PARAGUAY, María Luz Fleitas/msh. They have been preparing for a long time and now the hour has come; 170 youth of the Schoenstatt Movement from Paraguay were sent forth from the Youth Shrine in Asunción to Madrid for World Youth Day. They will also be in Rome and Schoenstatt. In the homily, Father Tommy Nin Mitchell emphasized the special character of the trip- it is neither tourism or vacation, but a pilgrimage. In addition it provides the beautiful task of representing Paraguay and Schoenstatt in the largest event of the Church this year.
The esplanade of the Schoenstatt Youth Shrine in Asunción was filled again by youth who will participate in World Youth Day at Madrid! “The youth have joyfully prepared, especially with hearts that have been touched,” said Father Tommy Nin Mitchell (adviser of the Boys’ and Girls’ Youth). Sister M. Georgina Noro (advisers of the Girls’ Youth), the seminarian of the Schoenstatt Fathers, Juan Andrés Le Vraux and the youth coordinators: Andrea Wehrle and Raúl Suárez jointly accompanied them.
We go on pilgrimage
“In the first place, we are going on pilgrimage for an encounter with Christ,” said Faher Tommy, “in World Youth Day, in meeting with the Holy Father, in the holy places with the Original Shrine in Schoenstatt. We are not going to surf or to ride a roller coaster. This is an incredible and unforgettable trip; we are going as pilgrims in search of Jesus,” he stressed.
There is a second dimension: We cannot forget that we are representing Paraguay. 750 Paraguayans are registered for World Youth Day, and 170 belong to Schoenstatt. “We are going as representatives of Mary, we have to be a gift for the other people,” he said. “Our Schoenstatt secret is the Shrine, the physical Shrine, which is an expression of the Heart shrine, we are walking Shrines. Let us be a place of shelter for the people we will meet, so that we can accomplish this mission of taking Christ”.
Encouraging prayers and support
Another touching surprise during the Mass of Sending Forth was when Sister Georgina happily announced that the Sisters of the region would be like angels, who will spiritually accompany each one of the Schoenstatt pilgrims to World Youth Day. They made a holy card for this trip, which states:
“During the triennium of the Centenary of the Covenant, the Blessed Mother is giving you the great gift of going on pilgrimage to the holy places…Rome, Schoenstatt…and to experience the great encounter with the youth of the world in Madrid!
The Sisters of Mary from Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina will accompany you with prayer from our Shrines so that this time will be an experience of Schoenstatt and the Church, which will mark your life, may you receive the gift of a coherent and credible faith, and as a result to be able to give a solid and credible response to the challenges of the present day culture
During the pilgrimage, you will be spiritually accompanied by a Sister as “guardian angel” with her prayers and capital of grace.”
Sisters of Mary from the Nazareth Province..
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Many thanks to everyone for publishing International Schoenstatt! We are on pilgrimage with loyalty, united in the Covenant toward 2014.
Celina M. Garza: Spanish/EnglishTranslation English Edit: Melissa Peña-Janknegt
