An imposing image of the Virgin Mary over a structure with water cascade, located at the entrance of the House of Our Lady of the Poor, in Carmo da Cachoeira, MG, Brazil, bid welcome to the pilgrims who arrived from the cities of Belo Horizonte and São Paulo. The potent fountain resulted like music for the ears and peace for the mind of this group. They were accompanied by residents of the town of Carmo da Cachoeira, members of the Community-of-Light of Figueira and the monastery of Grace Mercy Order, as they came to the meeting summoned to pray together, among other reasons, for the new cycle that begins in 2019.

“I am the Lady of waters, and with them, I dissipate the evils of this world through the Light that physically emanates from them”. The message of the Virgin Mary of July 17, 2016.

Thus, on Sunday, January 20, the House of Our Lady of the Poor opened its doors to the activities of the new cycle of 2019. The first ones to be received were this group of Pilgrims, among whom are Children of Mary  and groups of prayer, who, with this visit culminated the route as the last day of a weekend that contemplated the trajectory in the Marian Center of Figueira, in the sacred sites of the Hill of Apparitions and the House of Our Lady of the Poor.

 

Spiritual Keys

According to Mother Ana Catalina, of Grace Mercy Order, coordinator of this space and director of the Children of Mary, the activities assigned to this house by the Virgin are: “to pray and to teach to pray”, “spiritual keys” that would touch many hearts, helping them transform their life, adds the religious Mother.

The morning had prayers and chants that led those present to moments of introspection. This stage culminated with the communion.

Later, distributed in groups, they left in a caravan of cars to different sectors of the population of Carmo da Cachoeira, with the purpose of visiting families and offering a prayer, concretizing in this way the request of the Virgin of receiving pilgrims and to “encounter the families”.

Touching hearts

With great enthusiasm, the teams of work mobilized themselves to the homes of the families that were assigned to them. And they were also received with the same joy. This was the case of the family of the lady Espedita Miranda Martin. Her home is located in the sector called Sports Square, in the center of the rural town of Carmo da Cachoeira. There, Ms Espedita, the guide of the family, lovingly invited her children who were present to pray together.

“I get filled with joy each time these groups come to pray at my home, I ask for my family, children, grand-children. I have the habit of praying before my altar, sometimes alone, but when they come to my home the house becomes lighter (she laughs), and although you may not believe it, the problems are solved, because it is as if the prayers reached the heart. If it depends on me, they will always come, expressed Ms. Espedita as she showed her altar.

House of Our Lady of the Poor

“I wish this were the house of the poor souls, where they could find the food of prayer for their spirits, and at the same time, a reunion with love”, Message of Mary, Rose of Peace, of February 9, 2017.

Consecrated on February 9, 2017, this house, which has been part of Association Mary since then, has not ceased its activities. For their conduction, two ways were created. Firstly, they have their daily prayers with a schedule established by the house, also supporting the Prayer for Peace in the Nations from there and via the internet. They also hold a movement organized toward the more modest districts, to invite the families to share a prayer in the headquarters and they offer transportation to the place.

According to Mother Ana Catalina, the response is always positive, and “very devoted ladies” accept to go to the house and share “prayer in an ecumenical way”. The structure of the house offers rooms designed for the conduction of the activities. Thus the prayerful person can easily be before the distinct aspects of the Virgin in a welcoming room, but also stay in the prayer room in individual contemplation or group work.

Secondly, and as the other way, they go to their homes, teaching and encouraging them to pray in the family, to have their altar. For this, the team keeps a constant accompaniment.

Group work

These two ways of work go in parallel to the reception of the Children of Mary who arrive as visitors and pilgrims who head to the Marian Center and who first visit this House. “We support the Marian Center of Figueira in the welcoming of the pilgrims, and we work as a team, just as with the House of Light on the Hill, which, with the social service that it renders, gives us data to make the first contact with potentially praying families”, explains the coordinator of the house.

If you want additional information, or to be part of this experience, get in touch:

Cell Phone: +55 35 99984 0987
Landline: +55 35 3225 3109

secretaria.nspobres@associacaomaria.org