150 were expected and 300 arrived

Start-up Conference for the Rosary Campaign in Tuparenda, Paraguay

Peregrinas adornadas Beautifully decorated Pilgrim MTAs Geschmückte Bilder der Pilgernden Gottesmutter
La MTA es la gran protagonista del encuentro It is clear: the MTA is the most important person in this meeting Klar: die Hauptrolle spielt hier die MTA Fotos: Estela Franco © 2008

PARAGUAY, Father Antonio Cosp/mkf. The Annual Meeting 2008 was a day of renewal for the Rosary Campaign. In past years, fifty people were usually present at the Start-up Conference; this year they expected 150 people and 300 arrived, from near and far.

The presence of two Auxiliary MTAs along with a great number of Pilgrim MTAs crowned with rosaries and decorated with flowers made it a missionary atmosphere. There were so many stories about encounters with miracles, of faith, of self -giving, and confidence that each missionary could tell! The Pilgrim MTAs are witnesses and protagonists of this stream of life and of the graces that surged in 1950 at Santa Maria, Brazil. It was then when the MTA decided to go out from the Shrine to encounter those who needed Her the most in this new Visitation initiative, which has become the Rosary Campaign.

"It’s not easy to keep the Rosary Campaign young," commented Father Antonio Cosp. "Argentina and Brazil are perhaps the ones that have best accomplished this. But we now took a leap." At this 2008 Start-up Conference there were more new and younger missionaries than ever.

Another observation concerns "the Father" stream of life that seems to be the great gift of the MTA to the Movement in Paraguay after the Silver Anniversary of the National Shrine: "It is a pleasure to see the missionaries visiting the Father Corner that is in the Pilgrims’ Hall," said Fr. Antonio, "the only place where 400 people can be seated under one roof."

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