CHILE, María Eugenia Guerrero, Denise Ganderats. On May 20th and 21st, the Schoenstatt Movement celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the Shrine of Montahue in Concepción with immense joy and gratitude.
Forty years since the blessing of the Shrine of Montahue, Concepción
The celebration began with a pilgrimage on Saturday, May 14th, a cold and foggy day, but with a warm family atmosphere, where the participants were willing to demonstrate their love with heroism to our beloved Blessed Mother. They conquered the weariness of walking from the Shrine of Candelaria to the Shrine of Montahue in San Pedro de la Paz…
There was a desire to recall what the first members of the Movement had done during the 1970’s when they crossed the old bridge and walked to this holy place to conquer it making this ground theirs. On this site, the Virgin Mary had chosen to establish herself in the Diocese of Concepción and from there, she would shower gifts and graces.
The pilgrims traveled approximately three kilometers singing, praying the Holy Rosary, and shouting their love for Christ and Mary through the streets.
Upon their arrival, they celebrated the Eucharist in the esplanade of the Shrine and then had a nourishing breakfast.
Living Foundation
On May 20, 1971, the Shrine was blessed and everything that was conquered during the time of preparation for the blessing by those who belonged to the Movement at that time was placed in the foundation. It is called it the “Living Foundation” and is hidden beneath the cornerstone at the foot of the altar inside the Shrine. This May 20, 2011, this foundation was renewed, and reinforced it with everyone’s conquests, sorrows, joys and everything that they hold in their hearts to which they trustingly present to the beloved Blessed Mother. From here, She can continue to evangelize, and to give her blessings and graces of shelter, inner transformation and apostolic zeal especially to the Archdiocese of Concepción. A Mass was held in which the Montahue Family mainly attended, and then they went to the Shrine on pilgrimage to present and bury their personal offerings beside the Shrine. The members who have offered their lives throughout these forty years for the fruitfulness of the presence of the Most Holy Virgin in this place were remembered, and the ideal of this Shrine was renewed: With Mary, with the Father, Living Foundation for the newest times.
A Cantata to Montahue
On Saturday, May 21st, the Family experienced an intense day through several activities along with other pilgrims and visitors from other Chilean cities such as: Los Angeles, Chillán, Maipú, Temuco, Santiago, Valdivia, etc. In the morning, there was a panel in which the forty-year history of Montahue was presented through testimonies, showing how, from her Shrine, the Blessed Mother has worked great miracles of grace in the people who have approached it with faith and confidence. Then they shared a luncheon with everyone who attended this celebration. During the afternoon, the Boys’ and Girls’ Youth presented a “Cantata to Montahue” that recalled the parallels of the milestones of the Schoenstatt history of 1914 to that of Montahue.
Celebration with the entire Archdiocese of Concepción
At 5:00 p.m., the entire Archdiocese of Concepción was invited to celebrate a solemn Eucharist; authorities from the area as well as representatives from the different church and parish movements attended. The Eucharist the Apostolic Administrator, Monsignor Pedro Ossandón presided and concelebrated with diocesan priests and Schoenstatt Fathers who came from different Chilean cities especially for this occasion. In the homily, the Bishop offered a reflection on the readings. In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7, he stressed the importance of the laity in the Church; in the commitment that everyone has as baptized Christians, and that all are called to be saints. In the second reading from 1 Peter 2:4-9, he referred to Jesus Christ as the cornerstone, and here he called all to take the role of paternity and maternity seriously in their society, setting aside the adolescent attitude of lack of commitment. The Gospel of John 14:1-12 reinforced the image of the Father as the Way and Life, and he invited them to encounter Him through his Son, Jesus Christ in the Shrine and in the different relationships of daily life. In conclusion he presented them with two challenges: the first one was to strengthen attachments and to make them more personal within the natural family as well as at work or school, with their neighbor and with the Church and its pastors; the second challenge was, that as Schoenstatters, they continue to work along the pastoral lines of the Church of the Archdiocese as well as in the Continental Mission and that of Aparecida. After the blessing, they went to the Shrine in procession along with the Bishop, and they renewed their consecration as a Family.
These days filled with emotion, happiness and joy in the soul concluded with a large celebration.
Welcome to the Shrine of Montahue
Montahue’s doors are open to welcome everyone who desires to place their joys, sorrows, weariness, or worries in the hands of the Schoenstatt Queen, the Mother Thrice Admirable, because she is the quickest and surest way to reach the heart of Jesus and God the Father.
The Shrine is located on the road to Santa Juana, Kilometer 2.5.
We can be contacted by phone at: 2280017 or at our web page: www.santuariomontahue.cl
Translation: Celina Garza, Melissa Janknegt, USA
