AMERICA/PARAGUAY - The Assumption, archbishop Valenzuela laments ‘indifference going global!’

Thursday, 17 August 2017 evangelization   poverty   economy  

http://arzobispado.org.py

Asuncion (Agenzia Fides) – Crowds of faithful took part in festivities for the annual major holiday to mark the commemoration of the Assumption into Heaven of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Indeed Holy Mary the mother of Jesus of Nazareth, known and loved here with the title Virgin dell’Asuncion, is Paraguay’s patron saint. These traditional festivities start with a nautical sailing procession carrying the image of the ‘Virgin’ from Sajonia to Puerto de Asuncion. On the arrival of the boats a chosen group of local people take over, bearing the sacred Image to the Cathedral. As always the popular procession drew large crowds including throngs of joyous and noisy children and student pupils at local Catholic institutes.
In his homily, the archbishop di Asuncion Edmundo Ponziano Valenzuela Mellid, a Salesian father, expressed deep concern for the present wickedness, indifference and unequal distribution of wealth in that country where an estimated 850.000 people abandoned to their fate battle against extreme poverty. "The situation, the archbishop says, is aggravated by spreading indifference, fast becoming globalised!".
Paraguayans suffer deeply the loss of respect for human and Christian values, seeing the destruction of the family and life, and growing abuse of drugs and alcohol.
But once again the annual event was a great success attended by all sorts of people ranging from farm workers to university students, whole parish communities and even curious national and foreign tourists who happened to be in the capital.
(CE) (Agenzia Fides, 17/08/2017)


Share: