COLOMBIA, Alida Becerra. The Schoenstatt National Congress ended successfully in Cali. Cali is one of Colombia’s first cities. It is located in the Cauca River valley, and is a region famous for producing sugar cane. Its inhabitants are joyful and very hospitable. This was the place chosen for Congress 2010.
Throughout the entire event, the Family had the grace of being accompanied by the Father Symbol – Father Joseph Kentenich’s gift for the Original Shrine: during the Masses, in all the conferences, and finally during the beautiful ceremony, where everyone individually received Father’s blessing while simultaneously entrusting their petitions and needs to him.
The team from the Ladies’ Branch of Cali made an extraordinary effort in organizing (the Congress) that everyone appreciated and expressed heartfelt gratitude.
A little bit of history
During the Congress, Father Gustavo Ocampo recalled that the Movement came to Armenia, a city located in the very important Colombian coffee region in the mid ’80’s. On August 15, 1987, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother, Father Armando Sánchez- who had participated in the centenary of Father Joseph Kentenich’s birth in 1985 at Schoenstatt and Rome – received a donation to build the Shrine in Armenia. Thus on October 18th, the anniversary of the founding of Schoenstatt, the cornerstone was blessed to commence the construction this home for the Blessed Mother in Colombia. In 1990 the Shrine was solemnly blessed with the name, New Bethlehem.
In 1991, Monsignor Juco, a German bishop, sent a picture of the Blessed Mother that had accompanied him for fifty years; within a few years, it was enthroned in the New Bethlehem Shrine.
Next the construction of the Pilgrims’ House began that would lodge all visitors and provide a good welcome.
Later on, the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign began, and the Blessed Mother departed from here to Medellín, a part of Antioquia, and towards Caicedonia in the region of the Valley. Two delegations, one from each place, attended the Congress.
At the beginning of the year 2002, Father Armando Sánchez’ health began to deteriorate; he was the founder of the Schoenstatt Movement in Colombia, the main promoter of the first Colombian Shrine. Finally he gave his life to the Blessed Mother in the year 2009.
Schoenstatt emerged in Medellín with much strength
During the Congress, the life of the Schoenstatt Movement in Medellín could be appreciated. An image of the Pilgrim MTA, which had been blessed by John Pozzobon, revitalized the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign in 1992. The Blessed Mother is currently enthroned in the Parish of La Milagrosa.
Schoenstatt has grown in the communities and neighborhood of Medallion, the second largest city of Colombia after Bogotá; hardworking people who strive inhabit it.
At present, Schoenstatt has an important center of action in Medellín, and as a result of its increased growth over the last few years we should express gratitude to the Blessed Mother. The efforts of the youth, ladies and couples, who are working at a good pace in this city in the area of Antioquia, is consecrated to Her.
The Blessed Mother has been enthroned in three churches in Cali
In 1990 the Movement began in this beautiful city of the Valley of Cauca. The Blessed Mother has been enthroned in three churches: in the Parish of the Pilgrim Virgin, in the Parish of Christ the Savior, and in the Votive Church of the Sacred Heart. In 2009 the Pilgrim MTA was crowned as Queen of the Family. There are 300 Pilgrim MTAs in Cali.
The parish of the Pilgrim Virgin is especially beautiful. The participants of the Congress prayed the Illuminated Holy Rosary and they participated in one of the most beautiful Masses of the Congress in this church. The Mass was presided by Father Rodrigo Riascos and Bishop Sydney Fones concelebrated along with Father Humberto Salgado and all the priests who attended the Congress.
Schoenstatt – Bogotá: 2600 meters closer to the stars
María Consuelo Rodríguez, a leader of the Movement in Bogotá, presented a good historical account. In 1988 the picture of the Pilgrim MTA arrived in this city, the capital of Colmbia. Guided by the missionaries Gladys Cristancho, from the United Sates and a Chilean couple, Inge and Ricardo Erazo, they formed the first group of missionaries and couples around the Pilgrim MTA; Father Arturo Uría who knew about Schoenstatt supported them. Then more couples and ladies groups were formed and the Campaign also spread in more parishes.
The first National Congress was held. As a fruit of the Congress, the couples’ and ladies’ groups from the Campagin were strengthened and grew. At this time, more than one hundred covenants with the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt are registered in the Covenant Book.
In the year 2002, Sister Eugenia Maria from Chile and Father Humberto Salgado from Ecuador arrived. They carried out conferences and formation at a greater depth beginning with two retreats and workshops: a year for each Branch.
The first National Congresses were carried out in Bogotá. Guidelines, the work of the branches as well as training material were provided at these Congresses so that this “large Cauca River” could advance in the same direction. They entered new parishes and new couples groups emerged.
Father Sydney Fones arrived in Bogotá as Adjunct Secretary of the Episcopal Council of Latin America, CELAM. Father Sydney found time along with his demanding and committed work to accompany the groups, lead workshops, and lead retreats, celebrate Masses, and among other activities.
During Holy Week 2006, a large camp was carried out in Medellin with youth from several cities, and the Schoenstatt Girls’ Youth was officially founded at a national level.
Presently there is a multi-national group of young couples, since there are Ecuadorians married to Colombians: Colombians married to Chileans; all of them have contributed greatly to the young couples’ group.
There are groups attached to six parishes in Bogotá: Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Dei Verbum, the Lord of Miracles, Saint Joan of Avila, Villa Anita, and Saint Angela of Mérici in the El Cortijo neighborhood.
The Home Shrines erected in several homes have helped the growth of the groups in different areas.
Covenant House
Covenant House began in the year 2008 as a meeting place for all the groups. It was the first headquarters for the Movement in Bogotá. Illustrious persons have come here such as: the Apostolic Nuncio, Bishop Aldo Cavli, Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz, President of the Episcopal Council of Latin America, CELAM, who organized the Episcopal Conference of Latin America carried out in Aparecida, Brazil, and the Archbishop of Santiago, Chile. For a long time, special attention was paid to the organizational part of the Movement. The present statutes were published and Maria Francisca Riaño was named as the legal representative; she carried out this position for eight years.
The great goal: a Shrine for Bogotá
The great objective: to build the first Schoenstatt Shrine in Bogotá. With this goal in mind, different activities have been carried out to raise funds: family bingos, pilgrimages, raffles, campaigns for individual savings, sales, promotions…A large campaign for savings was launched, which collected 1,000 pesos daily, in this way the people are committing to conquering the Shrine.
Above all there have been prayer campaigns at the national and international levels paving the way to obtain the necessary conditions to build the future Shrine.
Conquering hearts is not the most difficult thing, but the difficult thing is in maintaining these hearts loyal and committed to the Movement. That is how the goal to erect the first Schoenstatt Shrine in Bogotá will be accomplished. (Not so sure about this…)
Father Humberto and Eugenia María offered their reflections
The advisers presented two very good conferences during the Congress. They reflected about the work being carried out. Their proposals were discussed at depth during the discussions in three work sessions. Each person participating city in the Congress had the opportunity to analyze their situation, exchange ideas about the best way to grow, and finding out how to work on self-education to be better trained in Schoenstatt spirituality through reading the books by the Founder, Father Joseph Kentenich. They heartily entrusted the fruits of this Ninth Schoenstatt Congress in Colombia to him.
Farewell to Sister Eugenia María
After the Congress and back in Bogotá, a pilgrimage was made to the chapel of the Most Holy Virgin, also called Mary Mystical Rose, as a farewell to Sister Eugenia Maria. This chapel is in the surrounding area of Bogotá in the peasant region of the city of Tenjo. Luisa de Manoslava, her family and all the neighbors of the area built this little chapel. Luisa has been a missionary of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign since 1997. Holy Mass was celebrated here and then they shared a time of rest with a camp lunch and music.
The couples’, ladies’, youth groups and the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign expressed their gratitude to Sister Eugenia Maria.
Thank you Sister for so much effort, for your songs, fruit of your artistic genius, for your joy, for your renewing strength in every visit. Thank you, beloved Sister, who the Blessed Mother always fills with blessings and graces and who will one day be a part of the family of Schoenstatt saints in heaven.
Translation: Celina Garza/Melissa Janknegt, USA
