This Thursday, September 27th, 16 religious members of the Villaregia Missionary Community in Belo Horizonte spent the day on retreat at the Sanctuary of Health and Peace.

They arrived early and were welcomed by the vice-postulator of the cause of Canonization, Father Marcus Vinícius Maciel, SSCC, who spoke a little more about the life and history of Father Eustáquio. Afterwards, the community members visited the Father Eustáquio Memorial. There, they held moments of reflection and prayer around the relics of the Dutch religious figure. The visitors also explored other areas of the Sanctuary and participated in the 12 noon Holy Mass.

The Missionary Community of Villaregia

CMV is a work of the Catholic Church, founded in 1981 and recognized by the Holy See. It was established by Father Luigi Prandin and Maria Luigia Corona with a group of young people eager to dedicate themselves to God in evangelization, living a community life open to mission.

On September 8, 1981, it was recognized by His Excellency Most Reverend Dom Sennen Corrà, then Bishop of Chioggia, as a Pious Union of worship and religion. On March 25, 1984, by virtue of the new Code of Canon Law, the same Bishop of Chioggia erected the Community as a Public Association of the Faithful of diocesan right. On May 26, 2002, the Pontifical Council for the Laity erected the Missionary Community of Villaregia as a Public Association of the Faithful of pontifical right. On May 26, 2007, the same Dicastery definitively approved the Statutes, after a five-year trial period.

The Gift of God: Being a Community for the mission ad gentes, trusting in Providence. Community, Mission, and Providence: three pillars that sustain a life together, given to our brothers and sisters. The active members joyfully adhere to these pillars in fidelity to God's plan, with a renewed awareness each day that He is the architect of history. God's Gift is also a task, a commitment to be responsibly undertaken and constantly renewed in service to the Church and humanity.

Biblical foundation: “"As you, Father, are in me and I in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe" (John 17:21).

The members: They are distinguished into full (ordained) members; associate members and sympathizers.

Presence in Europe, 7 Communities: Quartu Sant'Elena (CA); Villaregia (RO); Nola (NA); Pordenone; Pomegranate; Lonato (BS); Imola (BO).
Presence in America, 5 Communities: Belo Horizonte and São Paulo (Brazil); Lima (Peru); Arecibo (Puerto Rico); Texcoco (Mexico).
Presence in Africa, 2 communities: Yopougon (Ivory Coast), Maputo (Mozambique).

Source: Press Office for the Canonization of Father Eustáquio, with information from the website: cmv.it