PARAGUAY, María Luz Fleitas. Father José Pontes celebrated the Mass on Covenant Day in the Youth Shrine, recalling our Founding Father, whose birthday is celebrated on November 16th.
Father Kentenich had a very strong experience and Mary accompanied him! We also have this experience, she accompanies us as a people. Father Pontes stressed the devotion of the Paraguayan people to the Immaculate, Virgin of Caacupé; Her feast day is celebrated on December 8th.
Toward the centenary of the Covenant: conquer the 18th‘s
Team 2014 is in charge of the pilgrimage toward the Schoenstatt centenary through the Masses on the 18th, “we want to renew the Covenant of Love on every 18th in the Shrine as a family, in the family, and as the Paraguayan Schoenstatt family that unites to whole the Schoenstatt world.
Joy and a cordial greeting are one of the main characteristics with which the members greet each other since early in the morning be it through the social networks or emails, and by publishing our Founder’s phrases!
From greeting to greetings, Maria del Pilar tells Susana Martínez, both of whom are members of the family: “Your greeting is so beautiful!” She heard, “Blessed Covenant Day!” as they greeted her with embraces.
Opening the heart leads us to identify and to mold that Schoenstatt and family spirit in the soul, and in this way to forge the Covenant culture, it is through this covenant that we build the Nation of God, heart of America!
Father Kentenich, a transparency of God the Father
In his homily, Father José referred to the life of the Founding Father, his difficulties and his very special attachment to Mary, as Mother and Educator. In such a way that “when we come to Schoenstatt, Mary educates us to say “Yes” to the Father, as She did at the Annunciation.
“Mary accompanies Jesus even to death: Our Schoenstatt Mother and Queen wants to shelter us as children, She wants us to grow with the Word and She guarantees that in the most difficult moment of life She is going to be at our side, just as She was with Jesus, just as it is represented on the Unity Cross. The Blessed Mother is also with us at times of suffering, and She teaches us to offer it to the Father so that this suffering is transformed into light of spirit for the community.
After the exile, Father spoke about the Victory of the Father, the Victory of God the Father in different circumstances. There is no other movement in the Church that is as Patrocentric as ours.
Father Kentenich was a person who profoundly lived human paternity, so that the people could experience the maternity and paternity of God. This is the mystery of Schoenstatt: Mary, the educator, who integrates us into the dynamic of the Holy Trinity. That is the reasons the 18th‘s are special days of grace. We are grateful for the fruits of the Youth Shrine and of all the Shrines in the world, because they always carry out the task of taking us to the Father!”
In conclusion we prayed the Pilgrimage Prayer toward 2014 and the capital of grace, which was lovingly offered in the Shrine throughout the month, was burned.
Celina M. Garza: Spanish/English translation – Melissa Peña-Janknegt: English edit
