Cheaper by the Dozen

Visit of the Schoenstatt Fathers’ Iberian-American Novitiate to Ciudad del Este

Encuentro con la familia de Schoenstatt Get-together with the Schoenstatt Family Treffen mit der Schönstattfamilie
Cantando… Singing... Ein prächtiger Chor
Procesión al Santuario Procession to the Shrine Prozession zum Heiligtum
Santa Misa Holy Mass Heilige Messe
Son 25... They are 25... Es sind 25….
Los Cabral con dos novicios The Cabral family with two of the novices Familie Cabral mit zwei Novizen Fotos: Javier Cabral © 2008 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

PARAGUAY, Javier Cabral, We often read about the great crisis of priestly vocations in the newspapers…but evidently neither the Blessed Mother nor the Boys’ Youth read these papers, since the other day, 25 novices of the Schoenstatt Fathers’ Iberian American Novitiate visited Ciudad del Este for a few days. And…25 are many…if that is a crisis…so be it.

During their first day of the visit they went to Hydroelectric Plant of ITAIPU, located on the border with Paraguay and Brazil; then they traveled through businesses in the city and during the afternoon they went to Saltos del Monday.

After Holy Mass the local Schoenstatt Family had an encounter with them that was very pleasant accompanied by songs and much joy.

The program included the Cantatas of Yguazú and then they returned to the Novitiate of Tuaprenda ; on December 8th there was a pilgrimage by foot to Caacupé where they celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Several news items

This year the news was to meet Benjamin, a North American novice, who is now Father Mark, after 12 years when he was here as a novice. They commented that Benjamin spoke Spanish very well, but at the Novitiate it seems that the Spanish was stagnant with the accents and modalities of so many countries. He still speaks English which we noticed when he sang some Pink Floyd music.

Other news is the presence of three Spaniards, who have broken the barrier of two, which was the greatest number in the course until now. Of course it is still doubtful if they have truly broken the barrier, because one of them is Catalan. The Spanish were two centimeters broader after the victory of the Davis Cup in tennis.

Accents and more accents, except in language, at the end of the celebration we noticed that they were tired from the activities of the day, but they were happy to share a family day. A group of unknown people opened the doors of their homes to welcome some unknown people for a few days. And they are the miracles of the Family spirit, a sign of the presence of the Blessed Mother, who is present and who gives us this spirit which so necessary in such an impersonal world that we experience at the present time.

Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, USA