ECUADOR, Mariuxi Villacrés. On January 20, 2012, the Family from Ecuador gathered once again to recall Schoenstatt’s Second Milestone and to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Blessing of the “Father’s Family, Home for the World Shrine”. Bishop Iván Minda celebrated the Eucharist and was accompanied by the choir that had prepared a special repertoire for this occasion.
The atmosphere was very joyful when at the end of the Mass Father Eduardo Auza (the National Director of the Movement in Ecuador) announced: “On this 20th of January 2012, for forty years, this Shrine has brought life to so many pilgrims who have aspired for the graces and high ideals of this Shrine, we declare it a Schoenstatt National Shrine.” At that moment, the fireworks exploded in the sky echoed by the applause of the participants. Then they were invited to share in a toast with delicious appetizers, testimonies, singing and celebrating as a family. The Sisters of Mary presented a brief serenade accompanied by the choir and all the participants.
The ideal oif the Schoenstatt family in Ecuador
Before proclaiming the National Shrine, Father Eduardo Auza shared the following:
“We, as a Schoenstatt Family know that our Shrine gives three graces: rooted in God or sheltering, interior transformation, and apostolic zeal. But this Shrine also has special graces. This is the reason it has a special name and it has an ideal: “Father’s Family, Home for the World.”
• Father’s Family: gives all of us the grace to feel like children, children of the same God the Father, and also children of a Founding Father, who is our prophet. In this uprooted world, here in this Shrine we can feel like children, and we can also experience the grace of conversion.
• Home: When we say the word home, this Shrine gives us the grace of a vocation. Whoever feels totally like a child, feels called. Whoever lives in an atmosphere of holiness can more solidly discover his vocation. We want to thank God because through this Shrine, which has been our home. We have discovered our vocation and thousands of hearts, who have come on pilgrimage here and who have sealed the Covenant of Love with Mary have lived this vocation.
• For the world: When we say ‘for the world’ we refer to an active and dynamic reality. We do not only want to be people who feel good here, but not proclaim anything. We want to proclaim the Shrine…this Shrine gives us the grace of the mission for this reason.”
The feelings of the pioneers
Those, who have belonged to Family the longest, commented movingly about the beginnings with the younger ones. “I was much younger. I belonged to one of the first groups of the Men’s Branch. We conquered the Shrine with great effort. Our capital of grace is buried in the foundation. Each brick was conquered! It touches me to be here…” Victor Alvarado shared. The Capital of Grace that has accumulated during these forty years clearly shows its fruits: children, youth, older adults, entire families, and several generations gathered for this celebration in Ecuadorian Schoenstatt.
Celina M. Garza: Spanish/English translation – Melissa Peña-Janknegt: English edit
