BRAZIL, Boys’ Youth Londrina. It was a very long trip, but it had its reward. On Friday, July 16th, a group of travelers gathered in the Shrine of “She who steps on the head of the serpent” in Londrina, to pray before departing; a little while later, they departed. Saturday morning the travelers crossed the border with Paraguay. It is about two and a half hours to Ciudad del Este, where the passengers also wanted to do some shopping. Everyone went his or her own way with their bags among the shops and stands, until they boarded the bus again, and they did not stop until arriving at the Shrine to participate in the ceremony of the novices.
They arrived in Tupãrenda around two o’clock in the afternoon. There was some confusion about the schedule, since in Paraguay there is an hour difference in winter that was forgotten about by the group. There was only enough time to change clothes and hurry to the place where the ceremony would be held; there were people from several countries.
The love for the Blessed Mother was visible in each one
Then the twenty-eight novices arrived; there was joy on their faces: the love for the Blessed Mother was visible in each one. Among them were the Brazilians: Breno, Fabio, Gustavo, and Rafael. There were members of the Schoenstatt Boys’ Youth from Brazil, who decided to radically live the zeal of Christ at Tabor.
The celebration was filled with outstanding moments, especially when they received the tunic of Zion, which will accompany them in the coming years. A little later there was an artistic presentation by the Paraguayan hosts followed by a dinner, which contained some Brazilian joy. Shortly before departing, a video produced by the novices was presented; it depicted their preparations. The visit to the Shrine “Nation of God – Heart of America” and to the houses on the large grounds of Tupãrenda was important. Their closeness to the large wooden Unity Cross was certainly memorable.
A Shrine open 24/7
From there they departed to Asunción (34 Km), where they spent the night. In the morning, they were told the history of the Youth Shrine (it is never closed, the doors are open 24/7!) and they participated in the children’s Mass that is celebrated every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. They had lunch at the shopping center in the Paraguayan capital, and then they began their return trip.
On the way back, they again passed through Ciudad del Este at night (it is about 400 Km from Asunción). They visited the Shrine with its large grounds, which has access to a lake. The Schoenstatt Family from there is conquering the crown for the Blessed Mother. After listening to the history of the Shrine, they began the return trip home, on Monday, the 19th around 7:00 a.m. The entire trip was marked with the joy of the travelers and pride for their compatriot novices.
“Breno, Fabio, Gustavo, and Rafael remember that you are a part of our youth! We are united through Mary; you are preparing for the priesthood, and we are preparing for professional careers, where each one has his own reality, ready to take the fire of Christ on Tabor to our brethren.”
Source: JUMAS http://www.jumasbrasil.com.br
Relato – Toma de Túnica (esp.)
Translation: Celina Garza, Melissa Janknegt, USA
