mcb. A very small country and a very “large” Holy Mass on the first day of October, Covenant month! The Provincial Superiors of the Schoenstatt Fathers, who were gathered at the Paternal House on Mount Zion since the beginning of the week, con-celebrated this Eucharist. The main celebrant was Father Mariano Irureta, and he shared the sphere of the altar with Father José María García, head of Team 2014, which is responsible for 2014 preparation. The leaders of the Schoenstatt Institute of Families, the girls of “Time in Schoenstatt”- from Brazil, Mexico and Ecuador – who were in charge of the musical accompaniment – were also present. And everyone who attended this Holy Mass was attached to the Schoenstatt Family of Nicaragua with universal participation thanks to the Internet.
Nicaragua is a small Central American country, whose history has been marked, until a few years ago by civil wars, rebellions against the governing groups, struggles for freedom by the indigenous population, and later by the mestizos. A history of bloodshed has run through the centuries. Until just a few weeks ago, very little was known about Schoenstatt in this country, and it was not known in neighboring countries. The search came about because there were people from Nicaragua who visited the international Schoenstatt web page. Recently, they communicated from Nicaragua and from Miami: In 2008 a man, who has relatives in Miami, learned about Schoenstatt through them and he took a Pilgrim MTA and a large picture of the MTA to Managua. A year later this picture was enthroned in the Chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and many people sealed the Covenant of Love. Since then, a Holy Mass in honor of the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt is held on October 18th.
On the first day of Covenant month
In Texas, it was very late, when the Skype signal of a translator of schoenstatt.org rang. “Greetings from the Original Shrine, I take you to the Holy Mass!” a collaborator from Germany wrote. Melissa was still awake and replied… “What a gift to be able to be present live!” She understands Spanish enough or sufficiently to understand the most essential elements and to “profoundly receive the grace of the Original Shrine and to pray for our Family, united on the network throughout the world.” And both of them, who only know each other through Skype and through the Covenant of Love, celebrated in the Holy Mass together for the first time.
Father Mariano Irureta recalled that October 1st, is the Feast day of Saint Therese of the Child of Jesus, and he also congratulated the Sisters of Mary on the anniversary of their founding. After the prayer of the faithful, Sister M. Luciane Machens mentioned the events and projects of this weekend for which we prayed in this Holy Mass representing the International Family: the anniversary of the inauguration of the Shrines in Ciudad del Este and Bolton; Monday, the Silver Anniversary of the Shrine in Bonn, the conference delegates in Trujillo, Peru. In anticipation of the anniversary of Joseph Engling’s death, it is worthwhile in asking his intercession to conquer the spirit of “being all things to all men” and for the gift of renewal as a Family in the spirit of youthful strength and the dynamism of the founding generation. And of course to pray for the Schoenstatt Family in Nicaragua and for everyone there who will receive the grace of the Shrine…
United in prayer
For several days, many people have been united internationally to pray for Father Jonathan Niehaus, who is gravely ill. It was very good that this petition was mentioned aloud in the Holy Mass, as well as for everyone, who sent their petitions this week to the Original Shrine through schoenstat.org from Argentina, Brazil, United States, Mexico, Nicaragua, Spain, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Scotland, and Ecuador.
At the beginning of the Holy Mass, Father Mariano Irureta and Father José María García placed the printed sheets with petitions for prayer in the jar. The confidence that was expressed by so many people – a confidence in the power of the Blessed Mother in the Original Shrine, the confidence of the prayer of the Schoenstatt Family – is a great contribution to the Capital of Grace, a completely original return current.
This can be beautifully seen on the video of the Holy Mass.
To make 2014 visible
After the Holy Mass, as always on the first Saturdays of the month, there was a breakfast at House Marienau to share the news about 2014. Those who attended saw the sketch of the processional banner with the logo of 2014. Presently, antependiums with the logo of 2014 and the large flags are being prepared for the opening of the Year of the Shrine current on the night of October 17th in the Original Shrine and throughout the world on October 18th.
Video of the Holy Mass on October 1, 2011 in Covenant with Nicaragua.
Also see:
- Schedule for October 2011
Celina M. Garza: Spanish/English translation Melissa Peña-Janknegt: English edit
