In Mexico City, from June 14 to 17, 2017, the Apostles of the Incarnate Word and Sisters Presence from CDMX, Chihuahua, Jalisco, Morelos, Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosí and Veracruz met with great enthusiasm and joy to carry out our VIII Assembly with the aim of “Celebrating the fraternal encounter with joy and united in prayer imitating Mary saying our “I do” again to the Incarnate Word, persevering in service, reflecting on the way and to choose the new IWAA General Team.

On Wednesday the 14th, when we arrived at the reception of Casa San Ángel, we were pleasantly impressed by the setting, which had a timeline, which highlighted the main events of our walk and the exhibition of many photographs from all communities throughout these 25 years.

At 9:00 a.m., after the Eucharist and prayer, meditation and contemplation with the Pantocrator icon, our Assembly started where Sister Margaret Snyder, sister liaison between the GLT and the Association, and Alma Halgraves de Zavala, our Director welcomed us.

We had an interesting laughter therapy workshop, which relaxed us and worked as integration. In the afternoon, a beautiful and enriching time of Adoration to the Most Holy.

On Thursday the 15th, we went on a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and went on a procession to attend the emotional Eucharist, especially celebrated for the IWAA, officiated by Father Alejandro Maldonado, where the Apostles of the Incarnate Word participated as readers and in the end, we sang our beloved Hymn in honor of Jesus, the Word made flesh.

We gathered full of joy after the celebration to share bread and salt in the beautiful restaurant Hacienda de Cortés, where we enjoyed a delicious meal in an atmosphere full of warmth.

On Friday the 16th, it was a special day full of pleasant surprises to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the IWAA. After the prayer with the icon of the Incarnation, we had an interesting talk by Father Alejandro Maldonado on “Humility and service and the joy of being an Apostle”. At 12:00 o’clock, we had the honor of having the Eucharist and Rite of Renewal of all the IWA, celebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio, Monsignor Franco Coppola, we saw him enter with pleasant surprise at the end of the procession, without having room for our astonishment, he spoke with great simplicity to us, reminding us that God is patient and merciful and just as everyone present, he loved that Mariachis were in charge of the choir.

All the Apostles of the Incarnate Word renewed our commitment and thanked God for all the blessings received in these 25 years of the Association.

At the end of the Holy Mass, Sister Tere Maya thanked Monsignor Franco Coppola for his presence.

In the dining room, elegantly decorated, we savored an exquisite meal prepared by the staff of Casa San Ángel, which was enlivened by the mariachi who delighted us with the joyful typical corridos of each region.

In the afternoon, we gathered in the auditorium, to enrich ourselves with a talk on CCVI Spirituality given by our dear Sister Luly Urrutia.

We could not help but shed the tears that flowed from our eyes: because of the emotion, joy, thanksgiving and longing when the videos were projected in homage to the Sisters and the walk of the apostles of the Incarnate Word during these 25 years.

Surprises hadn’t ended yet; we had a ballet show, which we enjoyed very much. At the dinner set with karaoke, we took the opportunity to sing and dance joyful melodies, spending a hilarious time.

On the last day of our Assembly, on Saturday the 17th, after the pleasant and timely talk by Sister Tere Maya and the prayer to the Holy Spirit, we had the elections for the new IWAA General Team.

The votes showed the following results: Director: Leticia Nacher, Mexico City; Deputy Director: Lizbeth Castañeda, Zapopan, Jalisco; Secretary: María Elena González, Chihuahua; Treasurer: Salma Zacout, Mexico City; Communications: Deyanira Cortés, Santa Catarina, Nuevo León.

The outgoing Team was thanked and we welcomed to the new IWAA General Team.

The Eucharist was officiated by Father Alejandro Quezada and the commissioning was given by Sister Tere Maya, Sister Margaret and Sister Lupita Moreno.

We concluded our VIII IWAA Assembly, giving thanks to God for the fruits obtained and we can only say…

PRAISED BE THE INCARNATE WORD, FOREVER AMEN!

By Armida Romo Monzón, IWA; Immaculate Mary Community, Chihuahua.