MISJA BRACI MNIEJSZYCH KONWENTUALNYCH W PARAGWAJU 1986-2013
The Missions of the Friars Minor Conventual in Paraguay from 1986-2013

Summary/Abstract: The main initiator of Franciscan missions in Paraguay was Father Ru n Orecki from Franciscan Province of St. Anthony and Blessed Jakub Strzemię, seated in Kraków. In February 1986 he came from Bolivia to Asunción in Paraguay, and there with the help of new faithful he founded the rst house. During the rst years, Father Ore- cki performed many duties that allowed him to get to know and understand this new environment. The of cial start of mission took place in 1992 following the relevant decision by the Provincial Chapter that has deliberated in Chęciny and then, the young institution got a support of new Polish missionaries.Franciscans arriving to Paraguay had a very good model, worked out by their con- ventual predecessors, which are former mission communities, as well as the model of evangelization created by St. Maximilian Kolbe. Referring to the kolbean idea of apostolate through mass media, father Orecki established the „Tupasy Ne’e” magazine as a counterpart of „Rycerz Niepokalanej” („Night of The Immaculate”) for the Paraguay- an ground, which became the most important catholic periodical in Paraguay. By 1992 Franciscans had started broadcasting the new religious radio program, at rst with the help of different stations. The efforts put into opening of their own countrywide station resulted in only partial success, which didn’t come easily. The major obstacle was the poverty of most of the society, anticlericalism of ruling elites and insuf cient nancial resources of Franciscans.Further development of the mission consisted of taking a parish in Guarambaré and establishment of the Divine Mercy Apostolate Centre in Areguá. Despite of the dif culties, Franciscan institution grows all the time and currently nine Poles and one ordained Paraguayan are working there. Their work has been appreciated not only by poor and lower social classes, but also by academics. Father Ru n Orecki was awarded the Thomas More medal for a great contribution to the life of the Church in Paraguay and it’s promotion around the world. These successes of polish mission allow us to hope for more complete rebirth of the Paraguayan Church in the future.

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