This is Natalia from the Community in Gainesville! I have not been here for a long time, since I just moved here in May, but I will tell you a little bit about what we have been doing since I moved here. We have household every 2 weeks, and join in praising and sharing. I am living now in the only residential household with my sister Pauline. We praise each morning and have dinner once every two weeks together (the weeks we don’t have household).
Also, the Emmanuel Community is trying to grow, especially by being more involved in the activities of the John Paul II Center, the FIDESCO mission here in Gainesville were we work to defend the dignity of the person by serving those in need. We have recently started an Emmanuel Praise Team, where we are trying to grow in learning how to sing better together, as well as using the charisms of praise to bring people from the center closer to God.
On Thanksgiving, we had a Christ the King procession and served a Thanksgiving meal to those in need, where we praise and adored the Lord using some Emmanuel Community songs mixed with some traditional mexican chants. If you like us on FACEBOOK you can see some of the pictures of that (http://www.facebook.com/JohnPaul2TrainingCenter).
On All Saint’s Day we had a party where we all dressed up as Saints and shared dinner and drinks! We also all pulled out our patron saint from a bag so he/she would protect us and intercede for us this year. It was a GREAT time.
During Christmas we held traditional Posadas and sang and prayed together. Sharing this time together was so special. On the feast of our Saviors birth it is always a blessing to be in community.
Now we are preparing for more community life in 2013. We will have monthly community days and have more time to pray and be together in order that our time of service here in Gainesville may be even more fruitful than ever.
Please pray for us to continue to grow in fraternal love, and for the community to keep growing here in Gainesville!!!
United in prayer.
Natalia