PARAGUAY, Maria Luz Fleitas. The Schoenstatt Family from Paraguay made a commitment with a concrete step on the pilgrimage toward the Jubilee of the Covenant of Love in preparation for 2014: to conquer the 18th of every month as a Covenant of Love Day. In this regard, there was a celebration at the Schoenstatt Youth Shrine in Asunción. The Day of Grace dawned with a great spirit for the Schoenstatt Family in Paraguay! The covenant greeting was extended on the social network, and the Blessed Mother’s children shared their love for Her.
Every 18th is a day of conquest for the family. The Mass is the common thread of the pilgrimage toward the Schoenstatt centenary. The invitation is extended, during the previous days, after every weekly Mass. Invitations are also issued through other means, and all are invited to bring their covenant candle. Today, some youth of the Girls’ Youth not only brought their candles but also presented their medals so that could be blessed again.
How do we treat our sick, our parents, our family, our elderly?
Father Otilio Piñanez, a guest priest, celebrated the Mass, because the Schoenstatt Fathers were attending their annual retreat at Zion, Argentina.
The priest reflected about how we act as Christians toward the sick, and he asked: How do we treat our sick, our parents, our family, our elderly? It is not a question about charity; but rather, it is one of a profound faith. We are compassionate with others through a Christianity that is based on prayer; it is only through prayer that we can face the proposal that is stated in the Word of God. In society each person lives for himself/herself and God is for everyone. May we be new people, when we recognize that sometimes our faith is bourgeois , but we want to live the joy of Christ.
The Pilgrimage Prayer
Every 18th the fruits of the conquest of the Mass, where the covenant of love is renewed, can be seen. The Schoenstatt Youth, members of the Apostolic Federation Council, and the Mothers’ Branch were also present. The Mothers’ Branch assumes the commitment for Adoration at the Shrine every 18th, before the Mass at 6:00 p.m. The members of Family Branch and other communities are conquering to live the feast day at the Youth Shrine, the Shrine of Tupãrenda and in the Terruño Shrine at Ciudad del Este.
Finally, Sister Mariela invited everyone to prepare for the welcome of the Father Symbol, which will arrive in Paraguay at the end of May. Then she led the Pilgrimage Prayer toward 2014 before a gigantic photograph placed to the left in front of the Youth Shrine thereby transporting everyone to the Original Shrine. Meanwhile, they prayed the consecration prayer, they burned the capital of grace, and they sent their sacrifices, commitment, joy and above all much love holding Mary’s hand.
Celina M. Garza: Spanish/English translation – M.Peña-Janknegt: English edit
