GERMANY, Eva-Maria Pille. The distance between the Shrine of Endel, in Visbek and the Original Shrine is three hundred fifty five kilometers.
It all began when two girls, Lea Coger and Stephanie Burwinkel of the Schoenstatt Girls Youth who live in Endel in far north Germany were doing their practicum in the Press Office. During this time, they had an idea of placing each Shrine on a gauge(GPS) to mark the distance that separates it from the Original Shrine. It seemed like a crazy idea, but nevertheless it became a reality.
The girls decided to begin this project immediately, and they wanted to place the gauge (GPS) in Endel, but right away, it was decided to make a unified gauge for all the Shrines in Germany, a task that was assumed by the headquarters for pilgrims in Schoenstatt. On Sunday October 25, 2009 within the framework of a simple celebration, it was finally placed in the Shrine in Endel.
“This way, whoever comes to the Shrine, will always think about the Original Shrine”
It was not only the representatives of the Schoenstatt Girls’ Youth who placed the gauge (GPS), but also the representative of the Association of the Shrine, Mr. Gunter Tuntke and his wife, Irmgard from Wilhelmshaven, and Sisters M. Engeltraud and M. Beata also participated.
Always active, the Girls’ Youth’s new plan emerged after the inauguration of the gauge: to go on pilgrimage to Schoenstatt from Endel on bicycle and tractors. A vision? An idea? If this trip becomes a reality, next year you will read a new article on this page with the title:
355 Km. To the Original Shrine on bicycles and tractors!
Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, USA/Melissa Janknegt, Elgin, USA
