Logo of the XI International Gathering of the Teams of Our Lady

We are off to Brasilia together!

It has been announced, and here are the details: the next International Gathering in Brazil, result of the "blank page" presented to the meeting of Regional Couples in Rome in January 2009, is at our door:

• The place: Brasilia.
• The dates : 21/26 July 2012.
• The title: To dare to live the Gospel.
• The gospel chosen as the theme: The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10, 25-37)

Another very important sign was born and will accompany us during these next two years: the LOGO for the Gathering, fruit of the work of a Brazilian team-member and selected from among other very beautiful images by the participants at the College of Madrid in 2010. It is a very beautiful image that has several meanings: we invite you to discover them in the enclosed explanatory sheet. Always keep this image in your heart; it is the image that unites us all the way to Brasilia 2012!

Suite

This topic followed on from the one used and developed at the previous College held in Madrid and was used to prepare the theme topic for the 2012 Gathering, The Good Samaritan.

Each day in Fusagasuga was organised and run by one of Movement's Zones. Each Zone began by introducing themselves using a slideshow and then invited everyone to pray together. Talks and conferences added to the content and nature of the reflection. Teams mixed according to language, but sometimes according to Zone, and although this meant listening hard the exchanges were always very fruitful.
The meals were another moment of encounter with ‘different' and new people and those farthest from our daily routine. Once again it meant listening attentively but so much was learnt!
This College follows on from the previous Colleges that emphasised the opening up to the world and attention to the real demands and requests of the regions. One Super-Regional Couple remarked, ‘We have experienced 5 Colleges and its progression to openness is very real and noticeable over that time. True collegiality is practiced and we try very hard to listen carefully to each other.'

Words from John's Gospel about the Healing at the Pool punctuated the 5 days at Fusagasuga, ‘When Jesus saw him lying there', ‘Do you want to be healed?', ‘I have no one to help me', ‘Get up !', ‘Walk' and reminded all participants of their role as Responsible Couples to listen out for the signs of today, especially in relation to couples and families. Finally, John Paul II's words spoken to the Teams of Our Lady movement in Rome, 2003, encouraged us to pay particular attention to those who are hurt by love.
What a wonderful kick-off this College was! It is one that will lead us to Brasilia in 2012-but this time with all Team members!