PERU, Queca Espinoza. One of life’s beautiful things is the ability to be surprised, the ability to be in awe over large and small things and to know how to enjoy them when they happen. Last Thursday, January 13th was one of the those days for the Schoenstatt Movement in Lima, when we were visited by twenty members from the Schoenstatt Institute of Diocesan Priests accompanied by two diocesan priests from Peru; there were twenty-two priests and one seminarian!
It was truly impressive to see the entire atrium of the Shrine filled with priests. They attended an International Conference for the Schoenstatt Institute of Diocesan Priests that was held in Peru for the first time; they came from Argentina, Brazil, and Chile.
The first time in Peru
The Schoenstatt Family from Lima was invited to their closing Mass and then to a dialogue with an agape meal. It was the first time that an event of this kind was held in Peru, and that the local family had the good fortune and opportunity of sharing with them.
Father Reynaldo Nann, a German, who has lived in Trujillo, Peru for many years, was the host.
Father Raúl Molaro, an Argentinean who celebrated his Golden Anniversary as a priest and soon will travel to Schoenstatt, presided at the Holy Mass.
A sincere and true giving of self
The following priests attended from Argentina: Fathers Raúl Molaro, Ignacio N., Sergio Eichenberger, Daniel Lozano, Ernesto Fernández, Alan Sosa, José Parodi, Esteban Casquero, Juan Javier Chiappe, Dario Gatti, and Roberto Moncchesi.
From Brazil: Fathers Rodrigo Da Rosa, Luis Gustavo Scombatti, Luis Fernando Neris, and Emerson Aparecido.
From Chile: Fathers Jorge Falch a German, Dikson Yáñez, José Plaza, Mauricio Torres, and Adrián Gonzáles.
From Peru: Father Reinaldo Nann a German, Christian Wolf, a seminarian who is also German, Jaime Llamas and José Antonio Arbulú, Peruvian priests who have sealed their Covenant of Love.
As they introduced themselves, the fact that one of them had known and been with Father Kentenich was revealed; this was Father Jorge Falch, who gave his testimony. Another priest – Father Alan Sosa from San Luis, Argentina – was recently ordained: on December 7, 2010, and he expressed his gratitude to the elder priests for being a guarantee for him that allowed him to accomplish a total fidelity based on a sincere and true living of self with the help of the grace of God.
A “strategic” gift
In the prayer of the faithful, we prayed for Peruvian vocations including priestly ones and for Sisters of Mary.
Expressing their gratitude, Father Jaime Llamas along with Carmen Scamarone and Chivi Best presented a rosary to each person as a souvenir asking that when they prayed that rosary, they would offer their Hail Marys for the fruitfulness of this Shrine. One of them answered that he would pray two, which generated a spontaneous applause.
In the year of the Father current
Within the framework of the Year of the Father Current it could be asked: What is this gift that the Founding Father and the Blessed Mother give to Peru?
Ruperto Escobar opined: “What we experienced last night should lead us to a profound reflection: why this year in Peru specifically? Because they gave us a night of motivation and an example of humility that is lived from the interior of their lives and rooted in the Blessed Mother.”
“What do we do to invite other priests to live this Covenant that does not abandon us and allows us to continue to go forward in all difficulties because they also need one another to remain firm to their principles and their love of God?
Truly it was a night inviting us to connect many things. Today I only have gratitude to the people who made this experience possible.”
Toward 2014, in the Year of the Father Current!
Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, Melissa Janknegt, Elgin, USA
