INDIA, Fr. Sunny Thomas/mda. When in October 2011, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed the Year of Faith in service of the New Evangelization, many Schoenstatt people all over the world were deeply moved – first of all for this apostolic challenge (who could be a member of an Apostolic Movement and not the thrilled with the Universal Church calling for the New Evangelization?) -, and then with the very date of beginning and end, the Year of Faith coinciding with the year of the missionary current in preparation of the Schoenstatt Jubilee of the Covenant of Love; it is a coincidence that goes far beyond the timely match. Also in India, where Schoenstatt as a Movement is just beginning, the awareness of the Year of Faith lived in the missionary spirit of the Covenant of Love is strong. The Schoenstatt Fathers and seminarians at the shrine in Madurai are convinced that in this Year of Faith the Mother Thrice Admirable wants to transform the pilgrims through her son into “Marian Evangelists from the Shrine.”
Already in December 2012, in preparation for the Feast of the Shrine on December 8th, 2012, this was the main idea. “The success of the feast was the fulfillment of our wish and the blessing of the omnipotent God who has provided us the power and energy to work hard for the success of this feast,” they commented. The feast, marked by candles, flowers and many other expressions of inculturation of Schoenstatt, could give a great impact to the pilgrims to be faithful and make Schoenstatt their own.
Special intentions during the triduum
The feast was prepared with a triduum starting on December 5th. On each triduum day the pilgrims prayed for special intentions. The triduum began with the Fr Rony, assistant parish priest at St Paul’s, raising the flag, followed by Holy Mass, and prayers in front of the shrine.
On the first day, the pilgrims prayed specially for the handicapped, the sick and the children. Fr Rony presided over the Eucharistic celebration where all implored Mary to be their helper in everything. Many sick people were presented in the Eucharistic Celebration to receive the blessing from the shrine.
On the second day of the triduum, all prayed for the religious. Rev. Fr. Thomas Thanniyanickal, CMF, presided over the liturgy. On the third day of thetriduum, the pilgrims prayed for families. Fr. Xavier Terrence, professor of St. Peter’s was the main celebrant. He gave an inspiring message on the topic of “Mother of faithful yes.”
Around 800 pilgrims present
On the feast day, around eight hundred pilgrims made their way to the shrine to see the Blessed Mother and ask her intercession to find the way to Christ. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Rev. Fr Joe Irudayaraj. Rev. Fr Shajan Manickathan en-lightened the pilgrims with his sermon on the theme, “Marian Evangelists from the shrine.” After the holy Eucharist, everyone went in procession to the shrine for a renewal of the covenant of love and Eucharistic benediction in front of the shrine. A good spiritual atmosphere marked the whole liturgical celebration. A newly founded choir had worked hard and enhanced the solemn celebration with their wonderful songs.
Finally the Schoenstatt Fathers and seminarians shared the food with the pilgrims.
The blessing of the feast was visible in the eyes of the pilgrims as the great hope, satisfaction and the veneration to the Blessed Mother.
