PARAGUAY, María Luz Fleitas. March 4th – second Sunday in Lent – with the Gospel of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Youth Shrine (Santuario Joven) was decorated with banners from the Boys’ Youth. This next Saturday, three new priestly vocations born in this Shrine will enter the novitiate of the Schoenstatt Fathers: Carlos Sandoval, Santiago Yegros and Víctor González.
Father Tommy Nin Mitchell presided at the Mass; the future novices who were participating as acolytes accompanied him. Father Tommy, who was their adviser while they belonged to the Boys’ Youth, allowed them to speak during the homily.
Personal testimonies
Santiago Yegros said they felt like Peter, James, and John who heeded the call of Jesus but did not understand when He spoke to them of resurrecting from the dead. He stressed that the calling is a great mystery and asked that all would accompany them prayerfully so that the Will of God may be fulfilled.
Carlos Sandoval (Negro) commented that as postulants they were in Argentina and got to know more about the life of our Father and Founder in Latin America. They concluded that Father Kentenich died with a full agenda, that the Work is still not finished, and that all Schoenstatters are called to continue with the Work that is a Work of the Church.
Víctor González (Palén) reflected on the wisdom of the Church, the liturgical times and the readings. Each one says “here I am” and sometimes God tests him as He did Abraham. He invited all to seek the interior desert, to pray for one another in order to be able to be faithful to God’s call. Jesus invites everyone to go up onto the mountain to change the world. The novitiate about to begin includes a profound life of prayer.
In conclusion, Father Tommy commented how surprising it is to hear that someone asks to seek the interior desert when generally what is asked for is abundance. The person who does not experience need does not value what he has. Likewise, he told the three to also pray for him, for everyone, and he invited everyone to continue building the Nation of God.
A gift from the Girls’ Youth
Father Tommy also greeted the families of the novices who were present and the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary from Argentina who were visiting: Sr. M. Elisa Monachesi, provincial superior, and Sr. María Teresa Etcheberry, a member of the general council of the Sisters and assistant to the Spanish speaking and Portuguese speaking countries. The Girls’ Youth dedicated a song to the novices that was composed by María Sol Gómez: “Brave yes, a sodalist.” She sang it with Jessi Bogado, the new leader of the Girls’ Youth. Choir 21 sang so well that it made the Youth Shrine a small heaven, even more so when they sang, “Lord, breathe out your grandeur.”
Translation: Carlos Cantú, Schoenstatt Family Federation, La Feria, Texas USA 03072012
