The MTA is escorted with the joy of simple and fervent hearts

October 18^th in Tuparenda: the Pilgrim MTA's, the songs, the gifts, the faces of thousands of pilgrims…remain in the hearts and minds

Misioneros de la Campaña del Rosario con sus peregrinas “vestidas de fiesta” Missionaries of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign with their Pilgrim MTA`s , with beautiful flowers Missionare der Kampagne der Pilgernden Gottesmutter: nirgendwo sonst bekommt die Pilgernde Gottesmutter solche Blumenarrangements Fotos: Pardo © 2006
Encuentro de misioneras: Melba Lopez (izq.), Marijú Pereira Encounter of missionaries: Melba Lopez (left), Marijú Pereira Begegnung zweier Missionare der ersten Stunde: Melba Lopez (li.), Marijú Pereira
Pedro Fadul Pedro Fadul Pedro Fadul Fotos: Lopez © 2006
Santa Misa Holy Mass Heilige Messe Foto: Agüero © 2006
Em honor a la Mater... In honor of the MTA… Zur Ehre der MTA… Foto: Lopez © 2006 Albúm de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

PARAGUAY, Melba López. Each time that a jubilee celebrations nears in some Shrine of our Mother Queen our hearts are moved with the certainty that they will be circumstances of blessed graces for the community that celebrates it, and the hearts are filled with brotherly love in gratitude to the Father who marked these ways of attachments and ideals, to transform us and to take us to God. We are overcome with the illusion of going on pilgrimage to our home: the Shrine. It is not always possible to go and to be present, many times it is prevented by distance, but this October 18^th the Blessed Mother made it possible that as pilgrims and with the Pilgrim MTA of the Rosary Campaign for us to go on a mission from Corrientes, Argentina arriving in Asunción.

The Home Shrine of Laia and Roberto Quevedo – instruments, who were chosen to carry out the pedagogical itinerary of the Family Work from Paraguay to Corrientes and all of Argentina- gave our Pilgrim MTA lodging, that silently integrated itself to the atmosphere of strength and tenderness that irradiates from this place of home shrine graces.

Then we were invited to learn about the Foundation in Covenant, a place with high educational aims, with a very successful editorial endeavor that generously seeks to cultivate culture and to offer formation to schools, and is incessantly active and creative. We surprised them during the 25^th Anniversary celebration since the beginning of its activities were on October 18, 1981, and they made us feel like Family, we added our petitions to their gratitude in the Shrine of Work in which a harmonious atmosphere irradiated lights of life for the education of children and young Paraguayans. This is place of life, of incessant productivity and responsible professionals who go to great lengths with their effort.

All steps walk toward the "Dwelling of God"

To arrive in Tuparendá was already an announcement of a rewarding journey for the soul. Thousands and thousands of people were traveling on the very hot journey, but the sun and the inconveniences did not matter, all steps were going towards the dwelling of God", that is the meaning of Tuparendá in guarani.

Paraguayan flags and those of neighboring countries waved…the young members of the Foundation waved the flag that identified them.

As we advanced one could feel the certainty that each one was experiencing unique moments. This unique day tells us that we should pause to contemplate...to discover the hand of God around us, in the aroma of the red soil, in the grayish and whitish tonalities of the clouds that were spread in the blue sky, in the variations of green color that a flourishing nature exhibited in all its splendor. The tall palm trees splash the horizon, alternating with blooming trees full of vigor that bend towards one another. The lawn was manicured, and a legion of servers, wearing aprons that identified them, was at the disposal of the pilgrims: they kept order, they accompanied, and they gathered trash, papers, bottles…how many examples of joyful instrumentality. And afar, where the path ends, so close is the Shrine wrapped with the colors of our sister country, It looked emblematic and almost lofty. Its interior kept a calm of welcome, the mother awaited and many knees touched the floor, in a total and filial Covenant.

The thousand faces that one met on the way were pilgrims. The hearts beat with emotion because the encounters made them happy and joyful, in the holy land of Tuaprenda. So many people could be seen: the Sisters of Mary were everywhere, the Schoenstatt Fathers –sharing their walk, greetings with special affection and simplicity.

Do they perceive to be favorite children of the Father, every encounter, each handshake; each greeting is the wish to unconsciously discover the legacy of the Father in them?

The only great protagonist is Mary

Pilgrims…multitudes…Pilar and Joaquin Garcia, from Buenos Aires, Argentina, were effusive and cheerful to be present at the Silver Anniversary of the Shrine, accompanied by couples, who are friends, they traveled more than a thousand kilometers. The loudspeakers announced the greetings from faraway places. Father’s children are together, distance does not matter. Sister Maria Teresa and Sister Mariela accepted to have their pictures taken; they were smiling on this day of graces.

Marijú Pereyra, a pioneer of the Campaign in Paraguay, also joyfully shares with those who arrive. The sky began to cloud and the sun disappeared…During the Mass a shower wanted to chase away so many faithful, no one would leave, they only took refuge in a close by place, no one left.

The Blessed Mother, like a powerful magnet, tenderly and without tiring, attracted those who stayed here for hours, while the voices of the choir prepared for the moment of Communion. When the Mass ended, behind the portico of the future gigantic church, a beam of light appeared. Is the sky going to write messages?...There is much clamor, waving of handkerchiefs. The Blessed Sacrament that had been adored by thousands of voices crossed toward the place of repose, and the rain began again. There were anonymous faces, thousands of faces that pass, without a single special protagonist. The only and great protagonist is MARY. One can see more and more people on pilgrimage, who stop in front of the extra large picture of the MTA, others look candidly at the Unity Cross that is raised on the green grounds.

A surprised son in dialogue with his Mother

Parents with their children, mothers, the elderly, the ill, vehicles arrive, wheelchairs pushed by the Servers. Father Cruz Viale calls the children with paternal concern so that they will not get wet. The rain is like a caress of holy water that calms the heart of the afternoon, a breeze wafts through the tents and the places that were full of people. One solitary man, who silently and without showing off stops to be close to the front of the portico, he looks at the large picture and prays. I asked him: are you Pedro Fadul? He assented. He is a businessman, a man who is interested in the common good, a politician, a Schoenstatter…a man who was totally drenched by the rain, who wanted to go by without being noticed, and he responded with a joyful and confident face. What are you telling the MTA, I asked him? "TODAY I ask that I may live tomorrow, on other days I ask and I express gratitude for other things", he answered almost hurriedly. He is a son that was surprised while he dialogued with his Mother.

A movement that wants to serve the Church

Evening falls and the preparations for the Mass at 8:00 p.m. begin. More people, more pilgrims loaded with petitions, of confident prayers, of thanksgiving, the Rosary that is prayed incessantly can be heard in another area. The trees seemed to be adorned by pearls because of the raindrops on the leaves. Nothing is discordant; the loudspeakers remind us of the founding words and the premises that were left to be carried out at different moments. The emblematic figure of Father Antonio Cosp, who with simplicity had heard confessions under the trees, led the column of Schoenstatt Fathers. Further back, Monsignor Claudio Jiménez. Fathers from Argentina, Chile and Bolivia, Diocesan Priests, who joined a Movement that wants to serve the Church.

The joy and the clamor of Paraguay is manifested in the little girls and youth dressed in the typical costumes of their country, who escorted the MTA with elegance and sobriety waving enormous palm leaves, demonstrated their fervent closeness to the Mother of God.

The illuminated picture of the MTA in the back of the portico is a promise of excellence and growth. Her gaze embodies the goal that showers graces which will surely lead these people of faith.

The child-like giving of self of the people

The images of the songs, the offerings, the words of each homily which sadly and worriedly pointed to the profiles of the social ills remain in the minds and hearts, and they remain reflected in the gleam of so many eyes, in the attentive gaze of so many faces, with the certainty that Mary is the Mother and Queen in their hearts.

And in the stillness of the Covenant Day that ended, and on the return trip of the pilgrims, the soul cradles the echoes of a living Shrine that beats in each and every one, that marks the way and that gives witness to the filial giving of self of a people who knew how to conquer this Throne for their Mother, we ask the Blessed Mother: Implore the gifts of the Holy Spirit on all of them, so that soon they will reach the destiny of greatness and peace, of justice and solidarity, that their filial hearts deserve.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA