PARAGUAY, Maria Luz Fleitas. On Saturday, July 16, 2011 – the anniversary of the founding of the Family Work – five couples (four Paraguayans and one from Corrientes, Argentina) signed their first consecration contract in the Schoenstatt Family Institute at the National Schoenstatt Shrine in Tuparenda. It was a joyous time for Schoenstatt in Paraguay and for all the international Schoenstatt Families. The course ideal is Ignis victorious Mariae, or Mary’s victorious fire.
Father Marcel Mouras, the assistant of the Family Institute, Elizabeth and Bernard Neiser (General Superiors of the Institute), Marcela and Jorge Iltis (advisers of the regional board), Carmen and Pedro Klobov (family educators of this course), Daniela and Antonio Peralta (local leaders of the Apostolic League, and on this occasion, they participated as representatives of the superiors, who are participating in the chapter of the Institute in Florencio Varela, Argentina, since they are the first members of the Family Institute in Paraguay) participated in this great celebration. The representatives of the entire Family Work accompanied them.
The five couples of the first course of the Institute in Paraguay
The leaders of the different communities that form the Family Work of Paraguay: Raquel Celeste and Félix Cacavelos (Family Federation), Esther and José Blas Villalba (Apostolate League of Families), Daniela and Antonio Peralta (Family Institute). Marité and Ramón Marini, leaders of the international board of the Apostolic Family Federation joined them on this event of Schoenstatt history in Paraguay.
Other members of the Family and Mothers’ Federation, former leaders of the Branches, members of the Mothers’ and Youth Branches also accompanied them. After Holy Mass, a delicious agape meal was shared that was prepared by the Joseph Kentenich Retreat House. United in the love of the Mother and Queen and as children of the Mother and Queen, they celebrated the Family Work of Paraguay completed in the different communities (Institute, Federation, and League) finally forming one body. As Father Mouras said, “The Family Work is a beautiful rainbow.”
The entire Paraguayan Schoenstatt Family wished them to remain loyal and joyful in their mission and in the vocation of belonging to the Family Institute. Many blessings. “IGNIS VICTORIOSUS MARIAE”! “MARY’S VICTORIOUS FIRE!
Rocío y Ricky Careaga
Picky y Hugo López
Jessy y Guillermo Fronciani
Gaby y Norman Förster
Cristina y Marcelo Prono
One Family Work at the service of families
In his homily, Father Marcel Mouras, General Assistant of the Schoenstatt Family Institute, emphasized that Father Kentenich had thought for a long time about the founding of the Schoenstatt Family Work, aware of the importance of the family for the new culture. Father Kentenich stressed the importance of one Family Work – in the different communities that form it – in which everyone struggles and works for the same ideals. One Family Work that is at the service of the Church, the foundation and crown of all the Work. There will be different accents among the Institute, the Federation, and the Apostolic League of Families, but they will form only one Work. The Family Work from Paraguay has been completed with the consecration of the “Ignis Victoriosus Marie” “Mary’s Victorious Fire”.
May these families, who have consecrated themselves to God and the Blessed Mother, be bearers of a mission! We dream with a new Paraguay. We dream with a new world. For this we implore the Most Holy Trinity that this new course of the Family Institute be a Victorious Fire of God, bearers of a mission for the families, light and fire that has be ignited among us, fire of the spirit that it may truly be fruitful.
On behalf of the USA/Puerto Rico delegation of the Schoenstatt Family Institute, we extend our heartfelt congratulations and blessings from the home shrines of our delegation to the Ignis Victoriosus Marie Course. It is with great joy we welcome a new course and Ray of Mary into our Institute, our Family of Families. We share in the joy of the Paraguayan Family Work for the foundation of the Institute in Paraguay and for your support of the couples of the course.It was clear in reading the article the great joy that all experienced at this celebration. Our Father and Founder and Blessed Mother were smiling down upon all. We pray for the course’s continued journey in their formation and life of the Institute and that they may be a blessing for the Schoenstatt Family Work and the Church.
One in our Family Mission,
Michael and Margaret Fenelon, Superiors of the USA/Puerto Rico Delegation