SWITZERLAND, Manuela Harder. During the weekend of September 10th and 11th, the Gossau region celebrated the Golden Anniversary of the Shrine located on the grounds of the Friedberg school; it was a joint celebration with the community of the Pallottine Fathers – who are the owners – and the Schoenstatt Movement, with the motto “receive and transmit.” Saturday night the youth gathered near the Shrine for the vigil: they sang, prayed, and exchanged experiences. Approximately twenty youth participated until very late in the night adoring the Blessed Sacrament in the Shrine. They took a break to have some hot soup, which became an opportunity to have a pleasant gathering.
Golden Anniversary of the Shrine of Friedberg, with the motto: “receive and transmit”
The real day of the celebration began on a sunny Sunday morning. More than two hundred people participated in the magnificent Eucharist celebrated at Saint Andrew Church. Father Kiklaus Popp ad Father Josef Hälg (Schoenstatt Father) presided accompanied by many con-celebrants. In the homily, Father Edwin Germann – Provincial Superior of the Schoenstatt Fathers – stressed how indebted he is to “Our Lady of Friedberg.” The Saint Andrew’s Choir and the Gen Verde Group were in charge of the music for the Holy Mass. After Mass the youth and adults gathered in the biblical garden for refreshments.
Gathering on the grounds of the school
People from throughout Switzerland, who are on the road to the Schoenstatt centenary, came from Friedberg, Valais, the Rhine Valley and many other places to celebrate one of the seven daughter Shrines in Switzerland. This was especially obvious during the cordial luncheon on the grounds of the school, where splendid food, typical of the area, was served. Moreover, the cakes that were received as a gift pleasantly surprised the community and some of the people almost missed the afternoon program as a result of the joy of having the opportunity of conversing with old friends.
Strong testimonies of life
Father Germann. A presentation about Elmar Agosti gave those present an idea of how it was during the time that the Shrine was built, and it gave a magnificent testimony of life of a young student, who through continuous work in small things, got close to God and chose the motto: “To struggle and serve.” At that time, the students of the school prayed a great deal to Mary asking her to guide them, so that She give them a goal to strengthen them in having confidence in God. Elmar Agosti was aware that the renewal of the world begins with oneself. His daily resolutions were clear and practical, and in school he was outstanding for his profound respect for the God’s natural law, which was especially demonstrated in his interest in physics. He wrote in his diary that when he met other people, he always wanted to be aware that in the greeting, he was shaking Christ’s hand. Elmar died on September 16, 1964, as a result of a fall during a mountain excursion.
Art contest
On the occasion of the Golden Anniversary of the Shrine, the students from Gossau painted more than 160 drawings of the Shrine that were exhibited in the activity hall during the day of the celebration. This small works of art were evaluated by a jury and were presented at the Saint Paul Center on Saturday, September 17th, where the prizes were awarded.
Garden of “Mary’s Seven Joys”
Father Andy Givel, SAC, introduced the importance of Mary’s seven joys to the audience, which are artistically represented around the Shrine. A short video about this garden can be seen at: (http://www.pallottiner.ch/pallottiner/niederlassungen/haus-gossau/besinnungsweg.html).
Final prayer in the Shrine
During the afternoon, there was Eucharistic Adoration until the end of the celebration that concluded in the Shrine with prayers of praise and gratitude. At that time, a cordial expression of gratitude was extended to all the pilgrims and guests for their participation in the celebration, and especially to those who contributed and prepared it through their work and prayer.
Celina M. Garza: Spanish/English translation – Melissa Peña-Janknegt: English edit
