PARAGUAY, Oscar Velázquez Ferreira •
The Rosario de Hombres Valientes [Brave Men’s Rosary] held its second National Gathering on Sunday, 22 November on the Feast of Christ the King.
Approximately 300 men congregated at Tuparenda National Shrine, 34 km. from Asunción, in a gathering filled with touching encounters, abundant spirituality and a great atmosphere of fellowship.
Rosario de Hombres Valientes
This session is organized by the National Coordination of the Rosario de Hombres Valientes (RHV), which since its creation in November 2011 has carried out different activities for the purpose of motivating the growth of the group, understanding the transformation the Holy Rosary carries out in these men. They meet, once a week, at different locations spread throughout the country, and they pray the Rosary. It is a short, simple Rosary, however it is recited with strong and firm voices giving the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt their commitment and trusting that all their petitions will reach Jesus.
Filling the halls of the Church
On Sunday, 22 November, the session began before the 9:00 a.m. Mass, the majority of the Hombres Valientes were praying the Rosary at the Santa María de La Santísima Trinidad Church. Upon seeing these brothers, each one wearing their aqua t-shirts, which characterizes the Rosario de Hombres Valientes, who occupied almost fifty percent of the seating in this large church reminded us of Father Kentenich’s Prayer of the Blank Check in Heavenwards: “Use us according to your will. Through Schoenstatt may the wide halls of the holy Church be filled again and your praise resound to your throne.” (Fr. Kentenich, Heavenwards, p. 14).
Training in the faith
One of the objectives of these sessions was the training of the Hombres Valientes (HV) in strengthening their faith and devotion to the Holy Rosary. In this sense, there were times prepared with talks presented by the National Adviser of the HV, Fr. Antonio Cosp, rector of Tuparenda’s National Shrine and by Fr. Pedro Alfonso Caballero, a diocesan priest from the Diocese of San Lorenzo, who is very close to the HV and Schoenstatt through his great devotion to the Blessed Mother. They presented the subjects “Mary transforms us” and “The Holy Rosary” respectively, moreover, training videos and videos of the lives of the saints also were shown.
We cannot fail to mention that at lunch 320 plates were served at no expense to the participants, since the cost was covered through the generosity of some businesses, people tied to the HV, sponsorships and cash donations.
The session ended at 4:00 p.m. with Fr. Antonio Cosp giving the blessing and sending forth.
Attachments
It is important to mention that as of 30 September to 4 October, the Brave Men made a blessed pilgrimage to Santa María, Brazil, the cradle of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign, to strengthen their bonds with Joao Pozzobon; Fr. Antonio Cosp accompanied them. There is no gathering of the Brave Men without the Pilgrim Mother at the center.
Moreover, Alfredo Cabrera recently traveled to a gathering with the Men`s Rosary from Northeastern Brazil, specifically in Olinda-Recife. “It was wonderful, sensational, simply the encounter of countries, which unites us in solidarity for the same purpose in our mission,” he shared, after the long and intense gathering with members of Rosario de Hombres and their adviser, Fr. Pedro Cabello.
