The kingdom of God awaits us far and wide, …also in Itakyry

The Rosary Campaign in Itakyry, Alto Paraná, Paraguay

Visita de la Hermana Edna a Kapi’i Sister Edna visiting Kapi’i Schwester Edna zu Besuch in Kapi’i
La Virgen Peregrina está visitando a las familias de Itakyry The Pilgrim MTA is visiting the families of Itakyry Die Pilgernde Gottesmutter besucht die Familien von Itakyry
En la capilla In the chapel In der Kapelle
Después de la Misa en la parroquia de Itakyry After the Holy Mass in the Parish Church of Itakyry Nach der Heiligen Messe in der Pfarrkirche von Itakyry
Primera entrega de imagenes peregrinas The First Pilgrim MTA’s for Itakyry Aussendung der ersten Bilder der Pilgernden Gottesmutter in Itakyry Fotos: Corvalán © 2006 Album de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

PARAGUAY, Javier Cabral. Itakyry is a very humble town located about 90 kilometers from Ciudad del Este. Approximately a year ago, the daring people of the "Rosary of Dawn" group, who gather at the Shrine of Terruño to pray the rosary at 6:00 a.m. on Saturdays, initiated apostolic contact in this area.The life that has developed in one year of continuous work with the Rosary Campaign in Itakyry is a clear example of Schoenstatt’s introduction at the local level.

Father Walter Rojas, pastor, was instrumental in bringing the group from Ciudad del Este into this area; each time that the group was in his area, he would invite them to go a little chapel in the area called Kapi’i, about 7 kilometers away on a dirt road. This year, 2006, after the third time that Father Walter insisted, they went…And what did they find? A little blue chapel! Very similar to the blue chapel that John Pozzobon had in Santa Maria. And as if this wasn’t enough…the picture of the Blessed Mother was inside. Then they said to themselves: "She is already established here, now it is our turn to do our part."

Throughout 2006 the group, with the encouragement of Father Walter, helped and accompanied the evolution of the Rosary Campaign and the life of the Pilgrim MTA’s that were conquering Itakyry.

A miracle of the Campaign

Some say that it is a miracle for the Rosary Campaign or of John Pozzobon. I do not know if this will count for the process of canonization but, in September 2006, no other than Sister Edna Piede was present in Itakyry! She of course had help from heaven, since the day before her visit there was a rain. On a rainy day the red soil dyes everything in its path.

The Mate Group went to Ciudad del Este in the morning to get her and proceeded to Itakyry. They were welcomed by a group of people, catechists, missionaries, etc…

Sister Edna spoke to them about the Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother and the fruits that it produces.

A beautiful and touching encounter

Then they went to area of Kapi’i to visit the humble little chapel. The people from the area were waiting for them. They had a beautiful and touching encounter. First, the local catechist explained the life of the community, their difficulties and their desires.

Sister spoke to them mainly about the Covenant of Love and the importance that the Pilgrim MTA’s travel. Then the leaders of the Campaign spoke to them about John Pozzobon. Sister returned very enthused and thinking about planning a program for next year, 2007 that would include visits, commissioning of Pilgrim MTA’s, etc…

And how the MTA has traveled!

It is truly wonderful to see how the Blessed Mother chooses the people and places. All of this began a year ago, as a simple encounter of friends and today there are about 23 Pilgrim MTA’s traveling in this city. And how has it traveled! Since some of the Pilgrim MTA’s travel to about 60 homes that are many kilometers away.

The task becomes more valuable because of the difficulties within the region, where there is a great need for material goods, and each day different sects are advancing more aggressively, even profaning the local parish.

A response to the Pastor of the diocese

The kingdom of God is not only built in our groups of life, where perhaps everything is easier and more comfortable. The kingdom of God awaits us far and wide.

Just as the Bishop of Ciudad del Este told us, during the Holy Mass of October 18^th, "Do not remain as you are. Our movement is called an apostolic Movement…so you should go out of your groups, of your city and advance in every district and beyond…"

I believe that the example and the work in Itakyry is a response to request made by the pastor of our diocese.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA / Christi Jentz, Milwaukee, USA