PARAGUAY, Ani y Rodrigo Pangrazio/mkf. It has only been a month since the “Your Family is Valuable” Conference in Tuparenda, and the enthusiasm is still alive. Testimonies continue to arrive from the participants, and it is clear: this was not a sporadic event but a beginning. “On September 2nd, we decided to continue carrying out the event YOUR FAMILY IS VALUABLE,” Father Antonio Cosp writes. It has been an historic time for Paraguayan Schoenstatt, and it is a sign of what Father Ludovico Tedeschi stressed at Conference 2014: a change of paradigm in Schoenstatt, from a Schoenstat centered in itself towards a Schoenstatt that shares.
“It was truly a blessing and a special gift from our Mother who allowed us to participate. To see, to experience, to feel, to vibrate, to be touched, to sense, and to listen with that multitude of children, youth, adults, the ill, the disabled in wheel chairs, mothers with children with special needs, and the great love of our Mother, who sheltered and protected us. It did not even rain in spite of the weather forecast which predicted rain,” commented Sebastián Martin of the Family Work from Encarnación. “These blessings undoubtedly reached all the families of Paraguay, which said to the nation and the World: ‘it is possible to live as a family today! It is beautiful to experience it as a family today! In spite of it all….’ “
“A Sunday as a family”
How was “Your Family is Valuable” born? The Schoenstatt Movement from Paraguay celebrated its Golden Anniversary: fifty years since its’ founding! And what better way of celebrating than by organizing an original event open to all of Paraguayan, society, where the family is the main protagonist? This was how “A Sunday as a Family” came to be, where all the Branches and teams of the Movement marched forward on a crazy adventure in favor of families. There was so much strength, and the organization had its heart set on this that they also decided to invite other Catholic Movements to actively join with them. They received an incredible reverberation…and not only from the participation of the other Movements in “Sunday as a Family”. Ercilla Rodríguez, who was at a stand (called “homes”) commented: “Someone said what I liked best was the presence of the other Catholic Movements. Now you can’t say that Schoenstatters are closed!””.
Each team, Branch or Movement had a stand, which were called “homes,” because they were decorated like a home and contained elements that evoked “being at home”. Each home had a theme that was well rehearsed, simple, and it touched on the family, youth, etc. These themes or subjects were presented with interactive, dynamic workshops. Some “homes” had sketches and you could observe the people laughing and actively participating. In total there were thirty of these homes, each one more beautiful than the other! As the people arrived, they were given a map showing the location of each home and the subject that would be presented at each home. Each person chose the home they wanted to visit according to the subject they wanted to develop. It was wonderful to see all the homes full of people!
A unique contribution for carrying out the Universal Apostolic Confederation
This was a very original event that was born in the bosom of the Schoenstatt Family in Paraguay. It has several interesting characteristics:
- It is open to all of the Paraguayan society.
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It is organized by all the sectors of the Schoenstatt Movement, the Schoenstatt Family from Paraguay.
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It is a social not a religious event where the family is placed in the forefront.
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It is a contribution to carrying out the Universal Apostolic Confederation about which our Founding Father dreamed.
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It makes a profound mark on society. The event will continue to grow through the years.
It is time to be open and to work for society in a more forceful manner. We want to create the stream of Family Social Responsibility, that businesses would also be concerned about the well being of their workers’ families. How beautiful it would be if other countries would take up the challenge; it would be a very enriching experience in the context of what was defined at Conference 2014 as a strategic area of apostolate: marriage and the family!
>>> Those who are interested can contact: Ana Bogarin de Pangrazio and Rodrigo Pangrazio
Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, USA/Melissa Janknegt, Elgin, USA
