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20° aniversario de la Campaña en Paraná 20th annivesary of the Campaign in Paraná Zwanzig Jahre Kampagne in Paraná Foto: Ríos © 2005 |
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ARGENTINA, Tita Rios. Last September 3rd the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign in Parana celebrated its 20th Anniversary, with an encounter for the missionaries, the families who receive the Pilgrim MTA and pilgrims. It was a celebration of thanksgiving and following the example of Joao Pozzobon they began by praying the Rosary in the Shrine of La Loma: "the Rosary keeps us united, it attracts hearts and it keeps the fire of love for the mission alive."
God the Father gave them a beautiful day to share as brothers. In this way, they gathered in the hall (decorated for the occasion with balloons and garlands) they heard the coordinators of Parana, Edit and Alfredo Godoy, who reviewed the beginning of the Campaign from the yes given by Joao until its arrival in Argentina in June of 1985. It is necessary to clarify that the date has already passed, but in Parana, they waited until September to celebrate the 55th year of the Campaign on the international level and also the birth of the Blessed Mother. The celebrations will conclude in November with the annual journey for the renewal of the missionaries’ commitment to the Campaign.
"You must populate the city with Pilgrim MTA’s
Just as in all birthday celebrations, they sang, blew out the candles of two super cakes that they shared with the people from Valle Maria and of Parana. Then there was a very special moment in the afternoon: the novices of the Schoenstatt Father, Santiago, Jose and Nicolas, who collaborated with the Campaign by doing missionary work with the Pilgrim MTA’s in their social work – the hospitals of San Martin and San Roque – they told of their experience before returning to their place of formation. In this talk, their willingness to be of service and their giving of self, and their confident yes to the mission of today and for always was especially stressed.
Jose Velasquez, of Paraguay, commented the joy that they felt when they were asked to participate in the Campaign. "If Santiago was the first to participate –Nico and I felt that the Blessed Mother chose all of us to go out as missionaries. She helped our vocation and the work in the Hospital (in his case in San Martin Hospital along with Santiago) became more accessible. It was not so difficult to speak about God with the visible presence of the Blessed Mother in the Pilgrim MTA Shrine which works by itself".
Santiago Arriola, from Argentina, spoke about the harsh reality that is experienced in the hospital, of the little faith of the patients, because of their condition, but however it was renewed with the manifestation of the Blessed Mother in her visit, taking with her the three graces of the Shrine: shelter, transformation and sending forth. He expressed a thought that touched all those present in the form of a challenge: "You have to populate the city with Pilgrim MTA’s, so that the work of the Blessed Mother will be more extensive."
Nicolas Ovalle de la Fuente, of Chile, offered another perspective since the Blessed Mother is better known in the Maternity Hospital of San Roque, which opened the doors wider for a deeper understanding. He worked more directly with the mothers than with the children, and the reception went well. In regard to the perspective of these 20 years and the times to come, he expressed: "We must always make ourselves available and we must have an open heart…much has been done in 20 years and this contributes to the development in the future. We are encouraged to go forward, to value your work in the society of today". Then he told us that he would continue with his formation in the Institute of the Schoenstatt Fathers. It is important to stress that his understanding of the Campaign had a great positive influence on one of his course brothers from Brazil, who felt his vocation in Schoenstatt through the Campaign. This closeness (that in the case of Santiago came before he entered the Institute) with the mission gave them impetus and it started their pilgrimage.
"And the little donkey began to walk"..
They were paid homage for their predisposition for and contribution to the Campaign, and so that they will always remember us, they were given small images of the Pilgrim MTA (made by Hector Rios) so that it will accompany them during their arduous work of formation. In this way we showed them our profound gratitude through these touching words: "Jose, Santiago and Nicolas, new Joaos for the mission, you form a part of these 20 years of history: for their Fiat, we will always carry them in our hearts, as the Blessed Mother does because She chose them as instruments, as Joao said: The finger of God pointed and the Mother and Queen led, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, and the little donkey began to walk".
In conclusion, Delia de Arcati – the first missionary that brought the Campaign to Parana – spoke to them about the incentive to carry forth the mission, of the difficulties, but above all of the love of the Blessed Mother who chooses us as instruments every day; of the kindness of the Father for the beautiful task that he has entrusted to us, for living the "Nothing without You, nothing without us" of the Covenant of Love in our daily lives, the love that is most tested and most loved.
20 years more
In this spirit of renewal of the mission, they celebrated the Holy Mass in Thanksgiving along with the Family of providence, committing themselves to maintain the love of the mission alive, to joyfully respond to the call, following the initiator of the Campaign with simplicity, as he would say: "…it takes 20 years for things to give fruit. Twenty years…some become discouraged because they do something and they expect for it to give fruit immediately…"It is a living testimony of the 20 years of the Campaign in Parana, and with the help of the Father and the Blessed Mother, we will go for another 20 years!
"If someday you see
in a far away place,
or through the mountains, jungle or the desert
a man wearing a suit
with the image of the Blessed Mother on his shoulder
and a Rosary in his hand
and you want to know his secret
do not ask him anything,
do not stop his march.
JUST FOLLOW HIM"
Enrique Soros, Argentine missionary in Washington, United States