PARAGUAY, Fabián Daniel López Cuevas. This September 21st will be remembered for a long time, and surely for several generations, since beside being the 16th Anniversary of the Youth Shrine of Asunción – Paraguay, it was also the day in which the Blessed Mother gave them something very great. Archbishop Pastor Cuquejo of Asunción celebrated the main Mass, and before so much joy, there was something else, the Schoenstatt Youth Shrine was elevated to the Canonical Status of a Diocesan Shrine “Of the Mother Thrice Admirable.
What does this mean? It means that within the Church, the Youth Shrine is recognized as a place of graces, as a place of pilgrimage. For the youths, it already was, they already felt it as a Shrine, but now the Church itself recognizes it as such. The Blessed Mother made herself felt on this past 21st, and with so much effort by many of the Boys’, Girls’ Youth, Family Branch, Mothers and faithful, who worked untiringly cleaning the Shrine, it was made even more beautiful, She was not outdone in generosity. Just as a year ago, she gave vocations for the Boys’ and Girls’ Youth, today she gave them this, which is an immense joy for the Schoenstatt Family of Paraguay, a few weeks from October 18th; they have a lot to celebrate, a lot to make them happy.
We are fruit of this shrine
Many youthful hearts gathered at this place of graces one September 21st, so many hearts were beating in unison for the same love, for the same sense of filial giving of self, since SHE was the one who had convoked them on this day. Lauri Zárate – University Girls’ Youth -speaks about this: “This September 21st, more than ever, I felt the youth that grows at the feet of our shrine. Once again I was convinced of why I am here, and why I work for the Schoenstatt Movement. I am in it because it CHALLENGES me to forge a new Paraguay, but it also prepares me for this mission; my bosom swells and I can proudly say WE AE SCHOENSTATT’S CHILDREN and fruit of this shrine and of a Mother, who is an educator. On a September 21st, a madness of love was experienced between the streets of Ceferino Vega Gaona and Mcal. López, there was a celebration of love, and we could see that our Paraguay is not so bad, there are still youths, who are mad with love for Her, her Son, and their nation.”
Let us go for more
Gabriela Machi – University Girls’ Youth, also comments on what was experienced that night: “When Archbishop Pastor Cuquejo announced the elevation of the Youth Shrine to Diocesan Shrine, I felt more than ever the loving eyes of the Mother Thrice Admirable posed on her Schoenstatt Family. It was like a LET US GO FOR MORE; an I AM HERE, an invitation to everyone to know and to participate in the graces of the Shrine. We could not have received a better gift from God the Father.”
Like those “living stones”
Today, after sixteen years, the Youth Shrine reminds us day by day with its history that to live for a noble ideal like that founding generation, those “Living Stones” of the Shrine, is the best way of approaching a God the Father who comes out to meet us and he untiringly seeks us. Through Mary, the Mother and Queen, they get closer to God, from this place of graces, from this “little piece of heaven here on earth.”
HAPPY 16th ANNIVERSARY YOUTH SHRINE!
Original Spanish Translation Celina M. Garza San Antonio, Texas USA
