PARAGUAY, Anneke and Roberto Galeano. We have been blessed to participate in the Schoenstatt Family Missions since 1999, when we were engaged, married, and then became missionary parents. We want to relate this because the Family Missions are an apostolic activity that our souls ask of us and that being Christian demands of us. To go on mission every year fills us with the love of Mary and her Son, it is our “cable to heaven” that fills us with grace to be Her instruments throughout the year.
We were part of a group of fifty couples, along with our own children and others, who took the Pilgrim MTA to visit thousands of homes of the country. United to the Rosary Campaign, initiated by John Pozzobon (who is presently in the process of beatification) to “save the family through the great Schoenstatt Work.” These are Family Missions because they transmit the family spirit seeking to be a reflection of the Holy Family, it is our humble contribution to building a society based on true Christian values.
The transformation of her face upon seeing the Pilgrim MTA
There are hundreds of testimonies about the Missions, since the work of the Virgin can be seen in every house that is visited. If we had to choose an experience from the past year, we would share the experience in the house of one grandmother: Doña (a title of respect) Bonifacia. It is difficult to explain the transformation of her face upon seeing the Pilgrim MTA; her expression was illuminated when her gaze connected with Hers, and the devout kiss that she gave Her was an act of immense faith. When we experience something like this, the only thing we can say is, “Thank you God for using us as your instruments!” Since words cannot transmit this, we hope that this photo will show something of what those of us who were present experienced at this touching moment.
On the last day, what we did as a Missionary Family was to receive the blessing of our grandmother of Tebicuary: Doña Bonifacia. The eyes of every missionary (including those of Fredericke, a German girl, who is on exchange and who did not understand the language) were filled with tears upon receiving the blessing in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Thanks to this photo and for a story that is too long to explain here, this year we will have the founding relative of the Rosary Campaign: Joao Luiz Pozzobon (John Pozzobon’s grandson) will be on mission in Paraguay in July!
“I see a little piece of heaven eveyday”
Since we know that God cannot be outdone in generosity, we feel that we give very little, and we receive a lot. This year more than 600 missionaries will allow themselves to be drenched with this rain of blessings in the following towns: Arrua´i, Carapeguá, Mbuyapey, Valenzuela and Tebicuary. In addition to the main activity of evangelization of taking the “little Virgin” to visit the homes and pray ing with each family, we will conduct the following activities in each town: Masses, workshops for youths, children and adults, a gigantic birthday celebration, and dramas, among other activities. We do all of this with the invaluable support of the Schoenstatt Fathers and seminarians, who will accompany us in every activity.
When John Pozzobon referred to his experience in his mission he said: “I see a little piece of heaven everyday,” this is exactly what we feel in the Schoenstatt Family Missions; we feel a little piece of heaven to which all of us aspire. We feel that God gives us a foretaste of what awaits us in eternity…
FIRE OF MY NATION, YOUR MISSION IN MY HEART!
Original: Spanish – Translation Celina M. Garza San Antonio, Texas USA
