The archbishop of Brasilia, His Excellency João Braz de Aviz, celebrated the inaugural Mass of the 4th Youth and Family Encounter in Brazil.

Brasilia, December 13, 2008. This past Friday, December 12, was the opening date of the 4th Youth and Family Encounter held in Brazil. The archbishop of Brasilia, His Excellency João Braz de Aviz, celebrated the opening Mass, reminding Regnum Christi members and friends that “love should be the hallmark of our communities.”

Over 2,000 people gathered for the Mass in the main auditorium of the Ulysses Guimarães Convention Center.

In his homily, Bishop de Aviz invited everyone to put a nativity scene in their homes “so that the Christmas festivities are not missing the one we are meant to celebrate.”

He continued: “The theme of this Encounter: ‘Love and Serve,’ is very important for us, because Christmas gives us that same lesson. If we want to understand what it means to love, we need to look at Christmas and at the cross.”

At the end of the homily, the archbishop recalled Pope Benedict XVI’s message to the bishops gathered at in São Paulo during his May 2007 visit:

“Our way as Catholics is not to proselytize. Today, our task is to live our witness to the Gospel in such a way that people will feel attracted to God.”

Archbishop João Braz said that he hoped the Youth and Family Encounter would be “a great sign for Christian life in Brasilia, in each one of you, in each one of us.”

The Mass was concelebrated by Fr Manuel Aromir, LC, the territorial

	“Today, our task is to live our witness to the Gospel in such a way that people will feel attracted to God.”

director of the Legionaries of Christ and Regnum Christi in Brazil, and by other Legionary priests who carry out their apostolic work in Brazil.

The Encounter is taking place from December 12 to 14, with the presence of Cardinal Franc Rodé, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, as well as Fr Álvaro Corcuera, LC, the general director of the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi.