USA, Carlos Cantú. The Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign in the Diocese of Brownsville sponsored a Schoenstatt Marian Conference on Saturday, June 9, 2012.
The Conference was held at El Buen Pastor parish (Good Shepherd) in Brownsville, Texas. The Conference which began at 2:30 PM commenced with a most heartfelt welcome from the pastor, Father Rafael Vega. He expressed his joy at having this Conference in his parish and heartily welcomed the Schoenstatt Movement and all the participants, many of whom are also his parishioners. Also in attendance was his present assistant, Fr. Joe Villalón. Fr. Villalón, a diocesan priest also, has strong connections to the Schoenstatt Movement. Not only were his parents members of the first group for couples in La Feria, he also participated in the Schoenstatt Boys’ Youth and was a pilgrim to Schoenstatt and Rome in 1985, when the 100th birthday of Father Joseph Kentenich was celebrated. The speakers for the Conference were: Schoenstatt Father Héctor Vega from Austin, Texas and one of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, Sr. M. Gloria Mauricio from the Schoenstatt Center/Confidentia Shrine in Rockport/Lamar, Texas.
Almost 200 people participated in the Conference; many wore their distinctive Schoenstatt T-shirts that they often don when they go on pilgrimage to the Confidentia Shrine or attend other Schoenstatt Movement events. They provided a colorful array since they are in different colors, some have the image of the MTA on them, the Rosary or some other Schoenstatt symbol. They wear their T-shirts proudly and as a symbol of belonging to the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt. The participants were from several cities in the four-county diocese.
Rosary Campaign contributions
Also enhancing the Conference was the presence of approximately 100 Pilgrim MTA’s. It is so beautiful to see how revered these images are. Many are graced with crowns, or Rosaries, or flowers, or some other decoration or insignia, which gives distinct identification. The presence of the Auxiliary MTA, which the Rosary Campaign always brings to special Schoenstatt events, was predominant amongst the Pilgrim MTA’s. Eight Novenarias were also a highlight. The Novenarias are a special apostolate of Mrs. Raquel Guillen, an octogenarian who works tirelessly for the Schoenstatt Movement and the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign. The Novenaria is in the shape of a Pilgrim MTA, but much larger. These are about four feet tall and three feet wide. Apologies if these are not the correct measurements, but they are large, beautiful images. The purpose of the Novenarias is to visit a family for nine days (like a 9-day novena). The family accepts the image in their home and the family prays a 9-day novena to the MTA. After the nine days, they are invited to receive a Pilgrim MTA every month for three days, and, of course, for one year as is done in the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign. It has proven to be a powerful and most effective apostolate. Many relate the miracles and graces which they receive through the visit of this image into their homes.
Leading all Heavenwards
After the welcome, Mr. Juan Lara led a beautiful Rosary; he used the Rosary of God’s Instruments from HEAVENWARDS. The recitation of the Rosary led the way for the first presentation that was given by Sr. M. Gloria. Sr. Gloria stressed the following points in her inspiring presentation:
- Schoenstatt as a place of grace
- The three graces through the web of Daughter Shrines and Home Shrines
- The Heart Shrines and the Pilgrim MTA and how each visit of the Pilgrim MTA recalls the visit of the Blessed Mother to her cousin Elizabeth
- Mary is the bearer of Christ and takes Christ to those who need Him and we help Her to fulfill this mission
- Father Kentenich proclaims the glories of Mary
- The Shrine is the cradle of sanctity and the workshop of the Blessed Mother
- Mary is our Mother and Educator
- We want to see ourselves in her image
- The Schoenstatt Office in Heavenward and how we relate to the different places, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Tabor…..
Emphasizing the Shrine Current
After the first presentation, everyone enjoyed a nice coffee break and had time to renew acquaintances and greet old friends.
Father Héctor Vega’s presentation followed the coffee break. He also gave an enlightening presentation, stressing the following points:
- The Shrine is the place of our encounter with God, encounter with the Divine
- The miracles of transformation
- Mary feeling sheltered in the heart of God
- The transformation of the little chapel
- Although he faced confrontations with the Church, Joao Pozzobon always felt sheltered by the Blessed Mother in the Shrine
- Joseph Engling, in the darkest moments of the war, felt sheltered…he felt as if he were in the Shrine, sheltered in the heart of Mary…covered with her mantle
Another Shrine?
Following the presentation by Fr. Héctor Vega, Carlos Cantú spoke to the participants about the recent discussions regarding a future Schoenstatt Shrine in the diocese. He emphasized that they do not know when or where this will take place, but that they must first build the Shrine spiritually with prayers and sacrifices. Through prayers and sacrifices, all have to demonstrate to the Blessed Mother that they are serious about the endeavor, and that they truly want Her to dwell in their midst in her Schoenstatt Shrine. All were invited to participate by using a leaflet with the outline of a Shrine. The diagram of the Shrine on the leaflet is designed with small empty spaces where the participants can fill in by coloring or writing in their prayers and sacrifices. All leaflets will be deposited into the foundation of the future Shrine and thus all who participate can be involved with the spiritual construction of the Shrine.
Music and Miracles
Mr. Lorenzo Rodríguez and Mrs. Yolanda Puga heightened the mood of the conference with their guitar music and singing. Several inspiring songs were sung, much to the delight of the participants. Everyone especially enjoyed the song about las dos mamás (the two mothers, one being the earthly mother and the other the Blessed Mother). This was followed by three women who each gave heart-wrenching testimonies and how they had been helped by the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt. All had become acquainted with the Pilgrim MTA, and She had come into their lives, homes and families at precisely difficult times. The first lady narrated her struggle with cancer and all that goes with that. At one point, she had been emaciated to eighty pounds, and today she is healthy and strong again. The second lady had also been diagnosed with eight tumors in her abdomen. Today there is no trace of any illness. The second part of her testimony had to do with her son’s struggle with drug addiction. He had hit rock bottom. Today, he is dedicated to his family, working hard, praying the Rosary daily, and free of all drug dependency. The third lady gave a moving testimony on how she had dealt with her son being in the armed forces since 9/11. Blessed Mother took care of her son in marvelous ways, and she will be ever grateful for the help of the Blessed Mother.
“Who am I that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?”
After a short break, the participants prepared for Holy Mass. The procession began with the Auxiliary Image of the MTA followed by the Novenarias and the Pilgrim MTA’s. These images graced the front of the altar with the Auxiliary Image at the center. The Auxiliary Image was crowned after the homily, using the recent coronation prayer at the Brownsville Diocese May Pilgrimage to the Confidentia Shrine on May 20th. Fr. Héctor Vega presided at the Holy Mass and Fr. Joe Villalón concelebrated. In his homily, Fr. Vega stressed Elizabeth’s words at the visitation: “Who am I that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?” Fr. Vega said that something has to change in us…..we cannot say that we believe in God and not accept the brother at our side.
The Conference was a moving experience for everyone. It was evident that many left the Conference with a renewed spirit of commitment to the Blessed Mother’s work through the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign…..an awareness that they are instruments in the hands of the Blessed Mother preparing the way for Christ!
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