Today, Benjamín Paz responds: He is a nationally Certified Public Accountant; he is married and the father of four children. He has belonged to the Schoenstatt Movement in Tucumán, Argentina, for 20 years. “My wife and I belong to the Family Federation. I was a bursar, a Shrine director, president of the Mater Admirabilis Foundation, couples’ groups facilitator, Family Apostolic League leader, Boy’s Youth group advisor, guardian of the Shrine, a Mary’s volunteer …Most importantly, Blessed Mother, being the father of a Sister of Mary: Sr. Nazaret!” •
Now over a year into the pilgrimage through the second century of the covenant of love…what is your dream for this Schoenstatt in who we are and where we find ourselves in the Church, the world, and in our mission?
I dream of Schoenstatt as a family: with a father, with a mother, with a home…that its essence is the “covenant”, its being. To be in the Church: that it always be present, as a child at his/her mother’s side.
In its work…Symbol of faith, prayerful and active; the two faces of the same coin.
In order to fulfill this dream, what do we need to avoid or leave behind?
Avoid escaping reality; at the same time, do not allow oneself to be carried away by relative thinking; our will should be enriched through our reasoning…but above all, aware of being children of God; not to get lost only in the world; seek balance between the natural and supernatural.
In order to fulfill this dream, what practical steps do we have to take?
Concrete steps to take? For me, it is a question that does not have an answer. It does not have a recipe…yes, it has some clues…
I think about the word– listen…Active listening…Listen to God. Pray for the gift of Faith; hope without expectations…God is pure surprise. He is a Father that wants to see us happy; happy with “Inner Peace”…
The second word– humility, to feel that everything comes from God; we are only his instruments. We are dust and to dust we will return.
The third word–gratitude; where there is gratitude, there is no room for the obvious…Life will be lived in constant learning; thank God for everything…and also, why not, accept the graces that He gives us.
Original: Spanish. Translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX USA – Edited by: Melissa Peña-Janknegt, Elgin, TX USA
