Towards the General Chapter

Paraguay: the land of Great Waters. this detail is enough to make this territory a coveted place. the Paraguay river flows from north to south, while the parana river serves as a border to the east and south.

The two hydroelectric power stations built on the Parana constitute the greatest wealth potential: Itaipu, which last December broke the world record for electricity production with 100 million MWh and the Yacyreta power station also guring among the largest in the world. Admittedly the water resources are to be shared with Brazil and Argentina, and the debt contracted for the construction of these plants still weighs heavily, but the future is promising.

Paraguay therefore presents itself to visitors as a beautiful country with great potential. For some, it’s a kind of Switzerland of the Americas. With nearly 7 million inhabitants and a territory of just over 400,000 km2, it is the fourth largest exporter of soya beans worldwide and the sixth largest of beef; a fertile land which o ers the possibility of three crops per year and which does not su er earthquakes or major climatic disturbances. It is one of the countries with the highest growth rate (more than 14.5% in 2010). According to a survey published some time ago, this is the country where people say they are happiest. Young people are numerous: a quarter of the population is between 15 and 29 years old.

Another interesting aspect is bilingualism: Guarani and Spanish are the two o cial languages. 90% of the population speaks Guarani, but most people also speak Spanish. In everyday conversations, they prefer their mother tongue and particularly when they want to express deep feelings. In short, the appearance is Spanish, but the heart is Guarani, which is clearly seen in traditional dances.

There are some very large fortunes, 38% of the population make up the middle class, while 20% live in poverty and do not have access to essential goods: the unfair distribution of wealth, rampant corruption and an administration with inadequate resources are certainly negative factors and cause widespread discontent. It is rare, however, for a Paraguayan to complain about his situation. He is able to say that he is well, even when he feels oppressed; he lives dreaming of better times and places, of the famous land “without misfortune,” so rooted in the Guarani heart.

In recent decades, there has been a high level of immigration, particularly from the East and the Arab countries, attracted by the commercial growth linked to the Itaipu plant. Signi cant communities of Europeans have also made it possible to repopulate Paraguay, after the genocide of the war of the Triple Alliance. In 1870, after the massacre, there were only 116,350 inhabitants, only 10 per cent of whom were men, youths and adults. This explains the compelling need for repopulation and the large number of single mothers and children not recognized by their fathers. However, these disturbing aspects do not blot out the human qualities of the Paraguayan people: kindness, solidarity, hospitality, artistic and musical talents. Anyone who has known Paraguay will always feel nostalgic about it.

As the plane descends, you see large new buildings, symbols of the remarkable economic growth of the last years. There is, it is said, a lot of money in the banks, interest is high and the macroeconomy is doing well. The same cannot be said for the microeconomy.

Politically, there is a lack of training in citizenship. President Stroessner’s 35 years of military dictatorship had a negative impact on the participation of the majority: it was forbidden to speak openly and express opinions, and of course people were not able to vote. Today, democratically elected governments succeed each other, but the mechanisms of control by both the citizens and the institutions themselves are insu cient: this encourages corruption, in which Paraguay is at the forefront of the world. Public health and education services are those of an underdeveloped country.

There is and will be no land “without misfortune”: the challenge is to train citizens to be more aware, less selfish and more committed to the service of the country. It is the mission that Pope Leo XIII entrusted to the rst Betharramites when they arrived in Paraguay in 1904. Through education in our 5 beautiful colleges, through parish ministry and social services to the weakest people, our mission continues to be current and attractive.

Paraguay is waiting for us: without super cial prejudices or judgments, simply with our desire to know, to listen, to value, to learn, to forgive. It is certainly a blessed people, open and sensitive to everything that comes from Ñandejara [God] and from the Virgin Mary, as the waters of Ypacarai Lake are blessed, on whose shores the General Chapter will be held. Blessed waters is the etymological meaning of the name Ypacarai, for Brother Bolaños blessed them in his time to remove evil spirits.

Tobia Sosio scj