ROME, Lucas Weiss. “Our mission has been accomplished.” This sentence from the homily by Fr. Ludovico Tedeschi, the national director for the Schoenstatt Movement in Italy, was repeated during the farewell celebration on Saturday, 18 January, so that they would not forget it. This sentence was used at the official farewell for the Hurts, the guardian family for the Belmonte shrine, attended by more than 150 people. Three years ago, they heard the Blessed Mother’s calling and gave up their country, their friends and relatives, their work and their security. They often said that they wanted these three years to be a time of grace for their marriage and family and thus lived their time here in this manner giving their personal cradle to Belmonte.
The celebration began at 4:00 p.m. with the rosary prayer, followed by Holy Mass at Saint Gemma Galgani Parish. In his homily, Fr. Ludovico said that the same hand that took them to Rome and the same call that encouraged them to leave everything, now takes them and calls them back to their country. He added that their apostolate of giving witness to family does not end here, but will bear new fruit from their experiences in Rome.
Everyone processed to the shrine, where the petitions of many pilgrims to Belmonte and members of the Hurt family in the jar were burned, becoming a living prayer. Each person had the opportunity to say a prayer to the Blessed Mother in the shrine, so that she can take them to Her Son Jesus.
A beautiful celebration as an expression of gratitude
The visitors were offered drinks and snacks in the Covenant House and they had the opportunity to bid farewell to the Hurt family personally. The Hurt children, Kuba and Anežka, together with other friends presented dances they had learned at school. Sr. M. Julia, Anežka and some of the Girls’ Youth entertained everyone with their songs. The rector, Fr. Stephan Müller, was the MC for the evening and even played a song on his guitar. The bring-and-share meal and the flowers made it a beautiful celebration and a night to be remembered.
Monsignor Wolf, the general rector of the Diocesan Institute of Priests, gave a speech of thanks in which he stressed the importance of the decision made by the young and vibrant family which gave Belmonte its versatility. Their gift also expressed the thanks of Auxiliary Bishop Michael Gerber and the Institute of Priests. The gift was made by the same artist who made auxiliary bishop’s staff. It is a wooden emblem with an engraving of the Belmonte logo on the front and the Jubilee 2014 logo on the back.
The Neiser family, the general superiors of the Family Institute, also expressed their gratitude and respect for the enormous decision that the Hurt family made three years ago and which they must take again now. They also highlighted some of the memorable events that the family experienced here. Anežka, their eldest daughter, made her First Holy Communion in this shrine and Kristyna was born under the attentive gaze of the Father Symbol that was visiting Belmonte at the time. She is a true Roman!
Experiencing the loving care of the “Master”
The Hurt Family’s farewell speech was very touching. It was a deep and simple trust in the guidance of God and of the Blessed Mother. They not only allowed themselves to fall into God’s hand when they departed for Belmonte but, now, on their return He is asking for all their faith and trust. Monika Hurt said that she attended Mass here in the Rome Shrine three years ago and did not understand a single word, but wanted to take the risk this adventure and that she would do it again. She said that their future is unclear with regard to work and other plans. But they firmly believe that they can count on God, He will not abandon them.
They shared a special memory with their guests from 18 October 2013, at the start of the jubilee year. Kuba, the family’s eldest son was having a swimming lesson with several other children while preparations were being made at Belmonte for Holy Mass and the day’s celebrations. The family received a phone call to say that Kuba had lost consciousness while diving and coach was fortunately alert and had saved his life. It was a very frightening moment for the family, but it was also a sign for the following year. This incident confirmed their desire for holiness and to discover their personal ideal, thereby going beyond their limits without the fear of drowning. Just as their son was saved by the alert coach, they know that God, the great Master, will always put out his saving hand when we are about to fail and are afraid of drowning. The Hurt family said that this certainty accompanied them during these three years and helped them not to be anxious even in apparently impossible and difficult moments. The Hurts left the guests with the grace of gratitude for having the courage to follow Providence, especially to those families they met over the last three years.
In the end, one can truly say that the Hurt family not only gave the Blessed Mother one but rather, six faces and that thanks to them, Belmonte has grown a great deal over the last three years, according to one of the guests at the celebration.
Original: German – Translation: Celina M. Garza San Antonio, TX USA
