To the sound of songs, applause and waving pink and blue handkerchiefs; Yesterday, the image of the Virgin Mary Help of Christians led the vehicular procession through the streets of the Dr. Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia neighborhood, heading for the Arsenal de la Armada, to embark and cross the waters of the Paraguay River, a tradition with which the Marian festivity closes. .
After two years interrupted by the pandemic, the Salesian community resumed this traditional route despite the unstable weather.
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The streets were once again decorated with balloons and pennants. The neighbors took out the holy images on their sidewalks and thus greeted the Virgin, thanking her for the gifts received and her blessing.
The pilgrimage consisted of two vehicular routes with María Auxiliadora. The first started shortly after 2:00 p.m. The float carrying the image of the Virgin left the Sanctuary Parish, located on Don Bosco and Humaitá, to go to the Navy, in Saxony, from where it embarked for the nautical procession.
The image of the Virgin Help of Christians arrived at the port of Asunción aboard a Paraguayan Navy ship. A large number of people with flags and balloons in hand, impatiently looked towards the horizon and celebrated with applause and to the sound of the band.
From the port, the float continued in procession to the Sanctuary to end the day with a mass.
Meaning. The nautical procession of the image of María Auxiliadora brings together the devotees of the Virgin and the Salesian family and is a tradition that has two interpretations. The parish priest of the sanctuary, Father Héctor Fariña, commented that there is a story that says that this journey through the waters of Paraguay seeks to be the memory of the landing of the first Salesians on July 23, 1896. ”The truth is that this makes a lot of sense, that tradition, but we must also add another thing, which is the vision”.
Fariña recounted that the parish of Mary Help of Christians next year will celebrate 90 years of creation by decree, signed by Mons. Sinforiano Bogarín, where it is described that the jurisdiction was larger, occupying the entire coastal area, from the Port of Asunción to at least the Sports club of the Port of Sajonia.
“Then it is good to think that this tradition, for the population, the parishioners and riverside residents, is for them to keep in mind that the image of the Help of Christians travels through the most vulnerable sector of the city.”
At the end of the mass, last night the traditional kermesse was due, but it was suspended taking into account the weather forecast, which was not very encouraging and the children must be protected, according to the parish priest.
Today the Marian festival culminates with a torchlight procession and a mass in the Sanctuary. The religious ceremony will take place at 16:00.
Fariña recalled that this year with the motto Mary, Mother and Teacher of the Synodal Church The festivity was intended to be a sounding board for this synodal process, a path of community discernment that Pope Francis is promoting by summoning the entire church, all the baptized.
Saint John Bosco in his relationship with Mary lived it as a teacher in his mission of educating the young.
Hector Farina,
parish priest.
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