A Statement of Love for the Blessed Mother

October 18^th in Tuparenda – a miracle

Desde temprano, se hace cola para entrar al Santuario From early in the morning, people stand in line to enter the Shrine Von frühmorgens an stehen die Menschen Schlange, um ins Heiligtum zu kommen
Una declaración de amor por parte del pueblo de Dios God’s people united in a declaration of love  to the Pilgrim MTA Eine Liebeserklärung der Missionare aus dem Volk an die Pilgernde Gottesmutter
Nunca nos acostumbramos a ver los ojos humedecidos de nuestros hermanos peregrinos viendo pasar la peregrina grande... Let us never get accustomed to see our brothers close to tears when they see the Pilgrim MTA pass by … Lassen wir uns nie gewöhnen an die Tränen in den Augen unserer Brüder und Schwestern, wenn sie die große Pilgermutter vorbeiziehen sehen…
Entrada de la gran Peregrina en la Misa de la noche Entrance procession with the big Pilgrim MTA at the evening Mass Einzug der großen Pilgermutter in der Messe am Abend
Vivencia: el Padre Kentenich, un padre para todos Experiencing more in symbols than in teachings: Father Kentenich, a father for all Mehr in Symbolen als in Belehrung erfahren: Pater Kentenich, ein Vater für alle Fotos: Joaquín Pardo © 2007
Con María a la Santisima Trinidad: pórtico de la futura iglesia María de la Trinidad With Mary to the Triune God: portal of the future Church Mary of the Most Holy Trinity Mit Maria zum Dreifaltigen Gott: Portal der zukünftigen Kirche Maria von der heiligen Dreifaltigkeit Foto: Zucchini © 2007 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

PARAGUAY, Fr. Antonio Cosp/mkf. "We never get accustomed to seeing the tear-filled eyes of our brother and sister pilgrims as the great Pilgrim Mother passes by either leaving the Shrine or returning to the Shrine for the renewal of the Covenant of Love," says Fr. Antonio Cosp. He is referring to a touching moment experienced on October 18^th in Tuparenda. As it happens every year, the Shrine in Tuparenda received hundreds of pilgrims who honor the Virgin of Schoenstatt. October 18^th is her feast day. It is the feast day of the Virgin of Schoenstatt and it is announced in newspapers, on the radio and on TV.

Four Masses at 9:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM; blessing of water and religious objects; Praying of the Holy Rosary four times throughout the day; formation of new coordinators for the Rosary Campaign by Fr. Antonio; sealing of the Covenant of Love for pilgrims at three different times throughout the day; four different times for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; blessing of car-Shrines; serenade for the Blessed Mother by the Children’s Symphonic Orchestra from Itaguá; confessions; and endless lines of people in front of the Shrine: this is the program on October 18th in Tuparenda. The miracle of Tuparenda is in the decorated Pilgrim MTA’s in the arms of the pilgrims. It is in the Shrine, and it is reflected in the eyes of the pilgrims.

Her presence is closer than ever

Last year on October 18^th, celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the Tuparenda Shrine – the great number of pilgrims surpassed all expectations in spite of the rainy weather. How was the subsequent October 18^th? "Yesterday’s surprised us all…..,"narrates Father Antonio in an interview with Schoenstatt.de on the 19^th of October. "We cannot get accustomed to this repeated miracle: the 18^th of October in Tuparenda. A thousand things break the routine. For example, so far we have not been able to solve the problem of where to place the candles…..and yesterday, the pilgrims found their place, under the gigantic Unity Cross." On October 18^th, it seems that the 7,000 Pilgrim MTA’s which travel throughout Paraguay are in Tuparenda, dressed in festive attire and adorned with floral arrangements of many colors. The great number of pilgrims is largely due to the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign which reaches the people, says Father Antonio. "She leaves from the Shrine and returns with great simplicity by means of the 7,000 images of the Virgin of Schoenstatt. These images can be found in the remotest corners of the country." Along with the beautiful floral arrangements adorning the Pilgrim MTA’s, there are flowers, banners, ribbons, and lights which convert the whole area of Tuparenda into a statement of love for the Blessed Mother – and her children come to visit her on this day. "For the pilgrim who arrives here every October 18^th, it is always a surprise to be welcomed, sheltered, taken care of, listened to, confessed, rewarded and sent home with the cordiality and great care a la Schoenstatt, made in Paraguay. But what we never get accustomed to is seeing the tear-filled eyes of our brother and sister pilgrims as they see the great Pilgrim Blessed Mother passing by either leaving the Shrine or returning to the Shrine for the renewal of the Covenant of Love. As priests, we cannot get accustomed to perceiving the conversions which the Blessed Mother works in them as we hear their confessions," says Father Antonio. It is impossible to get accustomed: "Impressive was the central picture at the entrance of the future Saint Mary of the Trinity Church (under construction) where Holy Mass was celebrated. It made you cry," says Julio Zucchini from the Tuparenda choir. "My feet and knees still tremble remembering that grand moment. Blessed Mother was there. She established Herself anew in that place of grace. We have felt her presence greater than ever before. The emotion still has an impact on me."

Father was the main character

This year’s motto for the Schoenstatt Family of Paraguay is: "Father, here I am, your mission my mission." It is noticeable that the motto is on fire in everyone, with Father Kentenich, with the desire to make known this treasure and to give it to the countless pilgrims who do not know our Founder as a true Father, as a true friend…..warm, disposed, with a great heart which is concerned with all the details. "Father was the main character," says Father Antonio. I think we made a first step to popularize the third contact point. Father Joseph Kentenich, a Father to Many was the motto which of itself did not develop so much while being mentioned, but developed a great deal in the thousand symbols which will grow."

The Pilgrim MTA on the morning TV news

Since October 14^th, in preparation for the 18^th, the National Daily Newspaper ABC published a daily article on the history and spirituality of Schoenstatt. ULTIMA HORA (last hour) also published various articles. "When I went to work on October 18^th, narrates Javier Cabral from Ciudad del Este, "I saw on the morning TV news that the presenters had a Pilgrim MTA on their table." Many have seen the Pilgrim MTA on this program!

"The fact that we had so many people as in the jubilee year – more than 40,000 persons – is partly due to the good weather, excellent!, narrates Father Antonio, "but also due to the good work of the motivational team/news media. A radio reporter with a large audience, called somewhat upset because he had not been told about the event and he dedicated 10 minutes which is the maximum allowed for a news item."

With the question: what was your most interesting experience with the newspaper?, Father Antonio does not have to think to much: "The TV announcer who interviewed me on October 16^th, a good Catholic – who never attended an October 18^th celebration – asked me in a good way if Schoenstatt in Paraguay might not be elitist….. When he came yesterday, he was astonished to see an elite of the people working shoulder to shoulder with an academic elite….."

Schoenstatt in Paraguay

About five thousand people are active in the Movement. More than half are families. The Schoenstatt Movement in Paraguay was founded on May 31^st of 1959, the year in which there was a small beginning and a re-foundation took place in 1972 with the arrival of three priests – Fr. Antonio Cosp, Fr. Nicolás Schwizer, and Fr. Claudio Giménez now bishop of Caacupé – who arrived with the objective to take up this dream anew. From that moment, the Movement began to grow and today, thanks to the Rosary Campaign, it reaches an innumerable number of homes in the remotest corners of Paraguay. As an organized Movement, it is also present in Asunción, San Lorenzo, Luque, Caacupé, Capiatá, Itauguá, Villarrica, Concepción, Ciudad del Este and Encarnación.

With quotes from the Diario ABC and Ultima Hora (newspapers).

Translation: Carlos Cantú Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA 102507