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 published: 2005-04-01

You are the light of the world

Start-up Journey 2005 for the Federation of Families in Paraguay

Ustedes son la luz del mundo

You are the light of the world

Ihr seid das Licht der Welt

 
 

Bendición de los nuevos jefes de la Federación de Familias

Blessing of the new leaders of the Federation of Families

Segnung der neuen Leiter des Familienbundes

 
 

Abrazos luego del traspaso

Hugs after the transfer

Umarmung nach der Amtsübergabe

 
 

Ramón y Marité Marini

Ramón and Marité Marini

Ramón und Marité Marini

 

Capitulares del Capitulo Internacional en Schoenstatt-Hillscheid

Participants of the International Chapter in Schoenstatt-Hillscheid

Teilnehmer des Internationalen Kapitels in Schönstatt, Hillscheid

 
 

Grupo de trabajo

Discusión group

Arbeitskreis

Fotos: Cabral © 2005

 

PARAGUAY,Cristian and Monica Heisecke. By tradition, the couples of the Federation of Families met in March for the "Start-up Journey 2005" in the Shrine of Tuparenda, marking the official beginning of the annual activitiesfortheFederation.Thisyear Divine Providence wanted the Journey to take place on the 19th of March, Feast of Saint Joseph, which was very meaningful, since the crusade for the family, that was launched at the end of last year with the enthronement of the image of the Holy Family in Tuparenda, also marked the arrival of Saint Joseph to the National Shrine of Paraguay.

In a warm atmosphere ( 35 although the arrival of fall is imminent!) with a joyful family spirit, more than 100 couples met to share the eagerness and anxiety related to the work of the Federation for this year. The occasion was also propitious to meet again with the assistant of the Federation, Father Cruz Viale, on his return from Chile, where he had been working on editing his thesis for his degree in theology.

A beam of joy for others

It was Father Cruz, who started the Journey, presenting a captivating conference: "The Eucharist, sacrifice, communion, and feast". On the eve of Holy Week, Father Cruz invited us to "travel as if in a small time machine" to return to the original moment of the Last Supper and the Passion. To confront the suffering of Jesus in the Passion, renewing in each Eucharist, what we call - as Federation couples - to give meaning to crosses we bear daily ; in each Eucharist, examine ones love, the communion, so that when we receive communion we become brotherly, a uniting with everyone, in heaven as well as on earth; and that each joyous encounter with Jesus in Holy Mass, becomes a feast, an invitation to be joyful, and to be a beam of joy for others.

In total harmony with the Holy Father and the Church

Motivated so that this year of the Eucharist, desired by the Holy Father, will be taken very seriously by the Federation, they worked on commissions: from different regions, the older ones and the newer ones, analyzing the different aspects that make it pertinent to Federation.

After a break, the three regions that form the territory of Paraguay, laid out the areas of work for the year, in order to formulate common purposes for this year which would unite all who belong to Federation.

After a light lunch (but gladly shared) the workshop proceeded to the financial aspects of the Federation: although the challenges are great, steps have been taken in the consolidation of the autonomy, also economically.

The International Apostolic Schoenstatt Federation of Families, blessed by John Paul II on the 20th of January

The awaited time arrived to share the events that took place in Germany 2005. The chapter members who represented Paraguay in the establishment of the long International Apostolic Schoenstatt Federation of Families were able to transmit the intense life that was given at the beginning of this year with photos, videos, and with detailed explanations of events in the holy places in Schoenstatt and later from the heart of the Church, Rome. What a great joy for Paraguay, to participate in the General Chapter constituted in Schoenstatt - Hillscheid! They are now a part of a great worldwide Community, personally blessed by John Paul II on the 20th of January.

Illuminating the "catacombs" from the Homeshrines

But the most exciting part of this start-up Journey was still to come. During the final Mass, our beloved Ramon and Marite Marini, newly appointed council family of the International Board of Federation, formally handed over the leadership of the Territorial Council to Babbio and Ivonne Sallustro, who had been First Council Family. It is impossible to express the concentrated excitement that was felt in the Pilgrim House, the many tears were an eloquent expression. With the words expressed by Jesus, "You are the light of the world" (Mt. 5,14), after twelve years of self-sacrifice and loyal paternal service of the Marini's as Leaders of Federation, leading Federation in Paraguay since its beginning, time of founding, time of grace, called now by the Blessed Mother and the Father to work for the new International Federation, with simplicity they deposited in the hands of Babbio and Ivonne the work of such a long time, symbolized by a lighted lamp, made in the likeness of the olden lamps that illuminated the catacombs, the first Christian homes.

"You are the light of the world". That is how a new era of the Family Federation in Paraguay began. May it be a time of light so that the Federation couples, still living in the "diaspora", that is to say, in the midst of pluralism and relativism, may be able to educate their children as apostles of the third millennium in the "catacombs" of the Homeshrines, filling all the atmospheres, economical, cultural, political and social with light, until the "Nation of God" shines resplendently.

Translation: Celina M. Garza, Harlingen, Texas, USA



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