Good morning to all of you: Greetings of peace and love to all on behalf of those of us who belong to the Association of the Miraculous Medal in Puerto Rico.

The topics we are going to reflect on together are very interesting and practical. They nourish the hope that is needed in these difficult times of war and international insecurity we are living.

The AMM has helped and continues to help many men and women who have been evangelized and blessed through the intercession of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. The spreading of the Association springs from a fulfillment of the same mission entrusted to us by Mary through St. Catherine Laboure that is, at the same, a challenge for all. At this point in time, man thirsts for a message of hope and peace and She gave this to us through her message at Rue du Bac and in the Medal.

What are we called to do? I believe that our first task is to invite children, youth and young couples.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Our experience in Puerto Rico is that the majority of our members are older persons. Their presence and work is very valuable but we are convinced that what is not renewed will fade or disappear. We need the presence, energy, joy, enthusiasm, audacity, creativity and commitment of the youth. They are the future of the Church and of society. If we truly believe in the evangelizing and transforming force that the charism of the Association has, then we believe that recruiting young people is indispensable if we want to spread the Association. And this can be accomplished by forming groups of children in the AMM. Having groups of children is important if we want to continue cultivating this seed. It is very much easier to organize groups of children in our country than youth groups. We are also called to reach out to them, bringing them the good news of love and hope that the Medal gives us. The youth want to embark on and commit to a mission that brings effective love, hope and solidarity to those who are sad, alone, deprived, sick, who lack everything…

These different groups of children, adolescents and youth would form a different section within the AMM having methods, formation and practices that are applicable to the psychology proper to their age.

The Vincentian Family Coordinating Council of Puerto Rico (COFAVIP) has requested the JMV National Council to introduce the different branches of the Vincentian Family to university students and invite them to join. If they see an AMM that is dynamic, enthusiastic, with a genuine affective and effective love for the Poor, one that is missionary with the Miraculous Medal who is the bearer of peace, love and hope, then I am sure that they will want to move on to another Marian Association of the Vincentian Family once they become adults.

YOUNG COUPLES

Young couples can be the source of a very positive force for the Association. They need guidance in their first years of marriage and at the same time that they begin to be grounded in the bases of a new family, they can do their apostolate of evangelization and of service to the poor through the Association. They can be good leaders, formators and advisers of the groups of children, adolescents and youth.

NEW GROUPS

Surely you may have more experience than we do in forming new groups. These can be organized in parishes and chapels, in institutions such as Homes for the Elderly, Rehabilitation Centers for Youths and Adults, Schools and Educational Centers, Residences, small communities, etc. Each country can adapt it to its own reality. How? I would like to share our experience with you:

Promotion

1. Present the group to the Bishop of the Diocese.


2. Visit Parish Priests.


3. Invite people to the Sunday Eucharistic Celebration and give out pamphlets.
4. Make the group known through social communication means used by the Church. (In Puerto Rico we have the following: radio station, newspaper and TV station).

IN OTHER COUNTRIES

When the zeal for the Kingdom of God burns in our hearts, we cannot afford to be concerned with having only “those close to us” participate in this Association that showers so many abundant graces. Our Association is also missionary; that is one of its characteristics. We now take a look at our neighboring countries… although we may have different cultures… How do we, from our National Councils, motivate, animate, and offer support so that the Association will be established or consolidated in another country? It would be much easier if we make the contacts through the other branches of the Vincentian Family. A few days ago, I spoke to the Visitatrix of the Daughters of Charity of Haiti, asking her what could be the best way we could help, from Puerto Rico, in the establishment of the AMM there. She gave me the name of a Vincentian Father who wants to initiate it and from the National Council, we will talk and share with him the experiences of this Encounter and to ask how we could help him. Perhaps, those in the Dominican Republic could also help since they are much nearer. It does not matter from where, what matters is that, as brothers, we be filled with that great apostolic zeal St. Vincent asked of us. Perhaps Mexico could offer a hand to Guatemala. Those countries where the Association is already established can also look after their neighboring countries.

AMM INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL

In the same way that the Association in the national levels needs a certain structure, I see the urgent need to organize an INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL. In this manner, it will be unify all the groups and the animation, orientation, organization, formation, expansion, distribution of materials and the work of establishing new groups in countries where the AMM does not exist will be more effective. All the branches of the Vincentian Family already have an International Secretariat and we are only ones without one. We also lack representation in the Latin American Council of the Vincentian Family.

I would like to end by sharing with you a concern that I have: let us “put all our hearts” in rediscovering the identity and mission of the AMM in order to portray a new image in our world today. Let us multiply and organize our groups properly and quickly. THE POOR INCREASE IN NUMBER DAILY. There is much to be done in evangelization and service. Meetings are very important but we cannot increase their frequency. Let us reveal to our brothers and sisters the tenderness and mercy of God through the tenderness Mary expressed in her message and in the Medal.

OH MARY CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN, PRAY FOR US WHO HAVE RECOURSE TO THEE.

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