USA. Carlos Cantú. More than 200 pilgrims gathered at the Confidentia Shrine/Schoenstatt Center in Rockport/Lamar, Texas on Sunday, March 18, 2012. It was the annual gathering for coordinators who work with the Pilgrim Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt in the International Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign. Although there were those who come as often as they can to visit Blessed Mother in the Shrine, many of those present were actually coordinators (missionaries), that is, those who are responsible for the Pilgrim MTA’s visit to the homes. And among those who were present to renew their commitment as coordinators for another year, there were 27 new coordinators who were commissioned to begin their task of evangelization. Their joy and enthusiasm is contagious. Part of the fruitfulness of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign is the number of persons who desire to become coordinators after they have been receiving the Pilgrim MTA in their homes.
In Texas, most of the celebrations and activities begin with a traditional serenade, and this could not be found wanting this past March 18th. Everyone gathered at the Shrine and raised their voices in song to our Blessed Mother. Beaming faces radiated the love for the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt. Only She and God know how many prayers of thanksgiving were uttered in the many hearts, and how many claims of love were silently placed at the feet of our Mother and Queen!
Use us as your willing instruments
The following prayer was recited at the Shrine:
Dear Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt,
We greet you at your Shrine of Confidence and thank you for this grace-filled day. We dedicate this day to you in gratitude and joy. Intercede for us the Holy Spirit in your Cenacle, the Shrine, and fill us with renewed zeal for our great mission as Coordinators of the Rosary Campaign. Use us as your willing instruments as we dedicate ourselves anew to take you in your Pilgrim Shrine wherever you lead us.
Mother and Queen, we trust in you, glorify yourself and be victorious!
This was followed by everyone in unison reciting the prayer of consecration to our MTA.
The year of the Shrine current
After the serenade, everyone made their way to the training center to hear an inspiring talk by Sr. M. Gloria Mauricio. Sr. Gloria stressed the significance of the Year of the Shrine current and the coming centennial Jubilee of 2014. She stressed how the Shrine was a place of encounter with God and how the Shrine is a symbol of Christ. She also emphasized how Blessed Mother had established herself in the Shrine and how this had become an abundant grace for the Schoenstatt Shrines thus becoming for us an international network of living Shrines throughout the world.
Testimonies followed the talk. Two courageous ladies related several wonderful experiences of how Blessed Mother had taken care in their lives and in their families. When they were on the threshold of despair, the Pilgrim MTA had come into their lives bringing them and their families many graces.
I wish to be an apostle
Schoenstatt Father and Movement Director in Texas, Fr. Héctor Vega, spoke on the meaning of commissioning and recommissioning. The coordinators present renewed their commission and 27 new coordinators were commissioned. The Coordinators prayed the following prayer:
Dear Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt,
Today you wish to begin your pilgrimage from this Shrine to the homes of those longing for you and your special gifts of grace.
I thank you for having chosen me in a special way to help you in your great mission for our Church and world. I wish to be an apostle and invite many to accept you into their homes. I want to inspire them to open their hearts to you, our Mother and Educator. I want to encourage them to trust in your powerful intercession and to pray the Rosary before your image. In this way, I wish to help you in the moral and religious renewal of the world from Schoenstatt.
Mother, use me as your instrument. Protect me, transform me, and send me. I am ready. I know and believe that you are the Great Missionary, you will work miracles.
Everyone then prayed together the prayer of consecration to our MTA.
Listening to Fr Esteban Uriburu…
After lunch and shopping at the Schoenstatt store, everyone gathered anew in the training center for another presentation. The presentation was an inspiring video on the life of Don Joao Luiz Pozzobon who began the actual Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign of the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress in 1950 from the Schoenstatt Shrine in Santa María, Brazil. The video is narrated by the late Schoenstatt Father Esteban Uriburu. It was heartwarming to hear his voice and the voice of Don Joao Pozzobon as well.
Recitation of the most holy Rosary followed, and immediately after the Rosary, was the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Several Auxiliary images of the MTA – representing various dioceses – were present and graced the area around the altar. These images were crowned anew by representatives of the state team for the Rosary Campaign.
One of the Coordinators then sealed her Covenant of Love in the Shrine. Smiling faces bade farewell to our Mother and Queen in the Shrine. All were leaving with renewed vigor and enthusiasm, ready to present anew the Blessed Mother and her Son into the many homes with open doors and hearts.
