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Missionaries at the service of the Church
ABOUT US
The Pilgrims of Love, are a fraternity of lay missionaries carrying a sacramental and prayer life in community, centered especially in the Eucharistic adoration, devotion to the Child Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary, in complete and strict obedience to the Pope and the Church hierarchy. We commit ourselves to the urgent task of the new evangelization, actively participating in the salvific mission of the Church, "of carrying forth the Gospel of Christ, the source of hope for humanity and the renewal of society".
(Christifidelis Laici, n.29)
In 1999, in Bogota (Colombia), Marino Restrepo founded the Pilgrims of Love. From that year on, we began an ongoing activity of evangelization that gradually reached several countries, based on his experience of profound conversion during a kidnapping that radically changed his life in 1997.
On June 16th, 2011, with Decree No. 086, the Ecclesiastical Court, headed by Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez, approved the Pilgrims of Love Foundation as part of the Archdiocese of Bogota.
SPIRITUALITY
The spirituality of our foundation is focused on daily adoration and celebration of the Holy Eucharist, and in an intimate affiliation with the Blessed Virgin Mary, cultivated by the daily prayer of the Rosary. Our role model is the Divine Child Jesus. Jesus, who said, "Let the children come to me" (Lk. 18:16), was also child and wants us to be humble and pure like children to enter His Kingdom. Meditating on his childhood, Jesus blesses us and arouses in us its virtues. The Tradition of the Church's devotion to the Divine Child has been practiced especially in the Carmelite Order. St. Therese of the Child Jesus, called the "Little Flower of Jesus", was also one who practiced a very special devotion to the Divine Child. This mysterious relationship of the saints with Jesus in His infancy, goes back to the beginnings of Christianity. We promote the devotion to the Baby Jesus, specially through the prayers of the Christmas Novena.
Our lady of Guadalupe and St. Therese of the Child Jesus are also patron saints of the Pilgrims of Love.
PURPOSE AND COMMITMENTS
"Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel" (1 Co 9,16)
“The challenge is to make the church’s yes to life concrete and effective. The struggle will be long, and it needs each one of you. Place your intelligence, your talents, your enthusiasm, your compassion and your fortitude at the service of life!”
Pope John Paul I - VIII World Youth Day - Denver, 15th August 1993
The purpose of the Pilgrims of Love in the service of the Catholic Church, and centered in the New Evangelization is:
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Ecclesial communion
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Preaching of the Gospel
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Missionary commitment with poor and marginalized communities
Commitments:
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Promote Eucharistic Adoration
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Pray for the Holy Father, the Church, priests and religious
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Invite the baptized who have left the Church to return to its bosom and rekindle in them and their families the fire of faith
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Invite and welcome those who are trying to give spiritual meaning to their lives, helping them to find the truth and love of the Catholic Church
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Rescue the value of the teachings of the Magisterium of the Church in matters of faith and customs, and recover the beauty of the liturgy
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Formate the Faithful in the Papal Magisterium, particularly through the study of the encyclicals, apostolic exhortations and other papal documents
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Collaborate with parishes in liturgical celebrations, such as Christmas, Holy Week and Easter
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Give formation to young people, for the World Youth Days gathered by the Holy Father
TO ACHIEVE ITS OBJECTIVES THE FOUNDATION WILL BE ABLE TO:
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Promote the teaching of the Gospel, the Pontifical Magisterium, the Catechism and Catholic Doctrine
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Exercise all the actions inherent to Catechesis
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Promote and organize spiritual retreats
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Actively help seminaries and parishes, especially the poorest, for example in obtaining liturgical vestments and sacred vessels
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To form, direct and exercise the Ministry of Sacred Music, to accompany parishes with this art in liturgical celebrations and in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
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To train, direct and exercise the Ministries of Lectorate and Acolyte, as well as being Extraordinary Ministers for the dispensation of the Holy Eucharist, always under the direction of the ecclesiastical authority
Bogotá, Colombia
San Juan, Argentina
Panamá
Bogotá, Colombia
Prayer Groups
Be part of the Pilgrims of Love
As a result of our missionary activity we have founded prayer groups of formation and evangelization with our spirituality. We have groups for youth, young-adults, adults and families. We have groups in Bogota - Colombia (Main Mission House), Argentina (San Juan, Neuquen and Buenos Aires), Santiago - Chile. Mexico (Cuatitlan Izcalli, Ensenada and Puebla), Lima and Piura - Peru, Los Angeles, United States and United Kingdom.