PARAGUAY, by María Fischer, with Fr. Pedro Kühlcke •
“After having read the Gospel, Orlando drew closer to greet me and told me: ‘I ask you to pray for the freedom of each one of us, of everyone.’ This is the blessing that Orlando asked for each of us. This is the blessing that we now ask together: freedom.” This is how Pope Francis began the most spontaneous speech of his trip through South America on Sunday 12 July.
“Orlando, the youth that made the Pope change his speech,” were the headlines in several Paraguayan newspapers a few days after the emotional meeting between Pope Francis and youth of Paraguay and many other countries on the Costanera de Asunción [the Asunción coastline]. Francis met with about one million youth in the late afternoon of Sunday, 12 July, a few hours before bidding farewell to Latin America. During this meeting, Orlando (17) read from the Gospel and moved the Pontiff with his request: freedom for him and his companions at the Educational Centre – a penitentiary for minors where Fr. Pedro Kühlcke has accompanied him and other teenagers for a year as a priest and as a friend in every sense.
“Eight minors living at the La Esperanza [Hope] penitentiary in Itauguá attended the event with Pope Francis at the Costanera. One of them even read a passage from the bible, according to Orlando Castillo, responsible for the National Service Caring for Adolescent Offenders at the Ministry of Justice. He commented that these youngsters have been involved for a year and a half in a programme run by Fr. Pedro Kühlcke from the Schoenstatt Shrine in Ypacaraí. He explained that the minors who helped at the liturgical celebration are part of a semi-open programme because they do not have behavioural problems (Ultima Hora newspaper). “In the ened, we took four youngsters, not more, but it is a start,” commented Fr. Pedro Kühlcke, who accompanies them and also accompanied them to the meeting with Pope Francis, as he does at the penitentiary.
Walking together
“I was saying to Orlando, on the way to the Costanera: “Don’t be nervous, you only have to proclaim the Gospel in front of the Pope and the whole world,” related Fr. Pedro Kühlcke. The photograph that depicts this moment has become one of the most shared photographs on social networks.
It symbolises the prison ministry of a “priest and friend” who goes out from the shrine at Tupãrendá to the peripheries, to meet these teenagers at the juvenile prison. The Visitation of Mary (Lk 1:39), I was in prison and you visited me (Mt 25:36), the history of salvation…these are real stories of Schoenstatters who reach out as missionaries and in solidarity, inspired by Pope Francis, Fr. Kentenich and the Pilgrim Mother…along the path that Jesus first walked.
“In this prison, some 160 teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18 are deprived of their freedom, under very difficult conditions. What hurts me most is to report that practically all of them come from underprivileged communities: they live in shanty towns or directly on the street. Many have very dysfunctional families, or don’t even have a family at all; the majority of them have immense emotional deficits, since they were children; and many also have addiction problems. It strikes me that there are no youngsters from the middle or upper classes in the prison…” commented Fr. Pedro Kühlcke.
“We were able to form a very cool prison ministry team, most of whom belong to the Schoenstatt Movement in Tupãrendá and Asunción. I have met very generous people, who at great cost, offer their love, time, and money to give something of the love of God and the Blessed Mother to these children who are so needy. Every Saturday, we share music, prayers and hugs with them, but above all, an abundant snack. We also experience at close hand the very difficult and painful situations that many of them find themselves in – family, social, legal, medical situations – and we give them a hand with what we can.” Giving them a hand so that, in the end, four teenagers were able to attend the meeting with Pope Francis.
“What a wonderful job Fr. Pedro and the team’s prison ministry are doing. I hope that all of the youngsters at the Educational Centre can be reintegrated and that they can find a home; youngsters will not fall if we strengthen them in good families. Let us work for the children on the street,” commented Agustin Saldivar in one of the Paraguayan newspapers.
Pope Francis’ blessing for all teenagers deprived of freedom
“I was able to ask for his blessing for all the teenagers deprived of freedom. And Orlando also asked him this afterwards. This inspired the Pope to change his entire speech. It was so moving! That the two of us were on the stage so close to the Pope and nothing had been planned – a gift from the Blessed Mother for the prison ministry,” explained Fr. Pedro the day after the meeting, before leaving for the family missions. “I asked the Pope for a special blessing for all the teenagers deprived for freedom,” he repeated. “He listened attentively and gave a kindly smile.”
“You are a brave”
The most moving thing for Orlando was the exchange of gifts. “I gave him a picture that has a pattern embroidered in Ñandutí [traditional Paraguayan embroidered lace]. I wrote him a letter in which I tell him my story, and I asked him to help me change my life, for my family.”
“Also for the street children who don’t have shelter, food and above all, that with his prayer, God will touch the heart of each young person and if he wants, he can contact me by telephone to my mom or the director of La Esperanza, which I wrote in the letter,” he commented.
“The reading, the hug and the rosary are my biggest gifts. They touched me deep in my heart. My commitment is to help my companions who believe in God, that they give Him their time. To show that He helps and changes our lives. When I leave here, I’m going to take the word of God, first to my family. Then I will help youngsters to think twice before they do things, because one mistake can cost dearly.”
The whole interview [in Spanish]: http://www.ultimahora.com/historia-del-joven-que-inspiro-al-papa-cambiar-su-discurso-costanera-n913934.html
Photo: Sebastián Woitas, Asunción, Paraguay
Gracias, Santo Padre, por bendecir a los adolescentes del Centro Educativo. Gracias, Santo Padre, por bendecir la Pastoral Carcelaria del P. Pedro Kühlcke, y de todos los que le acompañan con su presencia, sus oraciones, y sus donaciones.
Thank you, Holy Father, for blessing the teenagers of the Educational Centre. Thank you, Holy Father for blessing Fr. Pedro Kühlcke’s prison ministry, and for all those who accompany him with their presence, their prayers and their donations.
Thank you, Orlando, for giving us the most spontaneous speech by the Holy Father during his visit.
We give thanks, repeating Pope Francis’ words:
“Here we are together, giving thanks for Orlando who asked for this blessing, for having a free heart, a heart that can say what it thinks, that can say what it feels and that can do what it think and what it feels. It is a free heart! And this is what we are going to ask for together, this blessing that Orlando asked for everyone.”
Thank you Orlando, for giving us the opportunity to be part of this blessing. Count on our prayers for you and for all your friends in the prison, for Fr. Pedro and his team.
We also want to help with our generous donations and in solidarity with the Prison Ministry and the desired “Madre de Tupãrendá” [Mother of Tupãrendá] Home that will allow you and your companions to carry on the day you leave prison, that you may carry on with faith and work, with friends and solidarity…
How to donate now
Bank account in Paraguay
Banco GNB
Cta Nro. 001-065259-003
Congregación Padres de Schoenstatt