AUSTRALIA/BRAZIL, Sheldon Burke. My name is Sheldon Burke; I’m 21 and live in Perth, Western Australia. I have just arrived back from one of the most amazing experiences of my life, in Brazil for WYD 2013. It was such an incredible experience and I thank the Lord for leading us through such a blessed pilgrimage. It is with great gratitude that I thank our Mother Thrice Admirable for interceding for all her children whilst on this pilgrimage. This experience has changed me so much spirituality, that I had not realised it until I had come back to Perth.
The Schoenstatt Shrine in Brasilia
One of my most special experiences on WYD Rio was travelling to the Schoenstatt Shrine in Brasilia, the city where the Archdiocese of Perth stayed during the mission week. Initially the day was meant to be for going out to the poorer neighbourhoods. One of the main reasons I travelled for World Youth Day which was to be a missionary! Unfortunately due to unseen circumstances, the mission was cancelled and instead we travelled to a tourist destination up on the hill of Brasilia. When we arrived at the tourist destination, we saw a little shrine that looked like a Schoenstatt Shrine! I was very excited and happy as my family and I have a great devotion to the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt! We were greeted by a warm, loving Schoenstatt Sister who was overjoyed to see us. This reminded me of the many times I travel to the Shrine in Perth and am greeted by the loving Sisters there. It felt like no matter where I was in the world, Our Blessed Mother would always bring me to this great place of grace. I prayed there with such joy, with my new friends from Brasilia, especially my host sister Andrea and my already existing friends from Perth. It was an experience I will never forget.
Young, vibrant, faithful
Not only was I able to experience the Shrine in Brasillia, I was able to meet many youth groups from the Schoenstatt Movement throughout my pilgrimage, especially in Rio de Janeiro where I would shout out to them “Eu emo Nossa Senhora de Schoenstatt” which means, “I love Our Lady of Schoenstatt”. Their youth movements were so young, so vibrant and so faithful and it really inspired me. I have been going to the Schoenstatt Shrine with my parents since I was young, but as I got older I was brought back to this wonderful place of grace with the youth event Shrine Time, a Holy Hour of prayer and adoration and a time that allows me to forget all my worries and place them in the hands of our Mother Thrice Admirable, who in turn intercedes to her Son.
I am so grateful for having this experience and it feels that no matter where I am in the world, our Mother Thrice Admirable will always call me to her Shrine and remind me of how much she loves me.
Graças a Deus!
