PARAGUAY, María Luz Fleitas. A great celebration was experienced in Tupãrenda on October 18th: almost 20,000 pilgrims arrived to this piece of Heaven on Earth. The Parguayan newspapers and the pages on Facebook are still filling with photos, testimonies and memories of this day , the highlight of the entire Schoenstatt year in this country.
Father Antonio Cosp, Rector of the Shrine of Tupãrenda celebrated the Mass for the sick at 4:00 p.m. with the exposition and procession of the Blessed Sacrament. In the homily he spoke about the Blessed Mother’s graces that are received in the Shrine and the main work of the Blessed Mother in the present day world; he stressed that the absence of God, love, peace and joy are the cause of a sterile life, incapable of giving more life, this is the reason there are so many mini-suicides every day that consist of divorce, loneliness, and youth with no desire to live. Those who lose their homes get sick; those whose homes are destroyed get sick, for this reason Jesus and the Blessed Mother invite us to defend our home and to struggle for the family.
Giving a home
Looking towards the bicentennial of the independence of Paraguay, the motto for the celebration of October 18th this year: “Be Mary, giving a home” will illuminate this year and perhaps also those of the future.
Father Antonio explained, “The Blessed Mother shelters us and transforms us and then we are sent out to the world to give a home, to take Christ, to be bearers of his Word”. Upon entering the Shrine and looking at the Blessed Mother’s eyes, we find a home in her heart, She invites us to enter into it. “Find a home in the Heart of Mary”. Whoever enters the heart of Mary, receives Mary’s embrace, her understanding and one hears: Do whatever he asks! “Give a Home”. Visit Mary, take Mary to other homes, the grace of being missionaries is to be another Mary, “Be another Mary”.
Hundreds of missionaries of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign gave a testimony of commitment; their faces reflected their deep devotion to the Blessed Mother
From all parts of the country
The missionaries of the Rosary Campaign came from all parts of the country to bring their Pilgrim MTAs to the celebration that gathers tens of thousands of faithful every year. It does not matter that it is not a holiday, all of Mary’s children arrive to Tupãrenda to express gratitude for the care and graces that they have received through her intercession. She is the Great Missionary, She will work miracles!, with handkerchiefs on high, with eyes filled with tears and with their gaze placed on the Blessed Mother everyone sang with jubilation. The little musical band also accompanied them, which makes the pilgrimage of the Blessed Mother from Saint Mary of the Trinity Church to the Shrine, typical. They come to receive the solemn blessing and to renew the Covenant of Love with MTA in front of the Shrine.
Every October 18th, the Schoenstatt phenomenon shines in Tupãrenda attracting a multitude of pilgrims.
Working in Covenant
The teams worked with all their love and conscientiousness to welcome so many people: Liturgy, Guardians, Homeshrine, Logistics, Medical, Parking, Rosary Campaign, Father Kentenich Secretariat, Sister Mary Emilie Secretariat, Welcome, Bookstore, Shop, Volunteers, Team for Father’s House, Tupãrenda Adminstration and Youth Shrine Administration. Excellent “Team October 18th”, Alexandra and Augusto Sánchez!
Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, USA
