ARGENTINA, Sr. Clara María Bercetche. Seven new Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary were invested in two subsequent celebrations in Argentina and Paraguay.
On Saturday, May 18th, in Argentina, reddish autumn leaves were already announcing Pentecost. The heart had prepared itself for quite sometime for this great feast of love. All had been anxiously waiting for this day in which the young women from such different places would be transformed into resplendent Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary. How beautiful to be able to begin this marvelous journey with them!
The celebration started at 10:30 A.M. The procession began at the statue of the Immaculate Conception, following the route that Father Joseph Kentenich so often took when he was in New Schoenstatt, and ending in the Church of God the Father, where the reception ceremony took place. Ten priests, a colorful array of banners, an endless chain of girls belonging to the Schoenstatt Girls’ Youth and many Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary escorted the novices.
In the church, a great number of all ages and from different Argentinean provinces waited them. The choir of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary and of the Girls’ Youth – accompanied by the organ, guitar, oboe and flute – enlivened the celebration.
Father Alberto Eronti, Schoenstatt Father, presided at the Holy Mass. He knew how to certainly bring light to the moment people were experiencing, highlighting the person of Mary as the woman who responded to God’s call, consecrating her life to Jesus, and guiding it to those who needed it most – somehow represented in the person of her cousin, Elizabeth. It is the same attitude that our Father and Founder expresses when he meditates in HEAVENWARDS, on the figure of Veronica as a symbol of the virginal souls: “They bear the pure and gentle features of Christ; they are free of pretense, falseness and deceit. They go through sinful creation as radiant signs of Jesus and Mary.”
To begin the rite of giving the novices their dresses, Sr. M. Elisa, Provincial Superior of the Community, read the new names: María del Milagro Acuña from the province of Salta, Sr. M. Natividad, María de los Angeles Spinazzi from Buenos Aires, Sr. Juana María, Antonella Aceto de Cipoletti from the province of Río Negro, Sr. M. Adela, María Luján Ruffino from Santa Fe, Sr. María Luján and María Josefina Paz Vermal from the city of Tucumán, Sr. M. Nazaret.
After the rite of presenting the dresses, the novices went to change their nuptial gown for the Schoenstatt Sister of Mary dress. During that time, the symbolism of Mary’s dress was briefly explained, and some girls from the Girls’ Youth showed us a sketch of each symbol. With the traditional hymn interpreting Psalm 56 “Awake harp and zither,” the most moving moment arrived in which the novices reappeared as Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary. They were warmly received with much emotion and a great applause. Thus continued the Holy Mass with the offering of their lives united to the offering of the fruits of the earth, the bread and wine. On behalf of the parents of the novices, Mr. and Mrs. Paz Vermal voiced a heartfelt prayer. Among other things, they prayed: “Give me what you ask for and ask of me what you want. Dear Mother and Queen, as parents we come to offer you our daughters, our Marys who are a part of our family treasure. We humbly recognize that only God can measure our offering. We offer the best forever, a forever which will become concrete, day to day, by simply saying, Yes, Father.”
At the conclusion of Holy Mass, everyone went to the Shrine of our Mother and Queen. There the new Sisters sealed their Covenant of Love with Blessed Mary and closed the celebration with the Magnificat.
After greeting family and friends, the beautiful festivity took place in the Father Joseph Kentenich Auditorium, in the basement of the God the Father Church. Everyone who accompanied the novices was offered a video in which the novices give witness about their vocation and also explain some aspects of the life and formation of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary. The Girls’ Youth had a special gift for the novices. It was a spiritual gift consisting of thousands of contributions to the Treasury of Grace gathered onto a virtual card for several months.
In Paraguay
In Tuparenda, Paraguay, on Sunday, May 19th, a singular and historic event took place. It was the first reception to take place there. There are several Paraguayan Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, but until now, they had received their dress of Mary in Argentina. A great many people participated in the ceremony, approximately 1,500 persons. The novices went in procession from the Shrine to Holy Mary of the Trinity Church that is still under construction. It was beautifully adorned with many flowers and white ribbons.
An extensive line, more than 200 meters, of girls from the Girls’ Youth flanked the procession’s route. The main celebrant was the Most Reverend Claudio Giménez, Bishop of the Caacupé Diocese and President of the Paraguayan Episcopal Conference. Various Schoenstatt Fathers and novices of the community accompanied him. In charge of the homily was Fr. Pedro Kuhlcke, advisor to the Girls’ Youth in Asunción. With great precision, he gave light to the mystery of God’s call to the consecrated life as it is symbolized in the dress and the new name received by the novices.
The Santa María choir enhanced the liturgy. The choir is directed by José Felix Cacavelos. A keyboard, a five-stringed Peruvian guitar, a (regular) guitar, and a violin accompanied a marvelous choir formed by some forty people. Some members from the choir of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary also accompanied them.
The new names of the two novices from Asunción proclaimed in the ceremony were: Macarena Cuenca, Sr. M. Paulina, and Ana Belén Medina, Sr. M. Belén.
Before the offertory, the parents of the novices shared their prayer of offering with all those present. After the celebration, the reception with the invited guests took place. All enjoyed the same video shown in New Schoenstatt and a PowerPoint presentation with pictures of the reception that took place in New Schoenstatt the previous day. The Girls’ Youth in Paraguay presented the new Sisters with their spiritual strivings done in preparation for this hour of grace. The day ended with a Holy Hour and Benediction in the Church. Father Antonio Cosp presided.
It was a Family festivity; the entire Movement prepared for it joyfully and in a spirit of service in all areas: liturgy, choir, decoration of the Shrine and Church and the reception. The Pentecost liturgy proclaimed these words: “God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God’s gift to us.” (Rom. 5:5) This is what was experienced by all who participated in these ceremonies, both in Paraguay as in Argentina. Their hearts were filled with and immense joy.
On the afternoon of May 20th, Sr. M. Belén and Sr. M. Paulina, along with the Sisters from the Asunción affiliation and those who had traveled from Argentina, participated in the Holy Mass in the Youth Shrine. Fr. Pedro Miraballes celebrated the Mass. In a very joyful atmosphere, once again, they were able to thank the Schoenstatt Family for their warm accompaniment and for all the help and work which took place in these grace-filled days.
In the following link you can see the video of both receptions: http://youtu.be/Fd7Vpc94voE
In these links you can see the photos of the reception in Paraguay:
Spanish to English translation: Carlos Cantú, Schoenstatt Family Federation, La Feria, Texas USA 06012013
Congratulations to a Joyous Occasion and to Our new Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary .
A Heartfelt Thanks to their parents for offering their daughters to the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary. Our prayers of Thanksgiving is offered up to you.
Please also keep as in prayer , as we too are making preparations to travel to Germany in August 2013, to our daughter’s Rececption as a Schoenstatt Sister of Mary.