PORTUGAL, Lena Castro Valente. “Schoenstatt, meine Welt; meine Welt (Portugal) soll Schoenstatt werden! Adsum. Tecum sum. Mphc. J.K.” – “Schoenstatt, my world; my world (Portugal) shall become Schoenstatt! Here I am. I am yours. J.K.” These words by our Father and Founder, written with his own hand, refer to Portugal as it set out on an adventure to found Schoenstatt here.
Our Father and Founder knew the history of our Marian nation from the time of founding in 1143 (The Land of the Holy Mary). And on 25 March 1640, the image of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception was crowned in Vila Vicosa as the Queen of Portugal (this image dates back to the 14th century and is made of stone).
At the time, King John IV removed the crown from his own head and placed it at Our Lady’s feet. Since then, no Portuguese king has worn a crown because Mary is our Queen.
Fr. Kentenich also knew about the Message of Fatima – having written and spoken about the Schoenstatt/Fatima parallel – and he, therefore, had an intuitive prophetic vision that we, the people of Portugal, could contribute greatly to the expansion and strengthening of Schoenstatt in Europe.
Schoenstatt in Portugal
Schoenstatt was officially founded in Portugal in the summer of 1960 — 54 years ago — and since then it has enjoyed a rich history, with its highs and lows, certainly, as with all histories in which one of the partners is human, but Mother (it couldn’t be any other way) has reigned with faithfulness and love, and through the covenant of love, has built, with us, a new community for the person who wishes to become new, following the example of the Resurrected Lord.
Geographically, Portugal is now a small country, but it has an enormous and universal heart, which allowed it to spread the faith across the globe “giving new worlds to the World” in the voyages of discovery to new continents. This was the fruit of our love for God and a society that was rooted in the Holy Spirit, possessing great advances in science and technology.
We already have four shrines and communities in various dioceses, borne from the Pilgrim Mother Campaign and the Family Missions. We also have a strong presence within the universities and several years ago the Holy Mary College, which adopts our Father and Founder’s pedagogy, was founded in Lisbon.
In summary, it is clear that we are aware of the blessings and graces we have received from the Blessed Mother’s hands and as the people of Portugal, we want to hold a celebration in our country at a venue where it is easier to bring together many, many people who cannot be in Schoenstatt in October. Those who are blessed to be present in the Original Shrine with the entire International Schoenstatt Family, will have the joy of being enriched by this meeting of covenant brothers from different cultures.
Annual walking pilgrimage to Fatima
Every year, the Portuguese Family of the Father organizes a walking pilgrimage to Fatima. Hundreds of people participate in this pilgrimage, which this year will take place on 2-4 May. They will begin in Alcobaça, where they will arrive from several dioceses and are expected to arrive in Fatima late on 3 May. That night, they will meet up with those who made their way by car or bus.
On Sunday, 4 May, there will be time for various activities — seminars, moments of prayer and reflection, games, a shared meal — and the day will end with Mass, celebrated by the president of the Portuguese Bishops Conference, Bishop Manuel Clemente, the Patriarch of Lisbon.
In Portugal, the MTA goes from her shrines to conquer hearts
This pilgrimage is for both those who belong to the Schoenstatt Movement and those who do not, but who often join the movement later because they felt welcomed and encouraged by Schoenstatt’s pedagogy. This is one of many ways in which Schoenstatt’s ranks in Portugal have increased and its members “consecrated themselves entirely to Schoenstatt…” (Heavenwards, 17)
Translated from the Portuguese by Sarah-Leah Pimentel, South Africa
