During all these years I have seen the interior transformation in my family

21^st Anniversary of the Pilgrim MTA in Ñemby, Paraguay

Entrada con Santuario, Padre Kentenich y Joao Pozzobon Entrance with Shrine, Father Kentenich, and John Pozzobon Einzug mit Heiligtum, Pater Kentenich und Joao Pozzobon
Misioneros de Ñemby Missionaries of Ñemby Missionare von Ñemby Fotos: REvista Tuparenda/Estela Franco © 2008

PARAGUAY, Marco & Nancy Caparro. The 21st Anniversary of the presence of the Pilgrim MTA in the city of Nemby, Paraguay, was commemorated with a beautiful celebration.

The whole community and all of us who had the grace to attend the celebration experienced an extraordinary moment, when the Schoenstatt charism, the spirit of Father Kentenich and of John Pozzobon were united.

Our hearts were filled with emotion when the picture of the MTA, beautifully decorated with flowers and carried by her children, entered the Parish of San Lorenzo in the city of Nemby. She was accompanied as always by the pictures of two of her favorite sons, the Father and Founder and John Pozzobon, as well as the picture from her Shrine reminding us that from there we always leave renewed and under her protection to fulfill the mission of conquering new homes and hearts for the kingdom of God.

The pastor, Tadeo Brzusek, who presided at the Eucharistic celebration, stressed the importance of the Blessed Mother’s mission of evangelization that would be impossible without her instruments: The missionaries, who through their example of humility, perseverance among so many obstacles, and with a profound loyalty to Mary and Jesus, make Nothing without You, Nothing without Us possible.

A symbol of the loyalty in commitment

A precious stone in the shape of a heart and sky blue in color was placed on the Blessed Mother’s picture representing these twenty-one years of loyalty in the commitment to service to the kingdom of God.

Eyes filled with tears to see so many children of Mary, who through their labor make the Great Missionary present in this city, so that She will work miracles.

I overcame timidity through the Blessed Mother

Andresa Maidana de Perez, a missionary for more than ten years says: "I moved from Asunción to Nemby and one day the Pilgrim MTA visited my home. I asked my neighbor, Herminia, how does this work? And she told me: ‘take the Pilgrim MTA to your neighbor’s home, and then to another,’ and that is what I did."

"Herminia later told me that she would leave the Pilgrim MTA in my care, and we presented a talk to fifteen families who the Blessed Mother would visit. She invited me to Tuparenda, and I sealed my Covenant of Love with Mary."

"Thanks to the Blessed Mother, I am in the Movement. My husband did not accompany me very much, but one day we participated in the offertory, and since then he has actively participated in the Church. He is a missionary, and he sealed his Covenant of Love with Mary. I have spoken a lot with Her and over all these years I have seen an interior transformation in my family, especially in my husband; he was always a good husband, but he has come much closer to the church, little by little She transformed us. I was very timid about praying the Rosary, my children would tell me to pray and I couldn’t, through the Blessed Mother I overcame this timidity and now I can pray the Holy Rosary anywhere."

I understood his mission.

Olga Cáceres, a missionary for 13 years, relates: "I presently visit the sick, I take the Pilgrim MTA, I pray for them and if possible a priest accompanies me, and in this way they can receive communion."

"Thanks to the Blessed Mother I was able to travel four times to Santa Maria, Brazil. On the first trip, I did not experience anything; it was as if I did not understand anything. Then before leaving, I went to the Shrine and I asked John Pozzobon to allow me to return to this holy place. The great satisfaction was to know and to understand the origin of the Rosary Campaign and to follow in the footsteps of John Pozzobon. I feel very united to this Campaign because I understood his mission.

I have received many blessings from the Blessed Mother, I am grateful for so many things!

Father here we are: your mission, the Rosary Campaign, our mission.

A note

Thanks to missionaries like Olga, Andresa, and so many others:

Every Thursday The Nation, a newspaper in Paraguay, publishes a collection of the Lives of most popular Saints and Places of Pilgrimage of Our Lady in Paraguay. On Wednesday, December 17^th, the Blessed Mother of Schoenstatt was to be published in a magazine article with twenty-two pages in color.

Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, USA/amj