mkf. The extent tragedy is greater than anyone could possibly imagine – more than 100,000 fatalities, the capital, Port-au-Prince looks like a massive refugee camp; injured and missing people, hundreds of thousands of victims without access to water, food or a roof over their heads. The poorest country in South America is in ruins and the world has no idea where to start helping. Whether it is below the ruins where so many died or in one of the camps with inclement weather conditions, Schoenstatt’s Pilgrim Mother shares these moments of pain and hopelessness with her people…while in the Shrines and waysides of the world, the Schoenstatt Family is united in prayer and contributions to the capital of grace. We are all Haiti. On 17 January, the Saturday morning Mass celebrated in the Mother Shrine in preparation for 2014 will be offered up for Haiti and the Schoenstatt Family in that country.
From the Mother Shrine and all the shrines of the world, prayers are being offered for the Schoenstatt Family in Haiti and all of the earthquake victims, one of them being Archbishop Monsignor Serge Miot (63), who opened wide the doors of Haiti to Schoenstatt. In May 2001, the first Pilgrim Mother arrived in Haiti – the Jubilee Pilgrim Mother, sent from Santa Maria during the International Meeting of the Rosary Campaign in November 2000. On 31 August 2002, the first anniversary of the Pilgrim Mother’s arrival in Haiti was celebrated during a Mass in the Cathedral by Mons. Serge Miot, in the presence of about 4000 Catholics.
Archbishop Miot was keen for the Pilgrim Mother to visit every single family in the Archdiocese
“At 7.40 the Cathedral was filled with people (about 4,000 people). There were two tables next to the altar bearing the Jubilee Pilgrim Mother who was originally sent to Haiti and an Auxiliary, a replica of the original Pilgrim Mother used by Joao Pozzobon. Four new Pilgrim Mothers which would be sent out circled the Jubilee Pilgrim Mother. One of them was presented to one of the concelebrating priests so that she could go on pilgrimage throughout his parish. During the Eucharistic celebration, the first Pilgrim Mother was crowned, in gratitude for all the graces and blessings she poured out on the Archdiocese during the first year of her pilgrimage. Mons. Miot and the priests gathered in front of the Pilgrim Mothers and very solemnly crowned the first Pilgrim Mother sent out in May 2001 while an instrumental interpretation of ‘Salve Regina’ played in the background. While the people sang the ‘Salve Regina,’ the archbishop took the Pilgrim Mother in his hands, contemplating her carefully, as if he were praying and saying several words in Creole, handed her to the priest who would take her on pilgrimage throughout his parish. Archbishop Miot was keen for the Pilgrim Mother to visit every single family in the Archdiocese,” says the article published on schoenstatt.de on the occasion of this celebration.
Mother Thrice Admirable, Pilgrim Mother, pray for them
“Today, the least we can do is to express our solidarity with the suffering people of Haiti, who are now going through such a difficult situation, if not one of the most painful in its history. The photographs speak for themselves. Initial estimates say that the death toll will reach 100,000 people. From our Shrines, our wayside shrines and our home shrines throughout the country, we are accompanying the suffering people of Haiti who have had such a difficult history and now, on top of all this, have to contend with the ENORMOUS PAIN caused by what they are enduring now. We are all Haiti!” writes Juan Barbosa in an email. This summarises the feelings of the entire Schoenstatt Family.
In all this pain, it is a comfort to know that Schoenstatt’s Pilgrim Mother is among her people and that through the Capital of Grace the Family is also with them at this time.
Mother Thrice Admirable, Pilgrim Mother, pray for them, for the deceased, the injured, those who have become homeless and for those who are helping them.
2002 article about the anniversary of the Rosary Campaign in Haiti
Translation: Sarah-Leah Pimentel, Pretoria, South Africa
