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The Family Mission Itakyry 2007
Nachrichten - News - Noticias
 published: 2007-06-22

We must also be wherever the Blessed Mother goes

The Family Mission Itakyry 2007

 

Misiones familiares en Kapi-í, Itakyry: Santa Misa

Family missions in Kapi-í, Itakyry: Holy Mass

Familienmission in Kapi-í, Itakyry: Heilige Messe

 

Gente del lufar frente de la capilla con la imagen de la MTA en el interior

People from Itakyry in front of the chapel with the MTA picture inside

Leute aus Itakyry vor der Kapelle mit dem MTA-Bild

 

La vida en Itakyry

Life in Itakyry

Leben in Itakyry

 

Merienda para los chicos

Coffee break for the little ones

Imbiss für die Kinder

 

P. Walter, parroco del lugar

Fr. Walter, parish priest

Pfr. Walter, der Ortsgeistliche

 

La Hna. Edna con gente del lugar

Sister Edna with people from Itykyry

Schwester Edna mit Leuten aus Itakyry

Fotos: Lena Ortiz © 2007

 

 

 

PARAGUAY, Sonia de Macchi/ Alci and Alfredo Schulz. ""If I said that we went to take the Blessed Mother to Kapi-I, I would not be telling the truth because She was the one who took us there. She has been established in Her little wooden blue chapel for a long time and Her children know Her and love her as the Pilgrim MTA," says Sonia de Macchi, after returning from the "Family Mission Itakyry 2007". The mission came about through the repeated invitation of Father Walter Rojas to have the Schoenstatters from Ciudad del Este visit the little chapel in a community called Kap-i. The Pilgrim MTA is the patroness of that place. It was a great surprise when they found the picture of the Blessed Mother in a wooden chapel that seemed to be the "twin" of the John Pozzobon’s Blue Chapel in Santa Maria.

This was told to Father Antonio Cosp who said he would speak with Sister Edna. The group communicated with Sister and told her that they had encountered the Blessed Mother asking for a visit from Her children. Sister visited the place with a group of families and upon seeing the living conditions of the people said that we had to do something without fail since these people were so economically and spiritually needy. That is how the Family Mission Itakyry 2007 began.

It was the Blessed Mother who invited us to Itakyry

The Family Mission to Itakyry was formed by a group of couples that was joined by many more people including both the Boys’ and Girls’ Schoenstatt Youth Groups who also participated in different ways. They collaborated by contributing ideas, time, effort, donations, and prayers. Thanks to be to God that in spite of the normal daily difficulties, the trip was made taking along the petitions and the work of everyone. "It was the Blessed Mother who invited us to share our time with Her children who live in conditions that are so different, and to share with families who live in the midst of such natural beauty which is the only thing they possess since they are lacking so many other things," And at many meetings much time was spent preparing the response to the Blessed Mother’s invitation so that our visit would be the best possible," said Sonia de Macchi.

Finally the day arrived. A caravan of "missionaries" composed of seven couples with their children and twenty or more youth accompanied by Sister Edna in vehicles filled with supplies and generous hearts arrived on Friday afternoon at the patio of the "little school" in front of the chapel where they camped.

Saturday morning, four groups of missionaries went to different points in the town to visit families house by house, conversing awhile with the people, taking an interest in their lives, inviting them to the activities planned during their stay, and leaving a small picture of the Blessed Mother as a souvenir of their visit.

At five in the afternoon, the rosary was prayed in front of the chapel. The candles they had prepared were lighted as each Hail Mary was prayed, the sun began to set and when the first stars began to appear, more and more people continued to arrive. The stage for the artistic part of the program was prepared by using the automobiles’ headlights, while a delicious meal was being prepared for dinner. Our Boys’ and Girls’ Youth entertained those in attendance to the rhythm of a polka. Then, there was a brief presentation that made the children and adults laugh. Some of those who came joined in the presentation by telling jokes until dinner was served. More than 250 plates of food were distributed along with a small glass of juice.

May the Blessed Mother always accompany them

After the people from town left, our youth continued to sing until very late around the bonfire beneath the beautiful starry sky. The "adults", who were overcome with weariness, tried to sleep in the improvised tents.

Very early on Sunday, we found Sister Edna meditating on a small bench in front of the chapel. We think she did not get any sleep.

Our day began with prayers and hot "mate" (herbal tea). The children who had been invited for breakfast were already arriving. More than fifteen liters of chocolate and many cookies were distributed. The Youth groups organized games to entertain the children while we waited for the time for Holy Mass.

Then Father Walter the pastor of Itakyry arrived at noon. Holy Mass was celebrated outdoors with the Cross and picture of the Blessed Mother that was originally placed on the trees. This was where we experienced the Solemnity of the Feast of Corpus Christi. The Gospel stressed: "You give them something to eat." And we identified very much with this. We offered our fish and bread, and Jesus provided all the rest. We gave our time, our comfort, our city, overcoming the Guarani language barrier with smiles and some handshakes, and the multitude gathered around Jesus to listen to His message. We distributed what we had, and there were still twelve baskets of feelings and teachings left over. After the Holy Mass, the children were all given medals of the Blessed Mother and about fifty families received a small picture of the Blessed Mother for their homes to remind them that they are not alone, the Pilgrim MTA, our Mother Thrice Admirable Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt accompanies them at all times.

The camp was dismantled, the missionaries returned to the city with their hearts full of feelings that were very different from those with which they departed.

The faces and the hands of those who bid us farewell were nailed deeply in our hearts and there was restlessness: "I am needed here. Yes, we should return to this place."

Beyond my fears…be a missionary here and now

Sometimes we think that the missionary is someone who goes to lands far away to proclaim the Gospel, Alci and Alfredo Schulz reflected. Undoubtedly, this is a common misconception. To go out as missionaries is everyone’s task, we can all be missionaries, since it is our responsibility daily as Christians to make God known everywhere that we go. Our task, then, is to be missionaries for Christ by making Him known. It is not necessary to travel to other places to do it; we can begin in the closest area. We have probably all wanted to do it, and possibly almost all of us have felt fear, a different kind of fear: to walk alone, to do something new and unknown, wondering what others would say. When it is all said and done it is still fear. However, it seems to be the only way to overcome the inertia of the hours, the days of the months, and of the years. Recreating the world and life and changing what is with what we want it to be. It is as simple as taking a step and as grandiose as a revolution: one step, one struggle, one step, one victory, and one step, one new perspective. One step all together in the hope of living in a world that is more our own, in which we are transformed into the new man like our Father and Founder wanted. God and the Blessed Mother were the First Missionaries of this group taking care of all the details. Their Providence accompanied us at all times.

We should accept ourselves; welcome our existence as a seed loaded with wonderful promises. The Father, fountain of all paternity, makes us brothers, and he entrusts us to one another, binding the personal stories into the weaving of a common story, without discrimination towards anyone. Hopefully we were able to sow a little seed in each house that we entered. We were the instruments; the Blessed Mother took care of the rest. Thanks my God, for allowing us to have this experience.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA/amj

 

 

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