PARAGUAY, Fr. Antonio Cosp/mda. “Thank you to all for being part of the more than 50,000 protagonists of this Church. Onward and imagine. There are many to whom I owe gratitude for their faithful support through these years …” wrote Fr. Antonio Cosp, Director of the Schoenstatt Movement in Paraguay, on December 28th a few hours after St. Mary Church of the Holy Trinity’s blessing occurred near the Tupãrenda Shrine. With 5,000 people physically present and many more via direct transmission, the newly appointed Bishop of Encarnación, Francisco Pistilli, a Schoenstatt Father, led this blessing, which was the grand finale of the 2014 Jubilee year in Paraguay.
Father Antonio Cosp wrote down some of his personal experience of the event:
Fifteen years ago, on December 28, 1999, like today, I con-celebrated with the bishop at that time, Bishop Benites. It was also at night, as if waiting for the dawn, just like today. Back then, it was the blessing of the portico: four beautiful columns and a beautiful roof 8m x 8m. Today we expected 4,000 people, similar to a Mass on October 18th. Instead, there were about 5,000. The heavy rain forcast for this day instead came as a light drizzle and fell several hours after the event was ended. The fresh air entering the church always makes it cooler.
Very touching moments:
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The entrance procession began in the sacristy and entered the sanctuary, where the MTA received a gift from the Church for 100 years of the Original Shrine, where she established her dwelling forever, along with the thirty-three years she has reigned in our National Shrine.
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Bishop Pistilli opening the door outside with the key. The explosive applause that broke out, the singing that came like a cascade.
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Sooner or later, those who entered were able to see how much progress was made this year: all of the presbytery with its altar, ambo, and definitive sites, the poured concrete floor that had been completed during the last forty days. And the most impressive– the portal with its large wooden door on which the woodworker carved the annunciation representing the entire Trinity.
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Having the presence of Bishop Francisco Pistilli in his first Mass as presiding bishop during this ceremony. He was accompanied by two former bishops from his diocese, Encarnación, and Bishop Claudio Gimenéz. His brief homily encouraged us to build family on this day when we celebrate the Holy Family.
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Father Joaquin’s presence and poem, a great inspirer of this Church who was especially invited. He wrote the poem when Bishop Pistilli was ordained in Encarnación. We asked him to stand to read and sing the poem. The applause for the author was unceasing.
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Harmony reigned at all times with the many brothers/sisters who each Sunday gave so much time in working on the shrine and its expansion: the ISMT.
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Coco Pereira and Mariju, pastoral leaders for 15 years, who handed over the large door’s key to the current leaders.
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Future: The last step will be the dedication of the church. Appropriately is the annointing the altar, columns, and walls with the chrism oil. It is as if the divine penetrated most profoundly. We all left with the expectation that its construction would be completed soon.
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The most impressive thing was the joy that reigned and demonstrated in the abundant applause and the gratitude expressed to the Blessed Mother.
Original: Spanish – Translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio & Rosalinda Escalón, Elgin, Texas, USA
