CHILE, Verónica Díaz de Andueza. Just steps from reaching the dream of having a Shrine -which will be blessed on May 22nd – the Family from the Maipú area did everything they could to make this ground a fertile valley for Mary. Presently, their efforts are intensified with a passion and giving of self for that great day, convinced that this yearning does not end there, it is precisely the contrary: the mission begins on this day.
It is a hot day, and in spite of the intense summer sun, the solid silhouette of the Shrine being built in the Valley of Mary, located in the Maipú area, can be distinguished distinctly. It must be said that on this land every detail has been considered. And why not, since on May 22nd, this Schoenstatt Family is just about to make their dream they have worked for more than twenty years concrete.
It was in the shade of some old trees where the most profound desires were developed, and the conviction of a small group was enough to think: “How many times in the history of the world has the smallest or the most insignificant been the origin of something big, of the biggest” (Fathr Kentenich). Today, the Family from the Maipú area – with over 400 people – stands with their Shrine.
“The need of having a Shrine became the unanimous desire of the entire Family. We have experienced ourselves as children who need the permanent and real presence of our Mother. So that She will be the one who guides our future steps and all the miracles that we need to share with, to serve the Church, and through Her all the community of our area,” reflected Pedro Hiribarren and Cecilia Cardoen, ex-coordinators.
The beginnings
In this valley, the first signs of this dream that they only had in their minds and hearts began some time ago. The Family was formed with a couples group, who were encouraged by Father Horacio Rivas. Gradually the family began to grow and to conquer new hearts. The first Covenants of Love emerged, and the inevitable enthusiasm grew to the point of causing an awakening in the different Branches.
“During the first years, we worked mainly on becoming a Family in which each Branch made its ideals their own, became more authentic, and as much as possible carried out our Father’s wish and that of our covenant spirituality,” Pedro Hirbarren and Cecilia Cardoen affirm.
They also recall that an additional effort was made by the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign: “She has been the great ambassador in the parishes of the area, since this has allowed us to come into contact with the pastors and their faithful parishioners, opening the doors to the Movement to offer our support and prayer workshops for the ladies of the parishes.”
Nevertheless perhaps the most transcendental moment of cohesion was the day that this Family decided to transform a simple and arid field into fertile ground for Mary. With the blueprint in hand and a solid project as a backup for conquering the land spiritually, the Shrine became a necessity and this gave way to the sowing. The land was fertilized waiting for the great moment, and the grounds were designed with the careful landscaping led by Ximena Music, the current coordinator along with her husband, Andrés Palomer, who is also the civil engineer in charge of the construction. On the day of planting the community in the Maipo area, the sky was made open for them. With the humility of instruments and a smile on their faces, they could not hide their pride of planting a garden for Mary.
Miracles of daily life
Today the garden that grows is not the only proof of the stream of life that occurs around this land. The new sprouts of the trees, the pines that grow straight and the rose bushes that seduce at the entrance of the Valley of Mary are loyal witnesses that something big is developing here. It is also a testimony of that desire for building a training center that will welcome families and participants for their meetings.
Making sure that the ground prepared will be fertile has not been the only concern of this community, which has placed their best efforts to define a family project where hospitality has been transformed into their main characteristic. They are also concerned about the spiritual preparation. Precisely because of this, they have established certain milestones that identify them. Daily Mass is a must; their profound prayer campaigns and contributions to the Capital of Grace, their treasure of symbols for which they give their all, their meetings on the second Sundays of the month at a Mass open to the community that begins and ends with a family spirit.
However, Ximena Music, coordinator of the Maipo area emphasizes it is at this very special time that they have made the most effort. “This stage of construction is one of the most beautiful times of our life. Miracles have been happening here in daily life, where each one is discovering the best that they have to build a home, our home where the mother will be our Blessed Mother.”
With emotion, she relates that building (the Shrine) has generated a stream of life that goes through our hands, “This building has kept our hearts united, and that is how we have offered deeds of love to spiritually conquer our shrine. And in this conquest, we are discovering the joy of these many deeds of love. That is what the Founding Father really hoped for, a place of grace, where love could be spread, and it is at this moment when we must keep our hearts open to receive.”
“Our work does not end with the building and the blessing of the Shrine, rather that is where it begins”
Parallel to his spiritual work, the coordinator, Andrés Palomar, is also doing civil construction, a work in which he placed all his talents in service, trying to meet the hundreds of requirements that the enthusiastic Family demands. But Andrés likes to look beyond: “Along with this stage of conquering the Shrine, we see our true mission as making the Schoenstatt Movement known in this area, to make it grow. Our work does not end with the building and the blessing of the Shrine, rather that is when it begins,” he says convinced.
Counting the days that are left and seeing the intense work of each of the commissions that have been formed for the day of the blessing, it is easy to discover the seal that marks this community and the sentiment that moves them: “We dream that our Shrine will not only welcome the Schoenstatt Family, but rather the entire community and those who are traveling South. We want our Shrine to be a stop on the road, that is the reason we want to invite all the Schoenstatt Family to unite in prayer to accomplish this dream.”
More than an invitation, this stop on the road seems like an irresistible proposal. Just as the motto has proposed: “With heroism, we build your Shrine today.” The Valley of Mary Family radiates a mission consciousness that makes them determined not to fear heroism. Undoubtedly, they keep the desire in their hearts of having a Shrine, where the Blessed Mother will reign, and for this they are willing to sow new lands for Mary with conviction.
Source: Vinculo, Magazine of the Schoenstatt Movement in Chile
Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, Melissa Janknegt, Elgin, USA
