Marian Helper Winter 2012-2013

T he Marian Fathers have exciting plans for Argentina, the southernmost part of their Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy Province. The province includes all of the United States and Argentina, and we’ve shared on this page about the Marians in the U.S. conducting Divine Mercy parish missions across the country. Now, the Marians in Argentina, who currently minister in two parishes, have opened a new center to bring The Divine Mercy message to more parishes in their country. On Aug. 4, Fr. Eduardo Alvarez, MIC, pastor of St. Casimir Parish in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina, blessed the new Marian Helpers Center, which is attached to the parish church. It is a modest but modern two-room facility staffed by Fr. Dante Aguero, MIC, and a part-time office manager. Father Dante serves not only as director of the center but as superior of all the Marians in Argentina. “Everything we have in the center was being stored in my room prior to opening [the new facility],” says Fr. Dante, adding with a smile, “and my room isn’t big. So we moved all of the papers, records, and documents into the new office, purchased the business equipment we needed such as desks, file cabinets, and comput- ers, and we are ready to go.” The goal in Argentina is similar to the one the Marians have in the U.S., says Fr. Dante: “We have begun our parish outreach, and on these visits, we bring statues, images of The Divine Mercy, and prayercards. The need is great. The people in the parishes know about Divine Mercy, but they don’t know enough. They think it’s ‘just another devotion,’ and we are trying to change that [perception].” It’s a huge job, says Fr. Dante, and he shares his strategy with the proviso that, mainly, he’s leaving the outcome in God’s hands: “We are teaching the peo- ple how important this message is not only for the world but especially for their own personal lives.” Father Dante notes that the trend toward secularization as well as social problems such as gang violence, drug use, and family discord make the work more difficult, and one of his prayers is for patience, so that he doesn’t expect too much, too soon. To the people, Fr. Dante says, “Always, when something is wrong in your life, that is a sign that you need to run to God’s mercy. “Peoplewho come to ourmissions are looking for something. When they are here, they are like chil- dren waiting for candy. When they begin to under- stand the importance of Divine Mercy, they find more thancandy.They find eternal food for the soul.” To donate, visit marian.org/argentina. In the News: Marians around the World Marians open Helpers Center in Argentina From the new Marian Helpers Center in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina, Fr. Dante Aguero, MIC, is leading the Marian Fathers in expanding their Divine Mercy outreach into more of that country’s parishes. F R . D ANTE A GUERO , MIC By Dan Valenti MH H Fr. Dante Aguero, MIC Back to Index