works of mercy Category

PARAGUAY, Ani Souberlich • Many of you already know us through Schoenstatt.org, our institutional page and first-hand accounts, and have closely followed the birth of Casa Madre de Tupãrenda, first as a dream and then as a dream that came true in 2016, thanks to help of so many Paraguayans, as well the Ministry of Justice and the many generous people on the other side of the ocean. Today as the Director of Casa Madre de Tupãrenda, I want to reach each of you with an urgent appeal for help, or betterRead More
PARAGUAY, Cristy Santa Cruz • Another Saturday of prison ministry. Each Saturday is unlike another, but for me, this Saturday was particularly strange. We were told there were two jailbreaks during the week on different days. Everyone who visits each Saturday knows what that means: many missing faces, many transfers, and many changes. — It was impossible for us not to feel like we were left hanging— worried about who will not show up, who is there, who left. The care we give all the boys is immense; it doesn’tRead More
NIGERIA, Agaptus Ihediuba /Maria Fischer • The Schoenstatt Movement in Nigeria is young and small – but very apostolic. Students of the Schoenstatt Fathers visited a prison, Schoenstatt Youth reached out to an orphanage, and spiritual offers for young people were but a few of the apostolic works serving people in this West African country.— January 18th was a special Covenant Day. As the International Schoenstatt Youth gathered in Costa Rica in preparation for World Youth Day, all of the students of the Schoenstatt Fathers, together with the Rector, Fr.Read More
PARAGUAY, Sady Fleitas • On Saturday, March 2 we resumed our first mission of 2019 to IPS (Social Welfare Institute, public hospital, created “to protect the health of Paraguay’s salaried workers”). As usual, we went with a large group of very close friends, all of whom are also missionaries. Here are some of the stories of the people we visited with the Pilgrim Mother. — As we entered the first room, room 359, the Blessed Mother had prepared a tremendous gift of love for me: there was Brunito, a boyRead More
PARAGUAY, Fr. Pedro Kühlcke/mf Christmas in jail? It is sad reality for hundreds of young adolescents in Itagua, Paraguay’s Juvenile Detention Center close to the Tupãrenda Shrine. Christmas in jail? While others rest, sing, feast, and enjoy family and friends? Madness! Madness and a joy for the Schoenstatt prison ministry team. — “Thank you for remembering us on such a special day!” some of the young men said, almost tearfully … Ismelda, she is the “snack boss” each Saturday, comments: “It is worthwhile!! For a hug, for a happy face,Read More
PARAGUAY, Maria Fischer with material from www.dequeni.org.py • The scholarship campaign “Help them shape their future” is Dequení’s fundraising initiative seeking to join forces, supporting children’s education at the beginning of the school cycle. It consists in contributing only 500.000 Guaraníes (75,00 € / 85.00 USD) that can be made by credit card at the website of Dequeni  or via Fundraisingbox. — “Jefferson had the opportunity that my other children did not have, and now I understand the value of early stimulation, because my son has changed,” Felipa related how she accompaniedRead More
PARAGUAY, Maria Fischer • “Do you remember H., whom you called ‘Alí’ in your article?,” Fr. Pedro Kühlcke asked me yesterday. How could I forget this young boy, who I met two months ago, on that Sunday with torrential rain, when we visited the juvenile detention center. That young boy, with a sad face, who told us that his entire family was in jail, in different jails, obviously and sadly, he told us his great dream, the day that he would be released from jail: to go to Tupãrenda orRead More
PARAGUAY, Ana Maria Mendoza de Acha, President of Fundaprova • “Lady, give me a job. I don’t want to steal anymore…” This phrase was heard often in the beginning of Mother of Tupãrenda House. They arrived dirty, with sad faces, almost depressed. It is hard to realize that society and the state have pushed them to this situation. In less than a month, seeing them clean, neat, sanitized even their teeth shows that this is the way and the mission.— A large band of young men that do not haveRead More
PARAGUAY, María Fischer • We will cook for Fr. Pedro’s jail was a phrase that almost became a motto for Fr. Pedro Kuehlcke’s visit to Villarrica. “It is not my jail, nor did I come to visit it, except as Villarrica’s adviser, he commented, although once in a while, Fr. Kuehlcke visits this jail for minors.— Sometimes young boys are taken to the jail for minors in Itauguá, close to the Tupãrenda Shrine, where he is chaplain and “Pa’I” and much more. The transfer is a way to punish theseRead More
PARAGUAY, Cristina Velázquez • For the past three years, the Schoenstatt Women’s Professional Branch has lived a “Church reaching out,” visiting prisoners in the “Good Shepherd” women’s prison in Asunción. Pope Francis is “responsible” for this daring outreach.— Toward the periphery – ten minutes from the shrine In 2015, the team was looking for an apostolate with high impact. Pope Francis’ words to the Schoenstatt Family during the Rome audience in 2014 still echoed within them, when he recommended not to remain “combing sheep,” instead go out to seek theRead More