Monsignor Jonas claims a lot of excitement and honor at invitation to preach in this retreat
Friday, 12, the founder of the Canção Nova (New Song) Community, Monsignor Jonas Abib, preached at the World Retreat Priests in Rome. The preaching of the was on the word ‘changed’ in a reflection entitled ‘Let the love of God transform you.’
In an interview to the community’s mission in Rome, Italy, prior to the retreat, Monsignor Jonas spoke of what is for him to attend this meeting and its thrill and honor to be invited to preach in this retreat, representing the priests of Brazil. In the interview, Monsignor also mentions a few points that speak in his preaching:
What does it mean for you to attend this meeting?
It is a great joy, because I had the grace to participate in the first meeting of the World Retreat for Priests.Imagine: eight thousand priests in the Paul VI hall, and one of the preachers was Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who was given 45 minutes [to speak], but she spoke only 20 minutes, which were worth two hours of preaching. Then Pope John Paul II closed the meeting with the celebration of the Eucharist. And a beautiful thing, Mother Teresa was in the first pew, and Pope John Paul II came down the stairways and took her by the hand. They left the two together for the Basilica and went to my side. Of course, the Vatican photographer hit multiple photos, and these now are around, St. John Paul II walking hand in hand with Mother Teresa. I mean, to me, it is such a joy to participate in this that now is the third meeting. I want to participate as well and take all the fruit it can bring me, I take this fruit for [the members of the lay community] and the priests of our entire community.
You are now participating in this World retreat of priests, including being one of the preachers. What does this mean for you and for Brazil? In a way, you represent the whole of Brazil through this preaching.
Friday is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; in the afternoon, Pope Francis will preach and then celebrate the Eucharist the closing of this day. So I joke saying I will open the doors and then the Pope Francis comes in. For me it was a very great honor to have been invited. With such great preachers from around the world – because they are ninety and so many nations represented in this retreat – I was chosen to do one of the sermons;more than preaching, I’ll testify about my baptism in the Holy Spirit, which was also the complement of my life. I will talk about my personal encounter with Jesus, which is the most important thing in my life, and, as it could not be otherwise, I invite priests to be open to baptism in the Spirit and pray for them, that they may receive baptism .I will also talk to them about the gift of tongues and get them to pray in tongues. I do not know everything you’ll get, but what I can not, here, now, God will do later. But I think a lot of things we can, since Friday, because it is also the day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.