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 published: 2004-12-28

A Beaming Feast for the Holy Family

The Schoenstatt Movement in Paraguay begins a campaign for the family

La estatua de la Sagrada Familia, Santuario de Tuparenda, Paraguay

The Statue of the Holy Family in the Shrine in Tuparenda, Paraguay

Statue der Heiligen Familie im Heiligtum in Tuparenda, Paraguay

Foto: Schoenstatt Paraguay © 2004

 

 

 

PARAGUAY, pac. On Sunday, December 26th, the celebrations began at 8:30 am for the installation of the statue of the holy family in Tupãrenda, Paraguay. The Schoenstatt family was completely there, members of the Federations, the league, and above all the family movement – everyone wanted to be there, pilgrims also had come in large numbers. This was the beginning of a " campaign for the family, combined with the installation of the statue of the holy family in the shrine for the family ". They want to unite to defend this institution, which has lately come under bombardment, and to strengthen it from within. Father Antonio Cosp, the Movement Director in Paraguay, proclaimed that with this opportunity the Schoenstatt shrine in Tupãrenda is a " special place of grace for families", from where Mary sends all families to build the nation of God, a new Paraguay.

At 9:00 o'clock the statue of the Holy Family was brought in procession to the shrine, escorted by Father Cosp, Father Francisco Pistilli, the novice's master, the novices, a group of representatives of the Schoenstatt movement, the pilgrims and a band.

Heart of the families of Paraguay

In his address Father Cosp spoke of the family as a nest, which wants fallow, the example of the first nest, Heaven. In one way or another we need people, a nest, a family. To become a family which is " equal to Heaven ", he suggested two things: First that the presence of God is important in the family; the God who is love (people do not like places where there is no love), and secondly that when we see the sweet image of God we are united and understanding. Our family nest must be a shrine where the young people can come over and over again to feel at home, to find help and support.

Schoenstatt is building a new nest, the church " Mary of the Trinity ". Tupãrenda and other daughter shrines and home shrines will more and more become part of the heart of the families in Paraguay. The rector of the shrine emphasised the common experience that the Tupãrenda shrine’s special graces are for the families.

With the installation of the statue of the holy family " the campaign for the family began " this was strongly taken up by the media in Paraguay; with the purpose to invigorate anew the sense of marriage and family, to evaluate and to rediscover this sense.

In connection with this initiative there is also the young people and children who have exerted themselves for the establishment of the" car shrine " – because the car is the place where the family is often together.

More participants than expected

The celebration was very festive. One felt that the participants were present internally, especially when the statue of the holy family was carried into the shrine; the celebrant invited the families to bless itself, beginning with the parents and children. It was a sunny morning and the sky seemed to touch the earth. Even more people came than expected, plus the large number of those whom could only be present spiritually. There was much excitement, as it became known that the sculptor who created the statue, Miguel Romero, had come with his whole family; Father Cosp invited them to introduce themselves, and the applause, beginning spontaneously, did not want to end... In the style of the native culture of Paraguay, the statue speaks to all.

Translation: Kelsie Bias, USA



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