY (90'). Men and women are divided.

19.00 Charity patrols.

19.30 Family filming by patrols.confessions continue.

21.00 Dinner.

22.00 Cardboard dynamics.

23.00 Meditation of the Three Gazes. (15´)

24.00 Team meeting. Evaluate the day, schedule, Visit to the Blessed Sacrament. Choose
wedges for the other day. Motto on the Blackboard, Cleanliness of the chat room.

S a b a d e

"TO MEET THE LORD".

(SEE, HEAR, AND SPEAK)

8:15. Campanilleros lift the team.

31
8:25. Lifting the assisted persons. Silence follows. Let them come down to the chapel with

notebook, pen, Gospel, songbook and prayer booklet.

8:45. Morning Prayer. Song "Al Despertar".

Who do people say I am? (15´)

9:00. Breakfast. Serves.............................

9:30. Jesus. (60´)

10.30 Individual and patrol dynamics. Texts and questions.

11:30. Prayer. (60') Show sacrifices.

12.30 Visit to the Blessed Sacrament. Reading of the "15 'minutes with Jesus", Prayer in

common. Moment of prayer with the 2 A's and 2 P's. Deliver Photocopies.

13:00. Lunch. Serves ...............

13:10. Rest. WATCH OUT, there is usually a lot of movement. Two assistants above and

two below.

AUDIOVISUAL managers leave everything ready.

LITURGY prepares the Chapel.

16:00. Sacraments(45).

32
16.45 Te. San Lucas patrol serves

Personal work (examination of conscience and text on confession).

Confessions: LITURGIA takes care of calling each one by list. There must always be

someone waiting in line, so as not to waste time.

Free time for the boys: go to the rooms, read notes, write a letter to Jesus, pray, etc.

20:30. Dinner. Serves patrol San Lucas. Prepare cage, for testimonials and on-air party,

recorder, etc.

Support equipment: Letters left in the rooms after dinner.

21:30. Audiovisual.

22:45 Sanction.

EDA: put the cards in the rooms, and one per boy in the equipment room.

EDA: Prepare the team meeting.

22:30. In the Chapel: Deliver a letter to each one.

To sleep in absolute silence.

22:45. Team meeting: evaluate the day, time. Visit to the Blessed Sacrament.

EDA: Flowers, Virgin cassette, Rosaries on a stick, Small clasp, Photo and circular. Motto

board.

D o m i n g o

"MEETING THE BROTHER".

(SEE, HEAR, AND COMMENT)

33
7:45. Campanilleros lift the team.

7:55. The children are awakened by singing "Que lindo es ser cristiano" (or another song).

Let them come down to the chapel with notebook, pen, booklet, songbook and Gospel.

8:15. Morning Prayer. Song "Al Despertar".

Doing Morning Prayer.

Mount Tabor Meditation. (20´)

8:30. Breakfast. Serves patrol...............................

9:00. EDA: Prepare the Chapel with the image of the Virgin in the foreground. Flowers.

Leave the recorder ready with the cassette. Rosaries and guides prepared.

9:15. Maria. (60´)

Passing to the Chapel, delivery of Rosaries.

10.15. Meditated rosary.

Delivery of the guide.

11:00. Apostolate and Church. (45´)

Dynamics by patrols.

12:00. Lunch. Serves patrol

12:45. Preparation of the song, piles to encourage the kids.

Assistants tidy their bags and the house in general.

14:00. Preparation of the song.

34
14:45. Perseverance and life project. (45´)

Testimonial: ..........................

Individual dynamics: Life project.

Dynamics by patrols.

EDA: Prepare the tea with garlands, etc.

16:15. Preparation of the Mass by patrols. The different parts of the Mass are divided

into groups: Hymns, Offertory, Intentions, Readings, Altar Servers, Thanksgiving.

Assistants help.

16:20. Perseverance Cage Mediation. He goes singing to the "Alma Misionera" dining room.

The attendees set up a path. Tea. Lower the bags.

EDA: Prepare the Chapel for the small closing and fix the dining room.

17:00. Small zipper.

Testimonial closing chico.............................

17:45. Mass. Departure of the avazada when it ends.

18.30 Departure for the Big Closing.

19.30 Big closing. Testimonials three questions and fourth day. Song.

35
36
 3-DAY EMMAUS SCHEDULE

FRIDAY (MOTTO: SEE)

16.45 The whole team concentrates.

17.00 Part of the ADVANCED AND SUPPORT TEAM. The rooms are set up. Upon arrival,

name signs are placed in the rooms, posters are placed in the rooms, the chat room and

dining room are tidied up and the house is prepared.

The list with the rooms and the order for the rector is also prepared.

18.00 Concentration of the boys. COLLECTION AND RECEPTION are doing their

homework, taking care of rosaries, offerings and letters.

18.30 We leave for home. Seriousness and good vibes from the attendees. Neither too

dry nor too friendly. It is always ANSWERED IT IS ALL FORECASTED.

19.30 Arrival at the house. COBRANZA confirms the number of boys/girls and adds signs

if there are any new ones. Rector names the boys and they settle into their rooms,

assistant brings him the bag and places it without saying a word. They are advised to make

their beds and wait. Once everyone is in place, they are asked to bring their notebooks and

pens down to the conference room. We confirm lunch time and number of people.

INTRODUCTORY LECTURE (60') - RECTOR

Everyone introduces themselves... attendees and kids.

SILENCE BEGINS

Data sheets are provided for you to fill out. The vice-president collects them and

assembles the patrols.

37
20.45 Dinner. Silence with music. Serve (Assistants). Meanwhile, PAPELERIA distributes

the ENCONTRARME in the rooms and prepares the equipment room for the meeting.

MOTTO "MEETING MY LIFE".

(SEE & HEAR)

21.40 Organization of patrols. RECTOR is calling the names to enter the conference room

and VICE is handing out the posters. The working groups, coordinator and secretary are

explained. Individual and group dynamics are explained.

21.50 Personal dynamics. What is my scale of values? Ideal?

(The group is divided between females and males)

22.00 MEANING OF LIFE (30 ') After the talk, the VICE for women and the RECTOR

for men remain, the others go to give thanks with the speakers in the chapel. Questions

for group dynamics are given.

22.30 Dynamics by patrols

LITURGY prepares the chapel, dark, little light

23.10LIFE MOVIE (30 ') The kids make the movie of life and its scale of values until

today in the rooms. To sleep in silence.

24.00 VIGILANCE controls order and silence.

00.10, PAPERWORK (MONJITAS) prepares the cardboard with the rosary chain,

LITURGIA prepares the cage with the motto on the blackboard "TO MEET THE LORD"

and the VICE to order the cards for the photo.

TEAM MEETING: Evaluation of the day, group, schedule, motto (SEE & HEAR). Visit to

the Blessed Sacrament, night prayer.

38
SATURDAY

MOTTO "TO MEET THE LORD".

(SEE, HEAR AND SPEAK)

7.00 CAMPANILLEROS raise the attendees.

7.15 Picking up children. Remember that silence follows. Let them come down with

notebooks and biros.

7:45 a.m. Morning Prayer. WHO THEY SAY I AM (10') Mt 16, 13-17. Song "Al

Despertar".

8.00 Breakfast. End of silence. Serves patrol...

8.50 THE LOVE OF GOD (45') Individual and then group dynamics by working groups.

9.35 Dynamics by patrols.

Stationery (MONJITAS), leave the Examination of Conscience in the chat room.

10.15 SIN AND GRACE (40')

11.00 Closing of the accompanying priest (Joining the first 3 talks)

LITURGY confessions begin.

11.30 JESUS (60')

12.30 Individual dynamics

12.40 Dynamics by patrols

13.00 Lunch. Serves patrol...

39
14.00 Break. vigilance attentive.

15.00 Wake up everybody. Advise them to come down with notebook, pen and Gospel.

15.15 Photo

15.30 PRAYER (30') PAPERBOOK (NUNGITAS) Prepare posters "Chain Rosary".

16.10 Visit to the Blessed Sacrament. Reading of the "15 minutes with Jesus", Prayer in

common. Moment of prayer with the 2 A's and 2 P's (Adore, Thank, Ask and Ask for

Forgiveness). PAPERWORK ( MONJITAS) deliver Photocopies.

16.30 Tea. Serves patrol... LITURGIA prepares the chapel for Mass.

17.10 MASS

18.00 CHARITY (90')

19.30 HEALING PRAYER in the chapel .

Silently to the Chapel. Personal prayer time.

Adoration of the cross. NO ONE LOVES YOU LIKE ME

ABSOLUTE SILENCE. AISLE WORK. Personal work.

Free time for the kids: going to the rooms, reading notes, writing a letter to a loved one,

praying, etc.

20.00 Family Patrols.

21.00 Dinner. Serves patrol...

22.00 Common evaluation of the experience at Emmaus so far (only those assisted speak)

22.45 Party in the air

23.30 THREE GLANCES (15')

40
PAPELERIA puts the letters in the rooms, and one per boy for the Rector to give one to

each boy before leaving the chapel.

Prepare the team meeting.

23:45 In the Chapel: Deliver a letter to each one. (MONJITAS)

To sleep in absolute silence.

VIGILANCE attentive to movements, controls order and silence.

24.00 Team meeting. Evaluate the day, schedule, Visit to the Blessed Sacrament. Choose

wedges for the other day. Motto on the Blackboard, Cleanliness of the chat room.

SUNDAY

"MEETING THE BROTHER".

(SEE, HEAR, AND SPEAK)

7.15. CAMPANILLEROS lift the team.

7.30. He wakes up the kids singing "_______________" (the hit of the moment). Let

them come down to the chapel with notebook, pen, songbook and Gospel. (ALL COME

ON!!!!)

8.00. Morning Prayer. JESUS' ATTITUDE TOWARDS SINNERS (10') Mt 9:10-13.

Song "Al Despertar".

8.20 Breakfast. Serves patrol...

Prepare the Chapel with the image of the Virgin in the foreground. Flowers.

Rosaries and guides prepared.

9.00 MARY (45')

41
10:10 a.m. ROSARY Pass to the Chapel, handing out of Rosaries. Marian gesture, and we

all pray together. Songs....(look for a gesture - e.g.: candles in the form of a cross) (Who

from Maria's talk - MONJITAS)

11.00 PASION (Script, film, projector, dvd, stereo, cd Valverde)

12.10 Lunch. Serves patrol...

13.00 Break. Assistants and boys tidy their bags and the house in general.

14.00 APOSTOLATE AND CHURCH (45')

14.45 Ping Pong Q&A..

Individual and group dynamics by patrols

15.15 PERSEVERANCE (45')

16.00 Individual dynamics: Life project.

Dynamics by patrols (only if there is time).

Support. Prepare the tea with garlands, etc.

16.30 Meditation of Perseverance in the Chapel (Jn 3, 1-5) Rector and a guitar. He

leaves singing "Dejame nacer" (Let me be born) to the dining room. The attendees set up a

path. Tea. Lower the bags.

Some assistant (VERO) Prepares the Chapel for the small closing and Support arranges the

dining room.

17.00 Cierre Chico. (ALL. Attendees, assisted and support) Speech by the Rector. Some

of the participants are invited to give their testimony of what they have experienced,

according to the three questions they will answer at the Big Closing: How did I arrive at

Emmaus? What did I find? What do I propose for the 4th day?

42
Attendee testimonial.

They are called one by one to the front and they are given a photo and a gift (a cross or a

decenary).

18.00 Departure for the Big Closing.

19.15 Large closing. Testimonials three questions and fourth day (by an old guest

attendee).

"END OF OUR TASK, BEGINNING OF OUR TASK".

43
TASKS

44
 SPECIFIC TASKS OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR

There are some tasks - mainly administrative - that fall to the vice chancellor and which

are fundamental.

 Economic Topic.
 Confirm the retirement home.

 Confirm where the "Big Closing" will be held.

 Confirm the bus for the outward and return trip.

 Confirm those assisted. Make the final list. Get the tokens of each boy.

 Confirm where the "Prayer Night" will be held (if any).

 Confirm the house where the letters and cakes-drinks will be received.

 See who can provide the cars for the Advanced, both for the outward and the

return trip. Ask the support group.

 Appoint the persons in charge of the "Support Group" (See sheet "Support Group").

 Confirm the different TASKS:

1. Stationery: - That all the corresponding photocopies have been made.

- That all purchases have been made (prayer books, crosses, Rosaries,

Decenarios, etc.).

2. Liturgy: -See that candles, ciboria, vestments, etc. are present.

3. Recordings: - Get recorder.

-Music for musical silence and for the examination of conscience.

Audiovisual recordings and Nadie te ama como yo.

Projector and Audiovisual: -Prepare slides.

-Get it and test that it works. Slides, scripts.

5. Party in the air.

6. Guitars: -Prepare the "Songbook".

7. Equipment room: -Confirm that everything is brought (mate, sugar, coffee, etc.).

45
8. Rosaries and sacrifices: -Prepare the cardboard with the rosaries. Prepare the mini-

rosaries. Paste the schedule in the equipment room. Filling the chain rosary.

9. Confirm photographer. Have the photos developed and delivered before Sunday.

10. Choose someone to make the list that accompanies the photo. See support group.

11. Find a letter for each boy on Saturday night.

12. Ask them to hand out the envelopes with the cards.

13. Flowers for the Sunday morning rosary.

THINGS TO DO UNTIL RETIREMENT

46
 CALL HOME!!!!!

 Cost of withdrawal:
 Departure: Friday at 6 pm.

 Letters: Leave them at ............. Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. If necessary, let's
get them together beforehand so that we can take them with us from Friday and it
is one less topic to occupy our thoughts during the retreat and we can take care of
what is really important there.

 Cakes: Drop them off at ..................... Sunday from 9 am to 1 pm.

 Rosaries: Everyone has the Rosary chain sheet in their folders, write down all those
who pray for Emmaus, the ideal is a rosary but if the family is going to make a
prayer it does not matter, write it down anyway, it is nice for the children to see
known names on the prayer poster. Also, please list friends and acquaintances of
ours. Let's make everyone participate in this retreat through prayer!!!!

 Closing: Sunday at 7:15 pm at .............................. It is very important that the family

be there, welcoming each one of them and listening to their testimony of the
experience of the encounter with Jesus that they are about to have.

DON'T FORGET YOUR HOMEWORK!!!! It is very important that each one takes care of
his or her own business so that the retreat can follow its course and Jesus can be truly
present and this is our only concern there, and thus with the administrative things we do
not overshadow the important things, right? Now I am attaching the file of the tasks,
don't worry.

TESOROS: Let's fulfill them!!!! It is very important to keep us constantly united among
ourselves as a team and, of course, to involve Him, the protagonist of this retreat!!!!!

47
 WHO GIVES EACH TALK

FRIDAY

 Sense of life (men) ___________________________________________

 Sense of life (women) ___________________________________________

 Life film ___________________________________________________

 Who do they say I am?

_______________________________________________

SATURDAY

 Love of God ____________________________________________________

 Sin and Grace __________________________________________________

 Jesús __________________________________________________________

 Oración ________________________________________________________

 Caridad (hombres) ________________________________________________

 Caridad (mujeres) _________________________________________________

 Sanacion ________________________________________________________

 Tres miradas ____________________________________________________

SUNDAY

 Jesus' attitude towards sinners ________________________________

 Maria __________________________________________________________

 Church and Apostolate

_______________________________________________

 Perseverancia ____________________________________________________

 Testimonial closing boy _____________________________________________

 Testimonial large closure ___________________________________________

48
SUPPORT
GROUP

49
 SHOPPING FOR THE EMAUS

BOOKSTORE

35 Notebooks (one per child)

55 Biromes (one for each)
15 Poster paper (if possible blue for lining the notebooks)
1 yellow poster paper for the chain rosaries
1 Adhesive tape
3 Cardstock for identification signs
55 Hook pins for posters
55 Large wooden paper envelopes for letters (Give them to Euge and Ire)

LITURGY

--- Small candles for flaming rosary (see how many there are)
35 white plastic rosaries (one for each boy)
35 Decenario or cross (gift for the closing boy, one for each boy)

SUPERMARKET

(see attached file)

BUDGET

Ask the rector for the money for each item. There is a limit to the amount of money destined for each
item, it is very important to pay attention to it, otherwise it goes out of the budget. These are the
maximums for spending on each item per child:

 Lunch $15 or $20

 Liturgy: Rosary $1
Candles $1 - $2
 Bookstore: Notebook $1 - $1.5
Birome $1
Posters, poster board, ribbon, pins, $0.5 $3 - $3.5
Envelopes $0.5

50
 TASKS TO DO

PRIOR TO THE EMAUS

 Lining notebooks
 Personal posters
 Posters rooms
 Prayer chain poster
 Letter envelopes
 Buy liturgy
 Supermarket

ADVANCED
 Order photocopies
 Dining room order
 Order chat room
 Posting posters in the rooms
 Leave personal posters, notebooks and pens at the door of the chat
room.

DURING THE RETREAT

 Food preparation
 Order rooms for each activity
 Keeping the equipment room tidy
 Be attentive to photocopies
 Assemble the envelopes of the letters leaving one outside for the
rector
 Completing the sentence chain poster

51
PHOTOCOPIE
S
52
 CIRCULAR

SAINT MARY OF THE STAR

EMAUS

Priest:

Rectors:
(Name and Surname of the Rectors and telephone numbers of both)

Departure: Friday at 6 pm.

Arrival: Sunday at 19:90 hs.
Retreat house: (name of the house, address and phone number)

Total Cost of Withdrawal: $x

What is Emmaus?

This retreat aims to lead a group of young people to an encounter with a living Christ, a Christ
who has been at work in their lives since before they came to us and will continue to do so afterwards.
The team that works and assists in this retreat will be the company of the children, however, the
only way for this retreat to be meaningful is for the children to have a personal encounter with Christ.
Our task and function is to guide them, accompany them, contain them, help them in whatever they
need, always respecting their time, without forcing anything.
Only the personal encounter with Jesus renews and changes the person. Only love for Him
justifies works and faith. He transforms our life from one end to the other; this is the meaning of this
retreat. That the children may encounter a living Jesus acting in their own realities, and from there
complete a triple encounter: with God, with others and with themselves.

 Therefore, parents are asked to accompany their children throughout this retreat with:

1.- Your prayer, as part of the Chain Rosaries.

2.- Writing letters (to notify grandparents, uncles, aunts, uncles, cousins, godparents, friends,
girlfriend/boyfriend, etc.)
Sharing something sweet for the Closing Tea at the retreat (dessert, cake or favorite treat).

Deliver the letters, together with the Rosaries in chain to the assistants or in the Parish of the Admirable
Mother until Saturday until noon .
Deliver the cakes and soft drinks at Madre Admirable Parish until Sunday at noon.

53
PARENTS, SIBLINGS AND FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN ARE ESPECIALLY INVITED TO JOIN THEM
IN THE "BIG CLOSING" OF THE EMAUS, WHERE THE CHILDREN WILL SHARE THEIR TESTIMONIES. WE
ARE WAITING FOR YOU.

CHAIN OF ROSARIES

Time Friday Saturday Sunday

00-01
01-02
02-03
03-04
04-05
05-06
06-07
07-08
08-09
09-10
10-11
11-12
12-13
13-14
14-15
15-16
16-17
17-18
18-19
19-20
20-21

54
 21-22
22-23
23-24

Find me
 This is the first step. Only he who has found himself can truly give himself. And for this
encounter, it is very important to have the ability to be alone "with oneself".

 We need to take a break in our lives. Take stock. Look for a quiet, undisturbed place and try
to answer your big questions.

 To know what we have, what we were given, what we are missing? This task of getting to
know each other is important. More and more are the "why" and "what for" questions; it would
seem that they exceed our capacity to respond.

 However, they all have them. The arduous task at hand now is to begin to answer them,
tackling them head on, one by one.

 To achieve this, you need a detachment, a letting go of all "our daily world", not to think
about school, family, sports, our "socials", etc. Let's think only about ourselves. If we succeed, if
we get to know each other, we will have taken a step in our formation as women or as men.

Guidelines for personal reflection

 Do I know myself, do I know who I am, do I know what I am like?

 Do I think, reflect or act on impulse?
 What are my main flaws, my whims and hobbies?
 What are my qualities and tastes?
 What is my ideal life?
 What do I appreciate most in friends? Who are my best friends?
 What is my scale of values?
 What I hate the most?
 The three most important events in my life?
 The three happiest or unhappiest events?
 Am I selfish? Pride? How would you like to be?
 Am I hard-working and hard-working?
 Do I have the will? How do I prove it?
 How am I doing spiritually now?
 Do I believe in God? Why do I believe in God?
 Why did I come to this retreat? What do I look for in it?
 Do I feel loved? Do I feel happy? Am I happy?
55
 Examination of conscience
Do I approach the Sacrament of Penance with a sincere desire for conversion, renewal of life and a deeper
friendship with God?
Have I deliberately forgotten or kept silent about any serious sin in my previous confessions?
Have I done my penance? Have I made an effort to put into practice the purposes of amending my life
according to the Gospel?

In the light of God's Word, let us examine our lives and remember the words of St. Paul to the Romans:
"Everything depends not on man's will or effort, but on God's mercy" (1 Corinthians 5:1).

1. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart".

 Is my heart directed toward God, so that I may truly love him above all things, as a son loves his father,
faithfully keeping his commandments?
 Is my faith in God who has spoken to us through his Son firm? Have I firmly adhered to the doctrine, avoiding
what is contrary to the faith? Do I have purity of intention in my actions?
 Have I been concerned about influencing to make the environment in which I move more Christian? Do I
know how to defend Christ and the Church?
 Do I have reverence and love for the name of God? Have I disrespected the Blessed Virgin or the saints?
 Have I honored the Lord's Day and the feasts of the Church by participating in the liturgical acts, especially at
Mass in an active, pious and attentive manner?
 Do I perhaps have other gods, i.e. things that worry me or that I trust more than God, such as riches,
superstitions, spiritualism or magic? What things are important to me?
 "When you pray, retire to your room, shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father,
who sees in secret, will reward you..."
 What is my prayer like? Do I trust that God hears me? Am I persevering in prayer? How do I pray? Where
do I pray? Why do I pray? Who do I pray for? Do I ask God for the needs of others? Do I pray only when I
have something to ask God for? Do I thank Him for what He gives me? Do I try to know God more through
my prayer?

2. "Love one another as I have loved you".

 Do I feel loved, chosen by God to be a saint? Did I propose?

 Do I have true love for my neighbor, or have I abused my brethren by using them for my personal gain or
doing to them what I do not want for myself? Am I able to look at the needs of others before my own? Can I
make some sacrifice for the other and leave what I want for later?
 Am I kind to strangers and lack kindness in my family? Have I contributed to the good in my home through
patience and sincere love?
 Have I been obedient to my parents, have I respected them and helped them in their spiritual and material
needs?
 Have I shared my goods with those who are poorer than I am? Have I done my best to defend the oppressed, to
help the needy, to help the poor? Or have I despised my neighbor, especially the weakest, the elderly,
foreigners or people of other races? Do I accompany those who are lonely or sick?
 Is my life a fulfillment of the mission I received when I was confirmed? Did I participate in the apostolic and
charitable works of the Church?
 Do I care about the good and progress of the human community in which I live?
 "Whatever your work is, work at it with all your heart, keeping in mind that it is for the Lord" Do I often delay
the time to start studying or working? Do I ever think that everything I do, no matter how small, is for the
Lord? What are my responsibilities? How do I do the things I have to do every day, quickly to get them out of
the way, or do I try to do them to the best of my ability? Do I show the authorities due obedience and respect?

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 Am I faithful and truthful? Did I wrong others with false words, slander, prejudice, violations of secrecy?
Have I discovered other people's serious defects are just cause?
 Do I ask for forgiveness when I offend others?
 Did I cause damage to the life, physical integrity, fame, honor or property of others? Have I tried to make
restitution and repair the damage?
 If I have been wronged, have I been disposed to peace, for the love of Christ, and to forgive, or do I harbor
resentment and desire revenge?
 Have I set a bad example to the people around me? Do I correct them in anger or unfairly?
 Have I been drunk, drunk to excess or taken drugs?

3. "Be perfect as the heavenly Father.

 What is the fundamental orientation of my life? Am I animated by the hope of eternal life? Do I strive to
advance in the spiritual life? Do I fight against vices, inclinations and bad passions such as envy and gluttony?
Have I been arrogant and boastful, belittling others and believing myself superior to them? Have I been
presumptuous before God? Did I impose my will on others without respecting the freedom and rights of
others?
 How do I use the time, strength and gifts I have received from God as the "talents of the Gospel"? Am I a
cheerful person? What reasons do I have to be cheerful? Do I bring joy to my home, class, work and friends?
 Do I bear with patience the pains and setbacks of life? Have I kept the law of abstinence and fasting?
 Have I kept my senses and my whole body in modesty and chastity as a temple of the Holy Spirit? Have I
defiled my body with fornication, impurity, unworthy words and thoughts, evil desires or actions? Have I let
myself be swept away by delight? Have I had readings or conversations or frequented shows or entertainments
contrary to Christian and human honesty? Have I by my indecency caused others to sin?
 Have I acted against my conscience out of fear or hypocrisy?
 Have I always sought to act with the true freedom of the children of God, according to the law of the Spirit, or
have I been a slave to my passions?
 Never forget that God did not come to save the righteous but sinners.

15 minutes with Jesus

My son, you do not need to know much to please me very much, it is enough that you love me truly, with fervor.
Talk to me simply, as you would talk to your closest friends, as you would talk to your mother, to your brother.
Do you need to ask me something for someone? Tell me their name, whether it is your parents', your girlfriend's, your
siblings', your friends' or acquaintances'; tell me what you want me to do now for them...
I asked a lot, a lot; don't hesitate to ask: I like generous hearts that somehow forget themselves to
attend to the needs of others. Speak to me with simplicity, with humility, of the poor whom you want to
console; of the sick whom you see suffering and want to do something for them; of the lost whom you long for
them to return to the right path; of the absent friends whom you would like to see at your side again. Say for
all of us a word as a friend, an endearing and fervent word. Remind me that I promised to listen to every plea
that comes from the heart, and don't the intentions that you ask me for the people you love the most come
from the heart?
And for you, don't you need some grace? If you want, make me a list of what you need, and come and read it to me.
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 Tell me frankly that you feel pride, pride, attachment to sensuality and gifts; that you are perhaps selfish, inconstant,
negligent, a slave to fashion, envious, self-interested, pessimistic, lacking in faith and hope, lazy, a liar, jealous, mean,
mediocre, unbelieving, indecisive.You are selfish, inconstant, negligent, a slave to fashion, envious, self-interested, pessimistic,
lacking in faith and hope, lazy, a liar, jealous, mean, mediocre, indecisive, ill-intentioned, bitter, petty, lukewarm, self-sufficient,
intolerant, uncomprehending, contemptuous, attached to money and honors, a climber, a pretender, vicious... and ask Me to
come and help you in the efforts, few or many, that you make.... and ask Me to come and help you in the efforts, few or many,
that you make to shake off your miseries.
Don't be ashamed, there are so many saints in Heaven who had these same defects! They prayed with
humility... and little by little they were freed from their defects.
Also, do not hesitate to ask me for goods of the body and of the mind: health, memory, perseverance, happy success
in your work, business, or studies.... All this I can give you, and I do give it, and I want you to ask me for it, as long as it does
not oppose but rather favors and helps your sanctification. What do you need today? What can I do for your sake? If you only
knew how much I want to help you!
Do you have any projects right now? Tell me about it in detail. What are your concerns? What do you think? What do
you want? What can I do for your parents, for your children, for your brother, for your sister, for your friend, for your partner, for
your superior? What would you like to do for them?
And for My sake, do you not long for My glory? Wouldn't you like to be able to do some good to your neighbor, to your
friends, to your relatives, whom you love very much, and perhaps they live forgotten by ME?
Tell me what particularly catches your attention today, what you long for more intensely and what means you use to
achieve it. Tell me if your projects go wrong and I will tell you the causes of failure. Don't you want me to be interested in your
stuff?
I am, my son, master of hearts, and I take them gently, without prejudice to their freedom, wherever is best for them.
Do you feel sad or in a bad mood? Tell me, tell me your sorrows in detail. Who hurt you? Who hurt your self-esteem,
who belittled you? Draw near to my Heart, which has consolation for all the wounds of yours. Tell me, and you will tell me in a
short time that, like ME, you will forgive all, forget all, and thus, you will receive my consoling blessing.
Are you afraid? Do you feel in your soul melancholies, which do not cease to be very painful because they are
unjustified? I am with you; here, by your side you have me; I see everything, I hear everything; I do not neglect you for a
moment.
Do you feel that people who once loved you well are leaving you aside and now forgetting you, without you having
given them a reason? I asked, I asked for them, and I will bring them back to your side, if they are not an obstacle to your
sanctification.
Don't you have any joy to tell me about? Why don't you do it, as a good friend of yours? Tell me what since yesterday,
since the last visit you paid me, soothed and made your heart smile. Perhaps you had some pleasant surprises, you cleared up
some dark doubts, perhaps you received some happy news, some tokens of affection; you overcame some difficulty or you
happily got out of some trance that had you worried.... All this is my work, and I gave it to you, why don't you thank me, and tell
me simply like a son to his father: Thank you, my Father, thank you. Gratitude brings with it new benefits, because those who do
good like to see themselves reciprocated.
Don't you have any promises to make to me either? Leo, you already know, deep down in your heart, that men are
easily deceived, but not God; so speak to me in all sincerity. Did you firmly resolve to stay away from sin, to deprive yourself of
that which harms you? That which can disturb or exalt your imagination? no longer confront that person who disturbed the
peace of your soul?
Will you go back to being sweet, kind, and condescending to that other person who, for having offended you, you
looked upon to this day as an enemy?
Now then, my son; go back to your usual occupations; to the workshop, to the office, to the studio, to the consulting
room, to your home with your family...; but do not forget the fifteen minutes of pleasant conversation we had here, the two of us.
Keep as much silence as you can, modesty, recollection, resignation, charity with your neighbor. Love
My Mother who is also yours, the Virgin Mary, and come back again tomorrow with an even more loving heart,
more devoted to My service; in My heart you will find every day new love, new benefits, new consolations.

Love me, just as you are

I know your misery, I know the struggles and tribulations of your soul, the frailty and infirmities of
your body; I know your cowardice, your sins, your weaknesses. But I tell you all the same:

GIVE ME YOUR HEART, LOVE ME AS YOU ARE

If you wait to be an angel to love, you will never love. Even when you often fall into the same
faults, which you would like never to commit, even when you are cowardly in the practice of virtue,

I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO DENY ME YOUR LOVE

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 Love me as you are: at every instant, and in whatever situation you find yourself: in fervor or
spiritual aridity, in fidelity, and even in infidelity itself.
Love me as you are. I WANT THE LOVE OF YOUR NEEDY HEART. If you waited to love me
until you were perfect, you would never love me.
Could I not make of each grain of sand a radiant seraph, full of purity, nobility and love?
Could I not, with the least design of my will, make thousands of saints emerge from nothing, a
thousand times more perfect and more on fire with love than those I have created?
Am I not the OMNIPOTENT?
What if I wanted to leave these wonderful beings forever in nothingness and prefer your poor love
to them?
My son, LET ME LOVE YOU. I want your heart. I want to train you, but in the meantime, I LOVE
YOU AS YOU ARE. And I long for you to do the same: I wish to see, from the depths of your misery,
your love rise and grow.
I LOVE IN YOU EVEN YOUR OWN WEAKNESS. I love the love of the imperfect. I want this cry to
rise continually from your destitution: "Lord, I love you". It is the song of your heart that pleases me
most.
Do I need your science, your talents? It is not virtues I am looking for. If I were to grant them to
you, your self-love would soon weaken them. So don't worry.
I could have destined you for great things. But no: YOU ARE THE USELESS SERVANT. I
accept from you what little you have. I have created you for love. AMA! Love will push you to do what
you have to do, even without thinking about it. Do not pretend anything else but to fill the present
moment with love.
Today YOU HOLD ME AT THE DOOR OF YOUR HEART AS A
MENDICIPUS, ME, THE LORD OF LORDS.
I call and wait. Hurry up and open up. Do not plead your misery. If you were fully cognizant of
your destitution, you would die of grief.
THE ONLY THING THAT CAN HURT MY HEART WILL
BE TO SEE YOU DOUBT AND LACK CONFIDENCE.
I want you to think of Me every moment of the day and night. Do nothing, not even the most
insignificant action, if it is not for love.
When you have to suffer I will give you my grace. You have given me love, I will give you a love
as great as you could ever dream of. But don't forget: LOVE ME AS YOU ARE. And don't wait to be a
saint to give yourself to Love. Otherwise, you will never love.

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 DETAILS

HISTORY SAINTS AND SAINTS FOR PATROLS

SAN MARCOS

Author of the second Gospel

Feast: April 25th
His symbol is the winged lion
Patron saint of lawyers, notaries, stained glass artists, captives, Egypt, Venice, against impenitence
and insect bites.
St. Mark, a Jew from Jerusalem, accompanied St. Paul and Barnabas, his cousin, to Antioch on their
first missionary journey (Acts 12:25); he also accompanied Paul to Rome. He parted from them at

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Perga and returned home (Acts 13:13). We do not know the reasons for that separation but we do
know that it caused a later separation between St. Paul and Barnabas, when St. Paul refused to
accept St. Mark. Barnabas became so angry that he broke off his missionary association with St.
Paul and went to Cyprus with Mark (Acts 15:36-39). Years later, St. Paul and St. Mark joined
forces again on a missionary journey.
He was a disciple of St. Peter and interpreter of the same in his Gospel, the second canonical
Gospel (the first to be written). St. Mark wrote in Greek with simple and strong words. From his
terminology it is understood that his audience was Christian. His Gospel contains history and
theology. The date he wrote it is debated, perhaps it was in the decade 60-70 AD.

Together with Peter he went to Rome. St. Peter referred to St. Mark as "my son" (1Pet 5:13).
Sometimes the New Testament calls him John Mark (Acts 12:12).
He evangelized and established the Church in Alexandria, founding his famous Christian school
there.
Died a martyr approx. on April 25, 68 AD in Alexandria and his relics are in the famous cathedral
of Venice.

SAINT AUGUSTINE

354 - 430
Saint Augustine, commonly called Augustine of Hippo, was born on November 13, 354, in Tagaste,
today's Souk-Ahras, not far from the episcopal city of Hippo, located in Algeria. When he was born, Tagaste
belonged to the province of Numidia.
He was of Berber race, but was a Roman citizen and spoke the Latin language.
His parents were well-to-do citizens, although not very wealthy. Patricius, a man of violent temper, and
a pagan, who, under the influence of his Christian wife, the saintly Monica, learned patience and humility and
was baptized shortly before his death. From this union three children were born: Augustine, another son
named Navigio and a daughter, Perpetua, who was to become abbess.

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 St. Augustine's youth and adult life, including his conversion and the death of his mother, are amply
described in his autobiography "Confessions", a book written, as he tells us, for "people who are curious to
know the lives of others, but do not take care to amend their own".
From an early age, Agustín showed signs of exceptional intelligence. At the age of twelve he was sent to
a grammar school in Madaura, today's Mdaourouch, to continue his studies.
At the age of 16, Augustine returned to Tagaste, where he soon fell into bad company. Patricio died by
that time and a wealthy man of the city paid the expenses for Agustín to study in the great city of Carthage.
Applying himself now vehemently, the young man soon rose to first place in the school of rhetoric. His mind
was alert and developed rapidly; but, later, he writes that the motives that impelled him to study were the
unworthy ones of ambition and vanity. In Carthage he had a relationship with a woman whom he kept by his
side for more than thirty years. Before he was twenty years old, he was already the father of a child whom
he named Adeodatus, a name that means given by God.
For nine years he directed schools of rhetoric and grammar at Tagaste and Carthage. In 383 Augustine
left for Rome with his small family, doing so secretly for fear that his mother would want to prevent him
from doing so or accompany him. Once in Rome he opened a school of rhetoric, but the school was not
financially successful. It happened then that Symmachus, prefect of Rome, received orders from the
imperial capital of Milan to send there a teacher of rhetoric. Agustín presented himself as an aspirant to the
position and, giving proof of his competence, was able to obtain it. Monica traveled all the way to Milan, for
she had not yet given up hope of seeing her son become a Christian. He also wished to marry him properly to
a girl of his own age. He succeeded in persuading him to send Adeodatus' mother to Africa, where, it is
believed, she entered a convent.
One day an African Christian named Ponticianus came to visit Augustine and his friend Alipius. He took
advantage of the occasion to speak about the Life of St. Anthony and was astonished to find that the young
people did not even know the name Anthony. They eagerly listened to the story of that holy life. The visit
affected Augustine greatly; his weaknesses and hesitations were revealed to him. When Ponticianus left,
Augustine turned to Alipius with these words: "How do we let those who know nothing go on their way and
attain Heaven by force, while we, with all our knowledge, languish behind, cowardly and insensitive, shrinking
in our sins? Because they have surpassed us and walked before us, shall we be ashamed to follow them? Isn't
it more shameful to stop following them?" Agustin went out into the garden, followed by Alipius, and they sat
some distance from the house. The former felt the agony of his conflict, between the prompting of the Holy
Spirit urging him to chastity and the seductive memory of his sins. Going alone into the garden, he lay down
under a fig tree, sobbing, "How long, Lord? Will you be angry forever? Remember not my past iniquity!" And
as he lay there in despair, he suddenly heard a childish voice repeating: "Tolle, lege. Tolle, lege" (Here, read!
Here, read!) He kept wondering if there would be any game in which children said those words, but he
couldn't remember ever hearing it. Interpreting the voice as of divine origin, Augustine returned to where
Alipius was seated, opened the Epistles of St. Paul at random and fixed his eyes on these words: "Not in
drunkenness or drunkenness, not in debauchery or lewdness, not in strife or envy. But set your mind on the
Lord Jesus Christ, and as for the flesh, do not regard its lust." Agustin immediately felt a sense of relief, as
if his long struggle was over. He pointed out that passage to Alipius, who continued reading: "But whosoever
is weak in the faith receive without disputing about opinions." Then they both went to tell Monica what had
happened, and she rejoiced and praised God. The conversion of St. Augustine occurred during the month of
September 386, when Augustine was 32 years old.
He abandoned his school and retired to spend the winter in a country house near Milan, which a friend
had left him. Monica, Navigius, Adeodatus, Alipius, two cousins and several friends were with him. Augustine
dedicated himself to prayer, study and conversation. He struggled to gain control of his passions and to
prepare himself for a new life. From the daily discussions with his peers he got the ideas for the three
Dialogues he wrote at that time: Against Academics, On the Happy Life and On Order.
Back in Milan, Augustine was baptized by Bishop Ambrose on the Easter Vigil of 387, together with
Alipius and Adeodatus. Determined to settle in Africa again, he traveled to the port of Ostia, accompanied
by his mother, brother, son and friend. Monica became ill in Ostia and soon died. He then went to Rome to
speak publicly against Manichaeism and a year passed before he sailed for Africa. It was during this period
that Augustine wrote his two unfinished books of the Soliloquies. In Tagaste he settled with some friends in

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his old house and stayed there for about three years. Soon his life was overshadowed again by the death of
Adeodatus, a brilliant 17-year-old boy.
In 391 he was in the city of Hippo, whose bishop, Valerius, had spoken to the people about their need
for a priest to help them. So when Augustine entered the church the congregation rushed to Valerius, urging
the bishop to ordain him a priest. Augustine agreed and was ordained.
In 395, Augustine was consecrated bishop and coadjutor of Valerius and, shortly after the latter's
death, succeeded him. During his bishopric he founded a community of religious women of which his sister
Perpetua was abbess.
During his 35 years as bishop of Hippo, Augustine constantly defended the faith against heresies or
paganism. In 404 he publicly argued with a famous Manichaean chief named Felix. The debate ended
dramatically when Felix confessed the Catholic faith and pronounced anathema on Manes and his
blasphemies.
The neighboring town of Madaura, where Augustine had gone to school, was settled mainly by Roman
veterans, many of whom were pagans, and Augustine won their will by rendering them important public
services. Many of them became Christians. When in 410 Rome was taken and sacked by Alaric the Goth,
there was a new eruption against the Christians, since the pagans said that all the calamities that befell the
city were due to the fact that the ancient gods had been forgotten. Partly to answer these accusations,
Augustine began in 413 his major book, The City of God, an examination of human history and justification of
Christian philosophy. This work was not completed until 426.
The last years of St. Augustine lived through the turmoil caused by the Vandal invasion of North
Africa. Count Boniface, the former imperial general of Africa, had incited Genseric, king of the Vandals, to
invade the rich African provinces. The Vandals landed in Africa in May 428 and all the accounts of the time
speak of the terror and desolation that spread with their advance. Flourishing cities were left in ruins,
country houses were sacked and the inhabitants either killed, captured as slaves or fled in disarray. Worship
ceased in the churches, as most of them were set on fire. Most of the clergy who escaped death were
stripped and reduced to living on charity. Of all the churches that existed in North Africa, hardly more
remained than those of Carthage, Hippo and Cirta, cities that were too strong for the Vandals to attack at
first.

SAINT FRANCISCO OF ASSISI

St. Francis of Assisi

Perfect Servant
of Lady Poverty
The founder of the Franciscan Order, one of the greatest vocations in the history of the Church, was born
in 1182 in Assisi. He received the stigmata of the Redeemer and became a support for the universal Church;
a model of total detachment, he did not despise the rich; he possessed the joy that comes from purity of
heart and constancy in prayer.
Cheerful, profligate, but God-fearing
We know nothing about the Saint's childhood. In the Legend of St. Francis (or Of the Three Friends),
written by three of his first disciples, it is recorded that, when he grew up, he decided to continue his
father's work, but he, much more cheerful and liberal than his father, liked to be in festive company, in
amusements and songs, to the point that he spent in meetings and banquets all that he earned 1.But with
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divine help, says St. Bonaventure, he never let himself be carried away by the ardour of the passions that
dominated the young men of his company" 2.
The "Lord instilled in his heart a feeling of piety that made him generous to the poor, especially to those who
asked for the love of God" 4, so that he would even give part of his clothing, if he had no more money.
The popularity that Francis had acquired up to that time was due more to his moral qualities than to his
physical ones, for "-he was small and miserable looking "5.
"Despise what you loved" - delivery to Lady Poverty
He was leading this joyful and carefree life when he had his first divine revelations. Praying one day in the
church of San Damiano, he heard the Crucified One asking him to restore his house, which was in ruins.
Taking the words literally, he undertook the renovation not only of that temple, but also of two others. The
Divine Redeemer, however, asked him above all to restore not the church buildings, but the Church itself as
an institution.
If you want to know my will," said the Savior, "you must despise all the things that you have materially loved
and desired up to this point. When you have done this, all that is unbearable to you will be pleasant, and all
that you desire will become unbearable" 6.
At that time the well-known episode occurred in which the father appeals to the Bishop to make the son's
"extravagances" cease; the latter hastens to divest himself even of the clothes that covered him after
which he gave himself completely to what he called Lady Poverty, following to the letter the advice of the
Gospel.
Founding of the Friars Minor
Francis began to proclaim the truth, with the full ardor of the Spirit of Christ and immediately some
responded to his call by beginning to practice penance and sharing the same life. "The humble Francis
decided that they would be called Friars Minor" 7.
Thus arose the first 12 disciples who, as the Little Flowers record, "were men of such great holiness that,
since the Apostles until today, the world has not seen such marvelous and holy men" 8. "They were content
with only a tunic, a cord and a pair of tights, and wanted no more," Francis would later say in his Testament
9.
The new apostles gathered around the small church of the Portiuncula, or St. Mary of the Angels, which
became the cradle of the Order.
The Saint supports the Catholic Church
To obtain the approval of his incipient Order, Francis went to Rome. Shortly before arriving, "the Roman
Pontiff saw in a dream the Lateran Basilica about to collapse; but a poor little man, a small and miserable-
looking man, supported it with his shoulders, preventing it from collapsing" 10. When the Supreme Pontiff
saw the Poverello of Assisi in his presence, he recognized him, embraced him, and said to him and his
companions: "Brothers, go with God and preach penance, as you will be inspired. When you have grown in
number and the Lord has increased his graces in your favor, come back to us, and we will grant you what you
desire and much more" 11.
Armed with this pontifical approval, the new religious went out to preach, two by two, touring the cities of
the region.
One night the friars saw a chariot of fire of marvelous splendor enter the room where they were, circling
three times in the enclosure. They understood that God wanted to show them, by that figure, "that their
father Francis had come 'in the spirit and power of Elijah 12.
Do not despise the rich
Despite preaching especially to the poor and identifying with them, "Francis was in the habit of warning his
disciples, exhorting them not to condemn and not to despise 'those who lived in opulence and dressed in
luxury'". He said that "they too have God for their lord, and that God can, when he wills, call them, as he
does the others, and make them righteous and holy" 13. One of those nobles gave the Poverello Monte
Alverno, where he was to receive the greatest grace of his life.
Sinsabores and founding of the Third Order
One of Francis' greatest sorrows was to see the emergence of a new tendency among his friars, led by the
Superior Friar Elias, who gave a different orientation to that of the Saint, mainly in relation to studies and
the way of observing poverty.

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On the other hand, there were so many seculars who, bound by the bonds of marriage or other earthly
duties, could not observe the Franciscan rules in their entirety, but wanted to belong to his family of souls,
that Francis founded a Third Order to include everyone. Many great personages - such as Saint Louis, King
of France, and Saint Elizabeth, Duchess of Thuringia - belonged to it.
Singing praises to "Sister Death".
Our Lord himself left imprinted on his body the sacred stigmata of the Passion two years before his death.
In his last illness, Francis wanted Friar Angelo and Friar Leo to remain at his bedside to sing the praises of
"Sister Death". To those who were scandalized, he replied: "By a grace of the Holy Spirit, I feel so deeply
united to my Lord God, that I cannot but rejoice in Him" 14.
"At last, all God's plans having been fulfilled in him, the blessed man fell asleep in the Lord, praying and
singing a Psalm" 15, on October 4, 1226, at the age of 45, being canonized just two years later.

SANTA LUCIA
Virgin and martyr of Syracuse in Sicily, whose feast is celebrated by both Latins and Greeks alike on December 13.
According to traditional history, she was born to rich and noble parents around the year 283. Her father was of Roman
descent, but his early death left her dependent on her mother, whose name was Eutychia, indicating that she was of
Greek descent. Like many of the first martyrs, Lucia had consecrated her virginity to God, and she wished to leave all
her earthly possessions to the service of the poor. Her mother was not of a simple opinion, but occasionally offered it to
her when Lucia carried out her generous resolutions. The fame of the virgin-martyr Agatha, who was executed fifty-two
years earlier in the Deccan persecution, was attracting numerous visitors to her ashes in Catania, less than fifty miles
from Syracuse, and many miracles were ascribed to her. Eutychia was therefore persuaded to make a pilgrimage to
Catania, in the hope of being cured of her hemorrhage, from which she had suffered for years.

Indeed there she was cured, and Lucia, taking advantage of the opportunity, persuaded her mother to allow her to
distribute much of her wealth to the poor. This gift stirred the greed of the undeserving young man to whom Lucia had
unwittingly committed herself, and he denounced her to Pascasios, the Governor of Sicily. And it was in the year 303,
during the intense persecution of Diocletian. At first she was condemned to suffer the humiliation of being raped; but
thanks to God's help she remained motionless, so that she could not be taken to the place of humiliation. Piles of wood

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were collected and placed on her feet and set on fire, and again God saved her. Finally, he met his death by means of a
sword. But before he died he predicted the punishment of Pascasios and the early termination of the persecution, adding
that Diocletian would no longer reign, and that Maximian would meet his death. Then, with the last forces of life, she won
her crown of virginity and martyrdom.

Unfortunately, this beautiful story cannot be accepted without criticism. The details can only be repetitions of similar
events of the life and death of the virgin-martyr. Moreover, the prophecy was not fulfilled, if it was required that
Maximian should die immediately after the termination of his reign. Pascasios, too, is a strange name for a pagan to bear.
Even so, however, even if there is no other evidence by which the story can be verified, it can only be suggested that the
facts pertaining to the saint's story deserve special mention. Among these, the place and date of her death cannot be
questioned, for the rest, the most notable are her connection with St. Agatha and the miraculous cure of Eutychia, and
it is hoped that these were not introduced by the religious compiler of the saint's story or a popular intrinsic of
intertwining together two national saints. The history, as we have described it, can be traced back to the Act, and these
date from the fifth century. Although they cannot be given as accurate, there can be no doubt of the great veneration
that was shown to St. Lucy by the Church of old. She is one of the few female saints whose name appears in the Canon of
St. Gregory, and there are special prayers and antiphons for her in " Sacramentary" and "Antiphonal". She is also
commemorated in the Old Roman Martyrology. San. Haldeéis (died. 709) is the first writer to use his actions to tell the
full story of his life and death. This he does in prose in the " Tractatus de Laudibus Virginitatis" (Tract. xliii, P. L.,
LXXXIX, 142) and again, in verse, in the poem " De Laudibus Virginum" (Fr. L., LXXXIX, 266). Following him, the
Venerable Bede inserts the story in his Martyrology.

In reference to her ashes, Sigebert (1030-1112), a monk of Gembloux, in his " sermo de Sancta Lucia", says that her body
lay undisturbed in Sicily already for 400 years, before Faroald, Duke of Spoleto, took the island and transferred the
body of the saint to Corfinium in Italy. From there it was removed by Emperor Otto I, 972, to Metz and deposited in the
Church of St. Vincent. And it was from this altar that an arm of the saint was taken and carried to the monastery of
Luitburg in the Diocese of Spires--an event celebrated by Sigebert himself in verse. The subsequent history of the
ashes is unclear. At the capture of Constantinople in 1204, the French found some ashes in that city, and the Doge of
Venice secured them to take them to the monastery of St. George in Venice. In 1513 the Venetians offered to Louis XII
of France the head of the saint, which he deposited in the cathedral church of Borges. Another event, however, tells
that the head was taken to Borges of Rome to where it was transferred during that time when the ashes rested in
Corfinium.

SANTA TERESITA

Marie-Françoise Thérèse was born on January 2, 1873 in France. He had a happy and ordinary
childhood, full of good examples.
In 1877, when Therese was four years old, her mother died and the family went to live in Lisieux
where her daughters would be under the care of their aunt, Mrs. Guerin. His sisters were Maria,
Paulina and Celina. The one who ran the house was Maria and Paulina, who was the eldest, was in
charge of the religious education of her sisters.
When Teresita was 9 years old, Paulina entered the Carmelite convent. Since then, Teresita felt
inclined to follow her on that path. Religion occupied a very important part of his life.
When Therese was fourteen years old, her sister Mary left for the Carmelite convent. Christmas
of that year, she had the experience she called her "conversion". She says that barely an hour
after the birth of the Child Jesus, she flooded the darkness of her soul with rivers of light. She
said that God had made himself weak and small out of love for her to make her strong and
courageous.
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The following year, Therese asked her father for permission to enter the Carmelite convent and
he said yes. The nuns of the convent and the Bishop of Bayeux were of the opinion that he was too
young and should wait.
A few months later they went to Rome and when she knelt in front of the Pope to receive his
blessing, she broke her silence and asked to enter the convent at the age of fifteen. The Pope was
impressed by his appearance and manners and told him that if it was God's will it would be so, and
he entered Carmel in April 1888.
Therese complied with the rules and duties of the Carmelites. He prayed with immense fervor for
priests and missionaries. Because of this, she was named after her death, with the title of
patroness of the missions, although she had never left her convent.
She submitted to all the austerities of the order, except fasting, since she was in poor health and
her superiors prevented her from doing so. Among the corporal penances, the hardest for her was
the winter cold in the convent. But she said, "Did Jesus want to grant me the martyrdom of the
heart or the martyrdom of the flesh; I would prefer that He grant me both." And one day he was
able to exclaim "I have reached a point where it is impossible for me to suffer, because all
suffering is sweet."
In 1893 she was appointed assistant mistress of novices, although she was practically an assistant
novice mistress. Regarding this work, she said that doing good without God's help was as impossible
as making the sun shine in the middle of the night.
His father became ill and lost the use of his reason due to two attacks of paralysis. Celina, his
sister, took care of him. These were difficult years for the daughters. When her father died,
Celina entered the convent with her sisters.
That same year, Teresita became ill with tuberculosis. He wanted to go on a mission to Indochina
but his health did not allow it. It was a period of bodily suffering and spiritual trials. In June 1897
she was transferred to the convent infirmary from where she never left again. From August
onwards he could no longer receive Communion due to his illness and died on September 30 of that
year. She was beatified in 1923 and canonized in 1925. She is presented as a Carmelite nun with a
crucifix and roses in her arms. She said that after her death she was going to make it rain roses.

SAINT RITA OF CASSIA

History:
For centuries St. Rita of Cascia (1381-1457) has been one of the most popular Saints in the Catholic Church. She is
known as the "Saint of the Impossible" for her impressive answers to prayers, as well as for the remarkable events of
her own life.
St. Rita wanted to be a nun, but to obey her parents, she married. Her husband caused her much suffering, but she
repaid his cruelty with prayer and kindness. In time he was converted, becoming considerate and God-fearing. But St.
Rita had to endure great pain when her husband was killed.
Santa Rita later discovered that her two sons were thinking of avenging their father's murder. She feared that they
would put her wishes into effect in accordance with the malicious custom of Vengeance. With heroic love for their souls,
she begged God to take them from this life before allowing them to commit this great sin. Not long after, both died
after preparing to meet God.
Without her husband and children, St. Rita gave herself to prayer, penance and works of charity. After some time she
applied for admission to the Augustinian Convent in Cascia. She was not accepted, but after praying to her three special
patron saints - St. John the Baptist, St. Augustine and St. Nicholas of Tolentine - she miraculously entered the convent
and was allowed to stay. This happened around the year 1411.

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In the convent, St. Rita's life was marked by her great charity and severe penances. Her prayers obtained for others,
remarkable cures, deliverance from the devil and other special favors from God so that she could share in the pain of
His Crown of Thorns, Our Lord gave St. Rita a thorn wound in her forehead. It was very painful and expelled an
unpleasant odor, but she considered it a divine grace. She prayed "O beloved Jesus, increase my patience as my
sufferings increase". The wound lasted for the rest of his life.
Saint Rita died on May 22, 1457 at the age of 76. People flocked to the convent to pay their last respects. Countless
miracles took place through her intercession, and devotion to her spread far and wide. St. Rita's body was preserved
perfect for several centuries, and sometimes gave off a sweet fragrance. At the beatification ceremony, the body of
the saint was raised and opened her eyes.
God has heard St. Rita's prayers for others on countless occasions, and she will certainly be happy to intercede once
again, on behalf of those who pray to her now - to continue to perceive the truth of His great name.
Some very rich gentlemen, from a village near Cascia, had a little girl whom they baptized with the name of Rita.

From her birth the child was surrounded by maidens who dressed her in gold, silk and all kinds of luxuries and
comforts.

But since her parents were very good Christians, they took special care to educate her in virtue and to teach her,
above all, the love of God.

That is why Rita cherished and loved nothing so much as the Crucifix, which is the portrait of God's love.

Gold, silk and all the luxury offered to him, he considered as garbage that only serves to stain the soul and separate
us from God.

When Rita was older, her parents wanted to marry her, but she, on her knees and with tears in her eyes, told her
parents that she did not want to marry, because she had offered all her love to God and wanted to continue loving Him
alone by entering a convent as a nun.

But because the boy who was her suitor was handsome, rich and seemed nice, Rita's parents forced her to marry him.

Saint Rita's parents, although they were good, were wrong and did very badly in forcing her to marry against her will.
Later on, Rita had to suffer a lot with her husband, since she only wanted to play and have fun, without worrying about
her home.

St. Rita had to suffer a lot with her husband because he was a scoundrel and treated her very badly. He often made
fun of her and beat her. Nevertheless, Rita endured everything with patience and to her husband's insults she responded
with gentleness and the most delicate attentions.
Rita understood that what she had to do was to be silent, suffer and pray. Nothing altered the infinite sweetness of
her soul: to insults she replied with kindly smiles, and to infidelities with displays of imperturbable affection. And in this
way, with much suffering and with much gentleness, after many years, she succeeded in getting her husband to improve
his character a little.
After many years of sacrifices; after having cried and prayed a lot, Rita succeeded in getting her husband to become
good. So she feels happy, not so much because he is no longer insulting her or hitting her, but because he is now able to
save her soul. But this happiness will be short-lived, because he had only been converted for a short time, when one day
he was murdered.

Uncertain as she was of her husband's salvation, Rita redoubled her penances and prayers, praying to God for her
husband, so that he would not allow himself to be condemned. But one day the Lord appeared to her and revealed that
her husband had been saved.

Santa Rita had two sons who loved their father very much: that is why the moment they learned that he had been
murdered, they swore they would kill the murderer. Rita wept, begged and did everything she could to make her children
repent and not to carry out that purpose; and seeing that she did not succeed, she made this petition to God:
"My God, You know how much I love my children, but I would rather see them dead than murderers."
God heard the saint's prayer, and her children soon died, repentant of their criminal intentions. Rita suffered a lot,
but she thanked God that He had heard her prayer.
Left alone in the world, Rita again felt the desire to consecrate herself to God in the religious state. With these desires
she went to the convent of the Augustinian Sisters of Cascia, but because she was a widow she was not admitted.

68
 Nothing in the world was fulfilling to Rita. St. Augustine's phrase was true in her:

"Lord, You have made us for You, and our heart is restless until it rests in You."

Since then, Rita, at home, lives like a nun. Dedicated to prayer and penance, she spends her hours and days.

One night, while he was praying, St. Augustine, St. John the Baptist and St. Nicholas appeared to him, and
affectionately said:

"Rita, come with us to the nuns' convent. We will introduce you to it.

And in an instant Rita found herself inside the convent without knowing where she had entered.

The nuns who found her inside and saw the great miracle, gladly admitted her into their company, with unspeakable
joy.

Once in the convent, the saint tried to excel in obedience and humility. Remembering the words of Jesus Christ, who
said:
"I did not come to be served, but to serve others".

Thus Saint Rita behaved as if she were the servant of all.

The superior, to test his obedience, ordered him to water every day a dry branch that she had nailed in a corner of
the courtyard. Every day, the saint obediently fulfilled the order, amidst the smiles of the others. The Lord wanted to
reward this gesture of obedience of the saint, making the dry vine shoot, instead of rotting with so much water, green
up, covering it with leaves and becoming a beautiful vine. Even today, after so many centuries, you continue to produce
large bunches of a special flavor.

The Crucifix, since her childhood, was the favorite devotion of the Saint. Later, already in the convent, her love for the
crucifix grew more and more, giving birth in her to an ardent desire to be able, in some way, to correspond to the love of
that great Love.

Jesus, from the Cross, suffering voluntarily for us, showed us the greatness of his love. That is why St. Rita rejoiced
whenever she was offered the opportunity to suffer something for the love of God.

Such was her desire to suffer for the love of God that one day, while she was asking the Crucified God to make her
share in her pain, a thorn came out of the Crucifix and stuck into the forehead of the Saint, causing a wound that no
medicine could ever cure.

St. Rita was very affectionate with the poor and always tried to help them in any way she could. She felt happy to be
able to take care of them by giving them clothes and food, and when there was some need that she could not attend to,
she suffered more than the poor themselves for not being able to help them.
Like food, he also gave them good advice, speaking to them with ineffable gentleness, and caring even more for their
souls than for their bodies. Everyone loved and respected her because they truly knew that she gave them everything
she had.
In 1450 the Pope declared it a jubilee year. All those who went on pilgrimage to Rome during that year would gain
countless indulgences.

All the nuns, eager to gain indulgences, wanted to go on pilgrimage to Rome. St. Rita also asked her superior for
permission to go on pilgrimage. But the superior told her that with that nasty wound on her forehead she could not leave
the house. Then St. Rita asked God to make the wound disappear for some time so that she could go and gain the
indulgences of the Jubilee. God heard St. Rita's wishes and the wound miraculously disappeared, but only for the
duration of the pilgrimage. Having returned home the wound reappeared on his forehead.

An unknown illness forced her to stay in bed for four years, amidst untold pain. But St. Rita was happy to be able to
offer those pains to her Beloved the Crucified Lord. The more I suffered, the more I wanted to suffer. Jesus and Mary,
who from heaven were watching her suffer, with so much joy and love, appear to her moments before her death,
surrounded by angels who gather her soul and amidst perfumes of roses and celestial music take her to heaven. There he
69
is now enjoying indescribable happiness, for ever and ever. Numerous sick people who came to touch his body were
suddenly cured.
She is the advocate of impossible cases, because "for God all things are possible" and she is pleased to grant, through
the mediation of St. Rita, many things that humanly speaking would not be possible.

ARCHIVE RETIREMENT HOMES

House: Villa Marista

Address: Calle Champagnat, km. 54 on route 8 - Pilar
Telephone: 02322 - 428749
Capacity: 80
Rooms: single and many group rooms. Separate rooms for priests.
Daily cost per person: $24
In charge: Br. Javier.

Home: Sacred Heart

Address: Castelar
Teléfono: 4627-5788//4629-0209//4431-0857
Capacity: 120 people
Rooms: 2 persons
Daily cost per person: $ 30

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Manager Laura (int 110)

Home: Lestonac
Address:9 and 13 Streets, Trujui-Moreno Park (three blocks from Castelar intersection).
Phone: 0237 - 4813892 / 4629-0209 int 110 (Laura)
Capacity: 55 people
Rooms: shared with general bathrooms
Daily cost per person: $30
In charge Sr. Milagros (Company of Mary)

Home: Misericordia
Address: San Miguel
Phone:4664 - 6698
Capacity:
Rooms:
Daily cost per person:
In charge Sr. Sebastiana

House: Cristo Rey

Address: Garay 1147 (and Matienzo) - Luis Guillión.
Phone: 4290 - 5819
Capacity: 72 pers.
Rooms: double rooms with bathroom or single rooms (36 pers.)
Daily cost per person: $17 (1 person free)
In charge: Sister Angela María

Home: Mother Cabrini

Address: Capital Federal
Phone: 4372 - 6839
Capacity:
Rooms:
Daily cost per person:
In charge:

House: Nazareth (Passionistas) (has room but occupied by 20 people, only rooms are shared)
Address: Carlos Calvo 3121 Capital Federal
Phone number: 4932- 8372//4972-8372
Capacity: 57 people
Rooms: triple rooms with private bathroom
Daily cost per person: $45
In charge: Noemi

Home: Priestly Emergency Service

Address: Km. 64,500 route 8 - Fátima - Pilar
Telephone: 4803 - 6015 / 02234516560
Capacity: 50 people
Rooms: double rooms with bathroom and double compartments with general bathrooms
Daily cost per person: $ 15 (free September and October)
In charge Mr. Alejandro Brasera.

Home: Jesús María

Address:
Phone:4666-0183

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Capacity: 35 pers.
Rooms: single.
Daily cost per person: $ 22
Manager Ms. Marisa (T.E. part. 666-2924)

Home: Handmaids of the Sacred Heart

Address: Montevideo 1372
Phone number: 4812-1735 / 4813-1417
Capacity: 32 persons
Rooms: single rooms with shared bathroom.
Daily cost per person: $ 20
In charge Sr. Susana Pick (August may be)

Home: Colegio Máximo

Address: Av. Mitre 3226.
Phone: 4455 -7992
Capacity: 40 people.
Rooms: single
Daily cost per person: $ 22
Foreman P. Minister.

House: Betharram (it is a seminary now, the house no longer exists)

Address: Soler 556
Phone: 4294 - 1159
Capacity: 80 people
Rooms: 40 for 2 persons
Daily cost per person: $ 25
In charge: Br. Roberto.

House: María Inmaculada

Address: 3 de fecrero 1981 - Haedo.
Phone: 4658 -1850
Capacity: 50 pers.
Rooms: double rooms with shared bathrooms
Daily cost per person: $ 25
In charge Sr. Cobadonga.

House: Divino Maestro (No longer in operation but rented)

Address: San Miguel
Phone: 4811 - 8393
Capacity:
Rooms:
Daily cost per person: $27 or $10 without food

House: Don Otorino

Address: Asunción 2380 (esq. Reynoso) -Don Torcuato
Teléfono: 4748-0921//4748-3367//4741-3749
Capacity: 50 pers.
Rooms: shared
Daily cost per person: $ 11 without food
In charge Graciela (4846-0559)

House: El cenáculo-Pilar

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Address: Ruta 8 Km. 60
Teléfono: 02322-490364//490764-Pilar
Capacity: 50 pers.
Rooms: double rooms with shared bathrooms
Daily cost per person: $ 25
In charge Alejandro.

Home: Card Copello

Address: Barzana 1535
Phone: 4521-3558
Capacity: 50 pers.
Rooms: double rooms with shared bathrooms
Daily cost per person: $ 29
Foreman 4844-3566 (Mary)

Home: Belen
Address: Barzana 1535
Telephone: 0237-4810974 (Moreno)
Capacity: 50 pers.
Rooms: double rooms with shared bathrooms
Daily cost per person: $ 24
Oscar in charge

Home: Mons. Aguirre

Address: San Isidro
Phone: 4580-0450
Capacity: 50 pers.
Rooms: double rooms with shared bathrooms
Daily cost per person: $
Manager Maria del Carmen

House: Betania
Address: Gaspar Campos 1450 Bella Vista
Phone: 4666-0090
Capacity: 54 pers.
Rooms: double rooms with shared bathrooms
Daily cost per person: $30
In charge Sister Carmen

House: Villa Ignacio

Address: Ruta 202 Nº1452 San Miguel
Phone: 4664-7996
Capacity: 50 pers.
Rooms: double rooms with shared bathrooms
Daily cost per person: $ 18
In charge Sister Javiera

House: Santa Ethnea

Address: Gaspar Campos 881 Bella Vista
Telephone: 4666-2561
Capacity: 50 pers.
Rooms: double rooms with shared bathrooms
Daily cost per person:

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In charge

House: Villa del Huerto

Address: Ruta 7, Km. 75, 500
Phone number: 02323 - 498392/488311
Capacity: 60
Rooms: single and double.
Daily cost per person: $20
In charge: Sister María Juana.

House: Villa Marista Lujan

Address:
Telephone: 02323-42095
Capacity:
Rooms:
Daily cost per person: $
In charge: Brother Remigio

House: Villa Asís (P.P. Capuchinos)

Address: Julian Martel and Las Heras (San Miguel)
Phone: 4455-7747
Capacity:
Rooms: Triples with shared bathrooms w/2 rooms
Daily cost per person: $
In charge:

House: Virgen de Lujan

Address: San Gines 2171-San Fernando (at the height of Libertador at 2100).
Phone: 4744-0283
Capacity:
Rooms:
Daily cost per person: $8 (without food)
In charge: Brother Remigio

House: Maria Auxiliadora

Address: San Miguel
Phone: 4455-7826
Capacity: 80
Rooms: Single with private bathroom
Daily cost per person: $40
In charge: Sr. Ma. Emilia

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 INDEX

ESCENCIA 2
 Introduction 3
 Definition of Emmaus 4
 Equipment and functions 6
 Tips 8
 Filming Emaus 9

TEAM 12
 Assistants' responsibilities and attitudes 13
 Corridor work 15
 Specific tasks of the Assistants 17
 The Talk 20
 Talks 22

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SCHEDULES 25
 Emaus Schedule 4 days 26
 Emaus Schedule 3 days 35

TASKS 42
 Specific tasks of the Vice Rector 43
 Things to do before retirement 45
 Who gives each talk 46

SUPPORT 47
 Things to buy 48
 Tasks to do 49

PHOTOCOPIES 50
 Circular 51
 Chain of prayers 52
 Find me 53
 Examination of conscience 54
 15 Minutes with Jesus 56
 Love me as you are 57
 Dying in the turkey

DETAILS 58
History Saints and Santas for Patrols 59
 San Marcos 59
 St. Augustine 60
 St. Francis of Assisi 62
 St. Lucia 64
 Santa Teresita 65
 Santa Rita 66

Archive retirement homes 69

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