Monthly Archives: "January 2017"

ARGENTINA, Lilita and Carlos Ricciardi • It is only three weeks until the start of La Plata’s Family Missions of the Schoenstatt Movement. This time, they will travel 80 km from La Plata to Ranchos, an area of only 8,000 residents in the Buenos Aires’ Province that will welcome these missionary families for the first time, from 22 to 29 January 2017. Fr. Alejandro Zelaya, a Schoenstatt Diocesan Priest and two couples will also go as observers to learn about the Family Missions, to encourage more Fr. Alejandro’s parish families inRead More
CHILE, Noemí Díaz Pinto Ch. • I shared a triptych with a picture of the Blessed Mother, Fr. Kentenich and the Shrine with a mother who suffered because of the disunity among her children; one of them had serious problems. The mother gave the triptych to the son with problems; he kept it in his room. She did not ask for anything, she just gave it to him and told him to have faith. On 24 December, two of her children who had animosity embraced. On the 25th, the sonRead More
PARAGUAY, by Laura Ruiz Díaz • On 24 December, Christmas Eve, the prison ministry along with Fr. Pedro Kühlcke went to the juvenile detention center, “Centro Educativo Itauguá” (CEI) [Itauguá Educational Center] to share Christmas snacks with the youths. The experience allowed me to live the true meaning of Christmas through every smiling face that graciously expressed gratitude for our presence, or in the tear-filled eyes of some, who, no matter how they tried to control a feeling of sadness, could not hide it. Thus the hugs were longer andRead More
PARAGUAY, Ani Souberlich and Maria Fischer • “Thank you, Fr. Pedro Kühlcke, for being the Blessed Mother’s best instrument of bringing us close to those who need us the most.  Undoubtedly it was one of my best Christmas Eve’s in the company of the Prison Ministry volunteers,” commented Cristy, who spent Christmas Eve afternoon at the detention center with the ministry team and other volunteers. They gave food, time, interest, hugs and affection to more than 200 youths, who were spending Christmas in jail instead of with their families. Mary’sRead More
POPE FRANCIS’ MESSAGE FOR THE WORLD DAY OF PEACE – 01.01.2017 • “The Jubilee of Mercy that ended in November encouraged each one of us to look deeply within and to allow God’s mercy to enter there. The Jubilee taught us to realize how many and diverse are the individuals and social groups treated with indifference and subjected to injustice and violence. They too are part of our “family”; they too are our brothers and sisters. The politics of nonviolence have to begin in the home and then spread toRead More
FRANCIS IN ROME • “Then we’ll have a serious conversation with the Blessed Mother and the Lord one of these days,” my friend José A. said, after sharing his thoughts on Whatsapp about Francis’ catechesis on 28 December, where he said: “complaining to the Lord is a way of praying. At times when I hear confession, people say: “I complained to the Lord …”, and I respond: “No, complain! He is the father!”. This is a way of praying: complaining to the Lord, this is good.” He is Father.  TrulyRead More
POPE FRANCIS • The Secretariat for Communication of the Holy See on 30 December published a video with the most distinctive images of Pope Francis’ activities for the year that had just ended. Video Which message of Pope Francis touched me the most in 2016? What gesture moved me the most? Original: Spanish. Translation: Sarah-Leah Pimentel, Cape Town, South Africa  Read More
CHRISTMAS GREETING FROM FR. JUAN PABLO CATOGGIO TO HIS BROTHERS AND FRIENDS • We share Fr. Juan Pablo Catoggio’s letter with great joy, demonstrating the gift and the task of the internationality and inter-cultural nature of our Schoenstatt, with the backdrop of Christmas as an event of a God on the way. Dear brothers and friends, Two experiences marked this year and both are very united to the mystery of Christmas: the Jubilee of Mercy and the international reality I experienced on many trips. 1 Pope Francis does not tireRead More
PARAGUAY, Morocha and Carlos Etchegaray • The Tayi Group is here today, forty years after being called. We want to express thanks for choosing us to be a part of our nation’s Schoenstatt Family and for being a part of the first generation. Looking at the present and seeing how the Movement has grown in broadness and fruitfulness, we can affirm with humility and joy that the motto guiding us at that time and everything that was offered was not in vain: “Mary descend in Tupãrendá through your giving ofRead More
PARAGUAY, Mónica Martínez, Cristhian Díaz and Bruno Díaz Martínez   • There is a very important date for all Schoenstatters. It is a day, Mother, that you made the most important one for my family, because you sent us the most beautiful gift the heavenly Mother can give: a son! It is not a coincidence that we belong to this Movement, and it is not a coincidence that you sent our little Bruno on 18 October 2013, when we expected him on 7 November. It is not a coincidence… From myRead More