mkf. At five years (or 59 18ths) until {cms_selflink page=”k2014″ text=”October 18, 2014 -“} when thousands of pilgrims from all continents will go on pilgrimage to the Original Shrine imploring a new October 18th for Schoenstatt, a profound and effective renewal in the Covenant of Love for the good of the Church and the world – the shrines and wayside shrines of the world and the Original Shrine are preparing for the “day of days,” 2009: October 18th. The Apostolic Nuncio in Germany, Archbishop Périsset, will celebrate the Covenant Mass with the pilgrims. Everyone is invited to come to the Original Shrine for a personal moment with the Blessed Mother. The day will conclude with the renewal of the {cms_selflink page=”the-covenant-of-love” text=”Covenant of Love”} in the afternoon at the hour of the founding.
This is Archbishop Jean-Claude Périsset’s first visit to Schoenstatt, although he already knows the place since the General Assembly of the Superiors of Orders in 2008 was held in Vallendar at the Pallotines University.
The Covenant Mass at the Pilgrims’ Church (at 10:30 a.m.) will be in German, but the homily of the Nuncio will be available to the people in Spanish and English. The choir of the Sisters of Mary is in charge of the music.
There will be live transmission of the Holy Mass and then (from 12.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. from the Original Shrine at www.schoenstatt-tv.de
My October 18th
After Mass, the Original Shrine awaits the pilgrims so that each one can experience their personal October 18th. It is a time of waiting for the encounter with the Blessed Mother along with the other pilgrims queued up waiting for the time to enter, to offer the Capital of Grace of this year, of renewing the Covenant, of receiving a personal blessing by the priests who are present, and to go out, where a very special card just for this day will be sealed with a postmark that says: “Schoenstatt October 18th.” “Beginning with the contributions from the different countries, we clearly perceive that the MTA is inviting us to an open pilgrimage to the Original Shrine on October 18, 2014. The time and the place have a sacramental character for us,” says message 2014. Those who are present on October 18th will already anticipate some of that large pilgrimage of people, and on October 18, 2014, those who have five of these cards postmarked October 18th at the Original Shrine will receive a prize!
At the same time, there will be an Expo-Schoenstatt with stands that offer information, talks, and a varied program. As of now, there are stands of the Latin American Youth, the Rosary Campaign, and of “2014”…
At the Shrine at House Marienau, the children are invited to join the campaign, {cms_selflink page=”million-children” text=”1,000,000 Children Praying the Rosary”}, with the Polish families of the region in charge just as in previous years. It is impossible to pray the rosary at 9:00 a.m. as is proposed, but as Sister Damiana said: “It will be 9:00 a.m. in some country when we pray the rosary at 2:00 p.m.!”
At 3:00 p.m., Father Joaquin Alliende will present a conference about the 20th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and what that means for us. (in German).
At 4:00 p.m., the procession will depart to Pilgrims’ Church. Once we arrive at the Original Shrine, the Founding Document of October 18, 1914 will be read paragraph by paragraph in different languages. Then a trumpet will announce the great milestone: the renewal of the Covenant of Love, that day, in this place – united to pilgrims all over the world, who on this day gather at their Shrines and wayside shrines. The Covenant prayer is prayed consecutively in the languages of those present: German, Spanish, English, Polish, Hungarian, Kirundi, Portuguese, French… This October 18th there will be large groups of pilgrims from Germany, Mexico and Chile, along with families from Costa Rica, Argentina, Brazil and other countries.
“October 18th belongs to EVERYONE, get going !”
Some Chilean and German youth took a wonderful initiative, which is: Celebrating the Vigil of the 18th …
During a short visit to Schoenstatt, Ferdi Güsewel of the Boys’ Youth from Bellavista, Santiago, Chile, and who presently lives in Germany, offered the Blessed Mother a small contribution this year to give young life to October 18th. He is inviting everyone to an International Latin American Conference, “…to show the entire world, especially the Movement of Germany…that October 18th belongs to everyone, and the Movement in Germany does not have to or should not organize it alone, because we are an International Movement. I see it as our great task now: to re-ignite the FIRE of faith here in Germany, coming and being present with many people from the 17th to the 18th of October. Therefore, the entire world is cordially invited to come with all their friends to manifest the motto of our first conference, ‘October 18th belongs to EVERYONE, get going!’ “
The program began at 12:00 p.m. with the Angelus at the Original Shrine. After lunch at House Sonnenau at 2:30 p.m., Father Heribert King will present a conference with the title: TO LOVE IS TO SERVE. At 4:15 p.m., there will be a Holy Mass in the Shrine at House Marienau, and the International Rosary will be prayed at the Original Shrine from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. – being transmitted live via www.schoenstatt-tv.de After a time of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Original Shrine, everyone will gather at Tabor Shrine at midnight for a cantata.
On Sunday after breakfast, the pilgrims will visit Father’s tomb with guitars, flags…and singing. Then they will gather for the day’s program, and they will also attend Expo-Schoenstatt.
Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, USA/Melissa Janknegt, Elgin, USA
