PARAGUAY, Ricardo Acosta. Since the beginning of the year, one of the projects that the Boys’ Group meeting in Tupãrenda wanted to carry out was the Holy Week Missions. Taking the Blessed Mother to Nueva Italia in the community of Isla Guavira about forty kms from Asunción was the goal.
On the afternoon of Wednesday the 20th, the pilgrimage set forth to this area. During the afternoon, they settled in a house belonging to one of the relatives of a member of the Boys’ Group. We conversed with the coordinator of the “Blessed Mother of Fatima” Chapel to prepare the program that would be carried out during our stay; it was planned for Sunday the 24th.
An incredible experience
On Thursday the missions began with visits to the families of this area. Everyone welcomed the missionaries with an incredible openness and familiarity. David, one of the missionaries, commented: “For me it was an incredible experience, I cannot explain everything that I experienced here, truly I never imagined it would be like this. The most admirable thing was the openness that the people had with us, they not only opened the doors of their homes, but they also opened the doors of their hearts, they shared all their history and that was the greatest thing.”
“They not only opened the doors of their homes, but they also opened the doors of their hearts”. Everyone could have been repeated this phrase from one of the missionaries. Everyone experienced how the people treated them as if they were another member of their family. They love to pray, to sing, there is an enormous openness to God and this was an invaluable help, because it is a “pure” community, according to Mr. Ramon, assistant coordinator of the chapel, in the sense that they do not belong to another religion and they all know each other.
Stations of the Cross with the community
There were many activities with everyone from this place. The youth were especially committed. They participated in the liturgy of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Stations of the Cross, and the Easter Vigil…There were also meetings with the youth and the children.
It was outstanding to pray the Stations of the Cross with the community. The Stations began with a procession, approximately 700 meters from the chapel preceded by the cross, praying the stations accompanied by some songs. Everyone carried a lit candle while they meditated on the mysteries of the Passion and Death of Our Lord.
It was a profound experience, in which everyone also consecrated him/herself to the Blessed Mother, who went on pilgrimage with the people.
We must continue
The mission experience undoubtedly always touches one profoundly. How can you explain youth, who are between the ages of 14 to 24, leaving everything to spend a different Holy Week finding Jesus among people who they do not even know! But God is present in each person and in his brother, and this is precisely the meaning of the mission: to experience the presence of Jesus in our brothers. Mary gives us the opportunity of being instruments of God.
This was the first mission in Nueva Italia. The idea is to follow-up by always making contributions to the capital of grace that emanates from the Shrine, so that there will always be a next time; that was the desire of the community: they want the missions again, and why not? Why not in Pirayú (the place of the university missions)? This would be a good model to strengthen the goals for some years and for the missionaries as well as the people to make a commitment, so that the Blessed Mother will continue to conquer hearts.
Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, Melissa Janknegt, Elgin, USA
