published: 2008-04-01 |
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May the Father and Father lead us to the heart of GodStart –up Journey of the Family Work in Paraguay |
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PARAGUAY, Alfredo and Pilar Pereira. On Sunday, March 9th at 8:30 a.m. the Apostolic Family League met in Tuparenda, a holy place where the National Shrine is located, to carry out its traditional Start-up Journey, with the participation of the couples who belong to the different levels and groups of the Family Branch (Collaborators at the Covenant Level, Home Shrine, Self-education and Vocational Discernment) and the collaborating couples and the Circles of the Members’ League. The main venue and adjacent places to the Holy Mary of the Trinity Church, which is presently under construction, was specially prepared to welcome more than 650 people who came and gave color, warmth and joy to this encounter of integration and reflection. "The Start-up Journey" on Sunday was truly wonderful", commented Father Antonio Cosp, Director of the Movement and Adviser of the Family Work. "The groups set the goals for the year, all of them in relation to the stream of life, Father Kentenich’s stream which has been overwhelming in the branches as well as with the pilgrims; responding to the motto outlined in the journey of planning: " Father, here I am, you mission is my mission". The objective of the year has been accomplished in a surprising way, anchored on Father. The life of a movement depends on the attachment to its founder, to the source of his charisma. A noticeable expression this has been the massive and profound conquering of the prayer book, Heavenwards, which he wrote in Dachau. Sister Petra’s visit was an indelible seal on this current of life at the end of the year". Many couples from Asuncion, San Lorenzo, Caacupe, Luque, Villarrica…The lay team of the Family Work was in charge of preparing the Journey; and they carried out a stupendous work, with much love and commitment; they truly did not forget the least detail of infrastructure, in Asuncion as well as in other areas such as: San Lorezo, Caacupe, Luque, Villarica and other neighboring cities. After the opening ceremony, the leaders of the league, Alfredo and Pilar Perira gave the welcome and they presented a brief explanation of the stream of life to be experienced this year: During the Planning Journey of 2006, the Schoenstatt Family chose the following objective to work on during the years of 2007 and 2008: "To form personalities anchored on God and in the spirit of the Father and Founder, to forge Families at the service of the Church and the Nation", with the motto: "Father here I am. Your mission is my mission!" Last year they placed the Father and Founder in the center, creating a stream of life and they had a profound experience as a family. This year they want to continue to reflect on their objective, they want to deepen the stream of life they have experienced, and the goal which they want to accomplish is that "The Father and Founder will lead us to the Heart of God, and that we will be able to experience a profound relationship". God’s paternityThen, during the main part of this ceremony, the couple, Fatima and José Cáceres gave a splendid introductory and motivational talk of 50 minutes. The talk was full of rich testimonies of life and key concepts to understand the relationship with the Father and Founder and our attachment with God the Father, such as: To give an incentive for a father-child relationship – A filial Covenant –Solidarity of destinies, Saint Joseph – a true man and father – To know God: prayer, desert, interior silence – To be a reflection of Father – Human paternity, a bridge towards Him – the Paternity of God – Jesus’ loyalty and ours – Essence of loyalty: belief in the Father – to live loyalty. Then 24 different groups integrated by two groups of collaborators at the level of (Covenant, Home Shrine, Self-education, Discernment) and a League Circle; there was a total of 25 people per group. Each group chose a moderator who was given the documents with instructions to carry out the group work and the desired objective; that is: To come to a consensus as a group of the purpose or aim that will allow them to experience the stream of life that has been proposed for this year. Everything was designed in such a way to make the greatest amount of participation by each couple possible; so that everyone was not only a member of the group; rather, they were participants and they were contributors to this stream of life. The documentation that was given was composed by the presentation of objectives and a motivational prayer: "Beloved Father Joseph, There were also some paragraphs for reflection and sharing: To be filial is also something that is central to Schoenstatt spirituality. It is like a great gift that God gave us since the beginning, through our Founder.
Collaborators and protagonist at a key moment in the life of the FamilyFinally, each participating couple chose a phrase; then they commented and responded to the following question: What practical and concrete suggestions (proposals) can we contribute to our daily life, and continue to live the objective and the stream of life that has been proposed for this year? Each group formed a response in consensus and they presented it. Once the different proposals were turned in a selected jury established the proposals for this year based on the different responses they received: To pray the Our Father as a couple and as a family daily and to conclude by asking for Father Kentenich’s blessing. They will choose a book about Father Kentenich and read it during the year. To heartily seal the Filial Covenant with our Father. As a highlight of such a warm encounter, we concluded the journey with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist that was presided by Father Antonio Cosp, Director of the Movement and Permanent Adviser of the Apostolic League of Families. After Mass they devoutly and confidently went on pilgrimage to the Shrine where they consecrated themselves to the beloved Thrice Admirable Mother and Queen of Schoenstatt. Upon returning to their homes the joy and satisfaction could be perceived in the participants for having collaborating and to feeling like protagonists of a key moment in the life of the Family and in defining the proposals that will allow them to live this year as "From Father to the Father". Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA |
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