COSTA RICA, Hannia Espinoza •
A new year begins, and with it many important activities in the Schoenstatt Guanacaste family. —
During the first days of January, two Pilgrim MTA’s were sent from the Family of Hope Shrine in Santa Ana. For this occasion, the group of couples number six from Guanacaste traveled more than 200 km to receive their Pilgrim MTA in the Schoenstatt group format and the second one in the work format. The second one will go on pilgrimage to a Costa Rican state hospital called Hospital de La Anexión, located in the city of Nicoya (located in the blue zone of Costa Rica). It was a day full of light and joy where one could feel the shelter and apostolic zeal in the participants of this beloved group and that ended with a visit in the afternoon to the East branch.
Meeting with the seven groups of couples
We also received the visit of our newly arrived Father Raymundo, who met with the seven groups of couples that our family has so far, which are located in the cities of Liberia, Playas del Coco, Tamarindo and Nicoya.
He was received with that human warmth that characterizes the Schoenstatters. In this way hearts were united where they expressed their love for the Blessed Mother, the experiences lived up to now and the desires that they have to make the movement grow to help to have a new life, being new men.
A farewell and a start
Now we are going from the lowlands to the highlands of Guanacaste. This time in the city of Cañas, where, on the grounds of the Invenio University, in charge of the Schoenstatters, the beginning of the year conference was held and, at the same time, the farewell to our beloved Father José Luis Correa. We were also accompanied by the seminarian Eli and the diocesan priest Father Harvey, who concelebrated together with Father José Luis. Here the whole family gathered to entrust to Our Lady Thrice Admirable the year that is beginning with an outpouring of fraternity, folklore and unity.
New missionaries of the Pilgrim Mother
We ended our tour accompanying nine women from Santa Cruz, who are traveling from the folkloric city of Santa Cruz to the Family of Hope Shrine in Santa Ana, San José, Costa Rica. They carry the longing to participate in the National Journey of the missionary, which every year is organized by the National Coordination of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign of the Pilgrim Mother of Schoenstatt. This activity is exclusively for missionaries and pilgrims, who come from many parts of the country.
By the way, two of these nine women received their Pilgrim MTA in a Mass officiated by our beloved priest, Juan Francisco Escobar. The new missionaries will visit the families of Santa Cruz with their Pilgrim MTA, who are waiting for them with open arms.
This sums up our first two months of this year, with gifts sent from heaven so that this family will remain united and continue to grow.
HAIL QUEEN!
Here is your fruitful and united family striving for holiness!
Original: Spanish. Translation: Marcela Fernández, Toronto, Canada
