ITALY, Calogero Tuzzolino. On January 28th, the Campaign’s Pilgrim Auxiliary MTA was welcomed in our city of Corleone and in particular in the parish community of María SS. Delle Grazie of the Franciscan Brothers of the Third Order Regular. The welcome of the picture and its pilgrimage throughout the week until February 4th was an extraordinary experience lived with faith. The visit and presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary has enveloped us with Her maternal love.
In order to take the loving gaze of the Blessed Mother to everyone, She visited in the Saint Clare Institute and the SS. Salvador Institute to those who needed it the most, as in the elderly and it was possible to observe the joy and closeness of her presence through: the prayer of the Holy Rosary, the celebration of the Eucharist and in visiting the rooms of those who were unable to get up to participate in the services. The visit of the picture to the wards our “Dei Bianchi” Hospital, as well as the Eucharistic celebration in the chapel was very touching: She certainly reached the hearts of the many suffering brothers and sisters, who welcomed Her with tears in their eyes, and they prayed with Her and with the entire community for their healing. Everyone was entrusted to Her and everyone entrusted themselves to Her. Many faithful came before the picture with an attitude of faith, a heartfelt faith, entrusting their pain and their worries to Her, She found everyone on Her way, She took charge of their thoughts, prayers, tears as well as joy, in order to entrust everything to the Father because she prays for all of us, her children.
It was truly a work of evangelization
The welcome experienced at the nursery and elementary schools was truly surprising. The children with their festive songs; the teachers with joy in their gaze, and an emotional voice who expressed: “Thank you Mother, for being here, we should go to You instead of You coming to us.”
Enthusiasm infected everyone: it was a celebration above all for the children who lived this experience with all the enthusiasm of which they are capable, and we hope it was unforgettable! During the visit to the middle school, the boys were shown a video that was carried out in part by the ministers of the parish, who presented and explained the Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement, the figures of Pozzobon and Father Kentenich, and the origin and development of the Campaign. We have become missionaries. It was truly a work of evangelization directed at those who perhaps most need it, the boys of good will and sincere availability, who heard it. Several times, we, as missionaries, gathered around the altar with our pastor, Fray José María Gentile of the Third Order Regular, and his brother Fray Bartolo Zappula Third Order Regular.
Living stones for the Church
It is worthwhile to stress the evening Adoration when the sacred image arrived; the splendid concert of the María SS Delle Grazie Choir, the Eucharistic celebration in the cemetery chapel in SS. Salvatore and the Saint Chiara Institute. Several parish groups and the renewal in the spirit of the Ordo Virginum animated the Eucharistic Adoration in the celebration and Adoration in Saint Catherine Church, which has custody of the relics of the Venerable Mother Teresa Cortimiglia, Founder of the Saint Claire Institute of Assissi, the procession of the Auxiliary MTA through the streets of the neighborhood, and concluding with the solemn con-celebration of the Eucharist presided by Father Ludovico Tedeschi with the brothers of the Third Order Regular and those of Renewal. After the solemn con-celebration, the pastor extended special appreciation to Father Ludovico and Sister Ivonne. We cannot express the sincere appreciation for the heartfelt participation of all the parish groups, the joyful collaboration of the Scouts, the closeness of the Campaign families, other than saying: Thank You! Mother and Queen Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt: nothing without You, nothing without us! We entrust our parish community and the entire city of Corleone to You, may it always grow in faith and in fraternal charity. Take care of us with your Motherly gaze, and always reign over us with Your queenly kindness so that we can be living stones for the Church!
Prayer to the Virgin of Schoenstatt
We greet you beautiful Lady
with joy we welcome you
to our school.
Thank you for bringing your light and motherly love.
We are small, but we want to grow
in “holiness and grace”, like your Jesus.
Protect us on the road of our life.
Bless our teachers,
give them much patience and love,
educate us in charity,
altruism, and culture.
Open our mind to knowledge
and our hearts to the welcome.
Bless our families,
May peace reign in each home.
We entrust all the children of the world to you.
May they never lack of affection and what they
need for their life.
Protect us, oh sweet Mother of Jesus,
beneath your mantle. Amen!
(Prayer composed by the teacher, Canella Mariella directed to the Virgin Mary on behalf of the students of the elementary school of Corleone for the arrival of the sacred picture at the Institute)
Greeting for the Virgin of Schoenstatt
It is a great honor for us to have such an important visit today:
The Pilgrim Virgin of Schoenstatt.
It would seem that we should go to You, but instead,
You come to us!
We are here ready, now, to welcome you with respect
and to open the doors of our school.
What can we offer you, beloved Mother?
We offer you the most beautiful flowers, the first fruits: our children!
Do you see their eyes, do you feel their hearts?
They are our joy and our hope!
Keep them close to You and do not permit any of
them to lose the joy of living.
Protect and smile on everyone who works in this school:
Inflame the passion for this special work in them
that is a gift, service, and above all a mission!
May our school become a school of life,
Where our children may serenely grow
beneath your maternal and loving gaze.
Thank you, our Mother!
Close to you, we are ready to become “living stones for the Church”
And we pray that we will always trust in the good Jesus!
(Greeting of welcome directed to the Virgin Mary when she arrived at the elementary school)
Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, Tx :English translation – M.P. Janknegt: English edit
