BELMONTE, by Maria Fischer •
During Holy Week, there were several Schoenstatt pilgrims at Rome from: Costa Rica, Chile, and Paraguay. Those who saw the transmission of the Holy Mass on Palm Sunday at St. Peter’s Square perhaps saw a Pilgrim Mother raised on high during Pope Francis’ tour.
“It is the Pilgrim Mother for expectant mothers and those desiring pregnancy,” commented José Argüello, who belongs to the Rosary Campaign’s Youth Ministry in Paraguay.
Many of the Schoenstatters, who were in Rome, also went on pilgrimage to the Belmonte Shrine, where everyone is most welcome. “The grounds and the Shrine are open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.,” Fr. Daniel Lozano communicated. The directions to the shrine are on the Belmonte website.
All the liturgies from Holy Thursday to Easter were celebrated together with Santa Gemma Parish, the same as in the past several years. And so it was on Palm Sunday when the faithful gathered at 9:40 a.m. in front of the Shrine for the blessing of the palms. The door of the Shrine was surrounded with an arch made of palm branches.
“I do not how many of us there actually were,” Fr. Daniel Lozano said. “But the line was at least 200 meters long.”
Photos: P. Daniel Lozano, Santa Gemma parish
Original: Spanish. Translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX USA. Edited: Melissa Peña-Janknegt, Elgin, TX USA