PUERTO RICO, Solmarie Vélez. On October 31, 2009, the Schoenstatt Shrine of Cabo Rojo was delighted by a visit of more than 100 children and their parents, who were participants of the Worldwide Conference of One Million Children Praying for Unity and Peace (which took place on October 18th in other countries) and it was also the closing of the month of the Rosary.
Gathering in the shadow of the Shrine, they were representing all the Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement’s Branches and Groups in the Mayagúez Diocese by supporting this activity, and they prayed the petition, “Owners of the Kingdom pray for the Island of the Lamb”. The Little Girls Groups, the Little Crowns of Mary (from Mayagüez, Moca Guayanilla and Ponce), the Apostles of Mary, the Schoenstatt Girls’ Youth, the University Youth, the Couples League of the Family Work, the Mothers’ and Ladies’ League, the Apostolic Federation, the Secular Institute of Families, and Mary’s Dawn Breakers, all gathered in family unity.
They expressed their gratitude to the catechists from Cabo Rojo and other towns, who supported this activity, and they met with the children, who attend catechism, awakening in them the need for family prayer.
They also welcomed the visit of representatives from different groups within the Diocese of Mayagüez such as the Couples Group, Family of Jesus, Cub Scout Troop 270 from the Saint Augustine School from Cabo Rojo.
Welcome in the Shrine
Sister Nancy welcomed all of the children in the Shrine, where they received the graces of shelter, interior transformation, and apostolic zeal from the Mother Thrice Admirable Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt.
As they left the Shrine, the children were given a gift of a rosary that had been blessed as a symbol of the beginning of their life of prayer and as a souvenir of their participation in Journey 2009 of One Million Children Praying for Unity and Peace.
At Father’s House, Doris, a mother and leader of the Apostles of Mary from San Sebastián, delighted them with her music and songs. Standing in front of the Immaculate Conception and by means of a pleasant conversation, Sister Nancy captured the attention of all the children during the explanation of the rosary and its importance. The children began to pray the Rosary for Peace for their beloved Puerto Rico by singing songs and waving their small flags.
Each child participated in praying the Holy Rosary, by praying a Hail Mary and placing a Maga flower, the national flower of Puerto Rico, on the floor over a rosary that served as a guide. The Official Seal of Puerto Rico and the picture of the Blessed Mother of Providence, the Patroness of Puerto Rico, which united the Rosary and the Schoenstatt Unity Cross, represented each Our Father.
An exhortation to the families
The children took this rosary in procession to the Shrine, where Father Mario Mastrangelo awaited to give them the final blessing.
Father exhorted and petitioned the families to do the following things:
- To pray the Holy Rosary as a family in their homes. A Family that prays together stays together.
- To say grace as a family before meals.
- For children to ask parents to bless them: “Daddy, Mother give me your blessing”.
- For parents to respond by giving their children their blessing saying: “May God bless you”.
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To attend Sunday Mass.
The children and their parents extended their hands towards the sea offering their beloved island to the Blessed Mother.
Finally holding hands, all the children with joy and hope surrounded the Shrine, and they prayed: “A child of Mary will never perish.”
And as it is customary in a family, after the prayer, they gathered to share a snack, and there was candy for the children.
We extend our thanks to all the volunteers who helped in any way to make this activity possible.
