PHILIPPINES, Ines Altena/Sr. Charito Maria. Each year at the Schoenstatt Shrine near Cebu City, Philippines, there are ten days of celebration for Schoenstatt’s Founding Day. As part of the culture, the Schoenstatt Family is preparing for the celebration with a Novena or nine days of prayer.
On the first day of 2010, pilgrims from different schools and parishes were invited to join in making Schoenstatt more well known as all of Schoenstatt is preparing for its centennial celebration.
Opening on October 17 during the Fiesta
The Filipino Schoenstatt Family, due to living in a time zone hours ahead of the rest of the Schoenstatt world, might be the first ones to open the triennium this October 17, during their “Fiesta”. They want to begin on Sunday, because it is the time that all the Filipino Schoenstatt Family and friends able are able to come. The first year, the year of the Father current, has been proclaimed – as Father and Founder Year, and they will have a huge picture of Father Kentenich at the Shrine that will be unveiled as they announce the importance of this coming year rightafter High Mass. In this vein, they will be giving “estampitas” or souvenirs with the picture of the MTA and our Father with the Prayer for his beatification; the idea is to pray it the whole year.
Hearts on Fire for our Mother Thrice Admirable
In this coming Fiesta, there will also be the blessing of the Josef Engling Memorial as the Founding Dayand the Founding Spirit of that young generation is remembered.
The theme for this Fiesta is: Hearts on Fire for our Mother Thrice Admirable.
The preparations
This Fiesta begins with the preparations that are already part of the joy and celebration. First, the Sisters looked for priests for the Holy Masses, then for choirs for songs and music. Some weeks ago, the “Fiesta newsletters” were sent out in order to inform and invite the Schoenstatt families, the priests, and all those attached to the Shrine. After that it was about finding families willing to donate something for the “Fiesta”. Soon people appeared not only willing to donate a little money, but there were those who donated the funds to sponsor a big tent providing room for up to 500 participants. The pilgrims should get wet should it rain! But all are praying that the tent is not necessary – that there is not one drop of water! During these days before October 18th, flowers are brought, and the whole area is decorated…
The ten-day celebration began on October 8th with the motto: Hearts on fire for our Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt. Each night at 6:20 PM, everyone is invited to celebrate at the Shrine together with the Schoenstatt Sisters beginning with the rosary followed by meditations and prayers. The novena ends with the Holy Mass celebrated each day at 7:00 PM.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SCHOENSTATT SISTERS OF MARY
AND FIESTA TEAM 2010! More Power and God Bless us All!