CHILE, Mauricio Donoso. Everything had been prepared for weeks for the Shrine’s 4thAnniversary. The entire Family from San Fernando has counted the days for this anniversary. And how time passed! The memory of that November 12, 2005 seems very recent, when more than five thousand Catholics witnessed the blessing of the Shrine. Some of the memories I recall are the caravan of “huasos” mounted on horseback, including Father Horacio Rivas, and also the carriage that carried the celebrant, Bishop Alejandro Goic and Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz. I also remember the dance that a “huaso” from the Schoenstatt Family danced for Blessed Mother in the already blessed Shrine.
Conquering Father Kentenich’s desire for Colchagua…
It has been sixty-one years since the Father and Founder learned about the province of Colchagua, and on that October 10th, he called on us to build a “holy Marian land” in this Chilean valley, where each Schoenstatter could truly be a “leader” embodying the ideals of his people, and that they would aspire to the highest ideals.
Father said: “We do not only want to educate ourselves and others; we also want to give the Blessed Mother the opportunity and the prospect to form and educate the greatest number possible. Colchagua does not only have be a holy Marian land, rather all of Chile has to be a holy Schoenstatt Marian land. And that stream of self-education should depart from this corner.”
Part of the inheritance of the Family from the San Fernando Shrine has been conquered for many years, when previously in 1986, the first groups of families, trembled with such a great call from Father Kentenich and his dream for Colchagua: A Holy Marian Schoenstatt Land. Then in 1998, a Wayside Shrine was blessed on the grounds, where the Shrine would finally be built in 2005.
Then the day: November 12, 2009
On Thursday, the 12th, the Family was in the Shrine for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for the entire day. All the Branches participated at different schedules until 8:00 p.m.
At 8:00 p.m., the Mass began in the hall near the Shrine, celebrated by Father Juan Paulo Rovegno, a Schoenstatt Father, and concelebrated by Father Angel Rivero, diocesan priest, who is the adviser for the Pastoral Youth of the Diocese of Rancagua and who was invited to the event.
This Thursday, the Family began the Jubilee Year.Yes, the Jubilee Year, because we cannot waste time and there is much work before us since the gift that is proposed for our Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt for the 5thAnniversary of the Shrine is to discover the ideal of the Shrine.
During Mass, there was an announcement: the missionaries of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign had committed to conquer the crown for the Auxiliary Shrine of the Campaign.
Also after Mass, a video was shown with beautiful pictures beginning with the construction period of the Shrine until its blessing, all of this was accompanied by a recorded musical theme for the occasion, with the male voices of the adult choir.
The Pilgrim MTA was crowned!
Then, everyone went on pilgrimage to the Shrine to greet the MTA and to consecrate themselves together as a Family. At this moment, Father Juan Paulo carried out the crowning ceremony, and everyone swore allegiance to the Queen. There was loud applause, and the Auxiliary entered the Shrine, where her new crown was at the altar…
Finally, the entire Family celebrated this new anniversary and the crowning of the Pilgrim MTA by sharing a piece of cake like at a great birthday…
Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, USA/ Melissa Janknegt, Elgin, USA
