Wildfires and drought – the Schoenstatt Family in Austin and San Antonio united in a novena

USA, Celina Garza/Melissa Janknegt. Large areas of Texas, USA, especially in the Austin and San Antonio area, are suffering from a month-long drought and wildfires. One of the fires is 24 mi. (38.6km) long and at it’s widest point it is 20 mi. (32km) wide. Over 700 houses have been lost. Again and again, prayer requests were sent to the Original Shrine – prayers for rain, the firefighters, and the poor people who have lost everything. The Schoenstatt Family of San Antonio and Austin now began a special novena…

Father Marcelo Aravena writes:

“Dear Schoenstatt Family,
In this prolonged drought in Texas, we are confronted with wildfires that are destroying lives, homes, and nature.
Together we want to pray for an end to the drought. A united effort is always more powerful and successful.
Our Founder, Father Joseph Kentenich, always crowned Blessed Mother in times of need, and he encouraged his Schoenstatt children to do the same. We invite you to crown the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt, daily in your home shrine for nine consecutive days with the following petitions:

For an end to the destructive fires
For the safety of our public servants, most especially all firefighters
That through the loving hands of God, our Father, we will be blessed with rain, the holy water of nature

We can be confident that through the intercession of our Mother and Queen, our prayers and sacrifices will be answered.
United in the Covenant of Love,
Fr. Marcelo Aravena”

The prayers will be placed in the Original Shrine during the Holy Mass „towards 2014“ in the Original Shrine.

And several Schoenstatt members already said: We join in this novena for our brothers and sisters in the Covenant of Love… and for all those close to them.