PARAGUAY, by Mima and Juan Carlos Cardona •
We got up at 4:25 a.m. to travel to the city of General Elizardo Aquino, 210 km. from Asunción, for the blessing of the Wayside Shrine of the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt.
It was a very cold morning; the vehicle showed the exterior temperature at 5°C to 7° C, [41° F to 44°F] with a very dense fog that covered a large part of the road.
The weather did not surprise us; we knew because it is not the first time that we had traveled at that hour and on that same road. Love for the mission surpasses all tests, and she is the one who opens roads.
A dream comes true
On Sunday, 17 July 2016, a long awaited dream of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign came true: the blessing of the Wayside Shrine. The first Pilgrim Mother arrived in this city eighteen years ago by Dr. Juan Domingo Mendoza.
The missionaries told us that they built it with many contributions to the capital of grace, and they feel very proud and happy about this accomplishment. General Aquino is a city with well- maintained wide, clean streets. Located on the square, the wayside shrine has two sides with the Blessed Mother’s picture.
The Bishop of the Diocese of San Pedro’s Blessing
The blessing had already been scheduled twice and yet had not been performed on either of these occasions, as the missionaries wanted to finish all the details beforehand, but everything is always in God’s hands. This week the Bishop of the Diocese of San Pedro Apóstol traveled to General Aquino with a group of missionaries for evangelization, and they stayed for a few days. This is how Bishop Pierre Jubinville decided not to wait any longer and to bless the Wayside Shrine. This good news made the missionaries happy.
After the Mass at María Auxiliadora Parish, where the diocesan bishop celebrated, we all went to the place where the wayside shrine is located.
Bishop Jubinville’s ceremony and words impressed us very much. Speaking about the Mother and Queen he said: “She is very well-known, everyone knows her, she does not remain still, she travels a lot, she reaches homes and enters into families. As of now, she will be in this place and all her children can approach her and she will hear their prayers.
This town’s seventeen missionaries bring the Pilgrim Mother to ten to fifteen families each. They have a strong commitment to the mission, and above all, with a joy that is contagious.
Original: Spanish. Translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX USA. Edited: Melissa Peña-Janknegt, Elgin, TX USA
