mercy Tag

WYD2016, by Maria Fischer • More than a million young people braved the rain to welcome the Pope at Jordan Park in Blonia, at the first meeting between Pope Francis and the youth at this year’s World Youth Day.  “So far, I haven’t seen a single Schoenstatt flag in the live transmission,” commented an Argentinian collaborator for schoenstatt.org.  This was in part due to the programme of activities: a large group of the Schoenstatt Boys Youth in South America had been scheduled to visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, and becauseRead More
FRANCIS AT WYD2016, by Maria Fischer • Pope Francis’ first message in Poland was clear and was the topic in all of the European media on Wednesday, 27 July 2016: Also needed is a spirit of readiness to welcome those fleeing from wars and hunger, and solidarity with those deprived of their fundamental rights, including the right to profess one’s faith in freedom and safety…This means doing everything possible to alleviate the suffering while tirelessly working with wisdom and constancy for justice and peace, bearing witness in practice to humanRead More
By Francisco Pistilli, Bishop of Encarnación, Paraguay •   When mercy is talked about, one begins to think about many things….. I would like to mention something concrete about this year:  since it was God himself who placed us into this since this past February, in tune with the Jubilee Year.  As a result of the Paraguay River flooding, and the communities flooded in the Pilar zone, here in Encarnación especially there was a team formed called “Itapúa Solidarity” with initiatives from the Government, the City, the Rotary Club, theRead More
PARAGUAY, by Víctor and Stella Domínguez • As of May 30, 2016, the Ministry of Hope for divorced persons in a new relationship was 10 years old.  These have been years of many graces and blessings.  Blessed Mother opened her arms to embrace many people during these 10 years. We lovingly remember that first meeting in the Youth Shrine [Santuario Joven] where on a day like this past May 30th, we began our walk hand in hand with Jesus who gave us his blessing through dear Father Antonio who isRead More
Víctor and Stella Domínguez, co-founders of the Schoenstatt Apostolate of Hope for Divorced People in New Unions in Paraguay • The Apostolic Exhortation is a “long letter of the Pope’s love for families.” It is an extraordinary document: The Holy Father presents the reality of families but in the form of a love poem. We can even say that this document is a hymn to love. And this reality is inspired by the practical application of the Christian doctrine on the family. The family: “an irreplaceable good for society andRead More
BURUNDI, Diomède Mujojoma • The students of the Polivalente Secondary Institute (I.S.P.) went on pilgrimage to the Mount Sion Gikungu Shrine on the morning of the 27 May 2016. This wasn’t an ordinary pilgrimage; their main aim was to pass through the Holy Door of Divine Mercy. Their teachers and the principal accompanied them. Upon arriving at the shrine at approximately 9:00 a.m, they were welcomed by the sister who is responsible for the pilgrimages. She invited them to finish their pilgrimage by going in procession to the Holy DoorRead More
FRANCIS IN ROME – HOLY YEAR OF MERCY • Thousands of Catholics and pilgrims from many countries once again stood in St. Peter’s Square on 25 May to participate in Pope Francis’ general audience, continuing his series of catechesis on Mercy in the New Testament.  The Holy Father unpacked the theme of prayer based on the reading of a passage from St. Luke’s gospel (18:1-8). “Prayer does not work like a magic wand! It helps us keep faith in God, and to entrust ourselves to him even when we do notRead More
FRANCIS IN ROME – HOLY YEAR OF MERCY • “I remember once when we really saw that we often lack the ability to open ourselves up to grace and to the divine meaning of forgiveness and mercy,” explained Stella and Victor Dominguez a short while ago at a presentation to the pastoral ministers of the Archdiocese of Asunción. “Someone came up to us as we were starting the Pastoral of Hope and told us that what we were proposing was very unfair: a pastoral project for divorced people in aRead More
CHILE/PORTUGAL, by José Cravo • It’s been ten years since Gonçalo left Portugal for Chile to begin his postulancy and then his novitiate in Paraguay. It seems like it was yesterday. Actually, it was about 12 years ago when Gonçalo told us about his vocation to the priesthood and that he was going to enter the Institute of the Schoenstatt Fathers. It was a Sunday evening in February. The news was not a surprise for his mother. As for me, I didn’t sleep that night! Out of joy, uncertainty, emotion…andRead More

Posted On 12.05.2016In Francis - Message

The Good Shepherd

FRANCIS IN ROME – HOLY YEAR OF MERCY • During the General Audience on 4 May in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis once again condemned the throwaway culture and emphasized that God does not act according to this culture’s parameters, but rather as the Good Shepherd – who does not resign himself to losing even one of his sheep – he goes out in search for each one of his children, especially the greatest sinners and the most abandoned. He goes out to meet the lost sheep…”God’s action is thatRead More