Posted On 2017-09-23 In Covenant Life

Vocations and life currents – preparing a Shrine

BRAZIL, Melissa Rossatti •

August is the month dedicated to vocations in the Church.

For the Caierias Schoenstatt Family, the Shrine’s final phase of construction activities during the past month accompanied the reflections in the liturgy day to day about every vocation. From the first week, there was still much to do and the days were intense.

The bell tower was finished at the beginning of the month, one by one the shingles were already cut and placed and in truly handcrafted work. On Tuesday on the grounds, an enormous crane soaring higher than the building placed the bell, calling us to celebrate Christ’s passion. During the week dedicated to priestly vocations, the bell tower’s presence at the highest part of the shrine reminded the Caieiras Family of the call to prayer, gratitude, and Christ’s celebration that reigns over the world.

The stained-glass windows of the shrine

During the second week, the Caieiras Family were delighted by the four stained glass windows’ installment incorporating the Movement’s original roots including something of the Caieiras Family’s life current’s originality and fruits. The Shrine’s stained-glass windows frame, foster, and proclaim its history through the images by recalling its past and showing their present as we see them in the beauty of the marriage vocation that cradles and shelters so many life stories, which were celebrated on the second Sunday of August.

The tabernacle, Christ’s dwelling

On the Feast of the Assumption, the third Sunday of the month, the vocation of consecrated life, a radical giving self to Christ was commemorated. That week, the shrine received the Tabernacle – Christ’s dwelling along with the arranging of the furniture, closets, altar, partitions – the dwelling was ready on the inside.

 

Preparing the grounds or serving in the Church– a community effort

The last week of August, there was an enormous celebration within the family in beginning working together on the outside areas of the Shrine as the Church reflected on the vocation of catechists and laity, their presence in the Church and in the world. Dozens of people came to the grounds of the Shrine throughout the weekend to work on cleaning up, arranging and painting concrete slabs, and landscaping around the Stations of the Cross… Couples, young people, and children went through the space reserved for the Shrine. The community work continued every weekend and holiday preceding the day of the blessing: the result? – A beautiful home on the outside.

Whoever passed by on those days, could see there was a life current of prayer, ministry, and a real testimony of Christian vocation.

 

Original: Portuguese, 13 September 2017. Translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX USA. Edited: Melissa Peña-Janknegt, Elgin, TX USA

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