| “For Schoenstatt in the coming hundred years”“Accept our love, our loyalty, our yes – for Schoenstatt in the new hundred years. That is what this torch stands for.” Those words rang out during the vigil celebration at the 2014 Jubilee in the huge pilgrims’ arena. The fire brought by our young people from Italy, which lit the fire in the large fire basin and the candles of the pilgrims, became the symbol of this evening and of a new start. Above all, however, it was a promise. Whoever lit his or her candle, took over the torch, or said “Blessed Mother, here I am!” in the shrine, looked gratefully into our history, but did not remain there; instead they took the next step into the future. In front of the Cross on the Pilgrim’s Lawn beside the Original Shrine there is now the silhouette of a runner and the large fire basin of the Jubilee. Both stand for the new start … and more. The silhouette of the runner is the positive image of one figure which was set up in 2010 in Belmonte by one of the young men who took part in the first larger torch relay in 2009. “Shine your light”. They carried the message they had received into the heart of the Church. It became the golden thread that moved the youthful hearts at that time. Just as the Jubilee in Rome and Schoenstatt had two poles, so the same figure, made from the same material, but facing in the opposite direction can be found at both places. In Schoenstatt it faces the shrine, in Rome it looks out into the worldFelix Geyer
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My fingerprint for the Queen of Belmonte
Humanly speaking the Belmonte project is much too big for us, the Institute of Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests. However, with heavenly support what exceeds our means and strength it can become possible.
This was the reason why, in the course of the General Congress of Institute Priests, the idea arose to crown the Blessed Mother Queen of Belmonte.
The crown itself was to be really simple, in keeping with our slender purse. We also wanted as many people as possible to join in, including those who were not at the General Congress. A crown was made from cardboard in the form of a river delta. This image beautifully captures Belmonte’s mission:
From the Matri Ecclesia Shrine many rivers flow into the world. Everyone can “sign” the crown with a fingerprint. They have been arriving from the Philippines, Franconia, Argentina, the Czech Republic, and each day more are arriving!
Fr Martin Emge
Bamberg Regional Day – the theme Belmonte
The International Schoenstatt Centre in Belmonte, Rome, is not unknown to the Schoenstatters of this region, not only because of their visits there, about which the visitors repeatedly send enthusiastic reports, even if those visits took place years before. Karin and Kuno Leibold, the leaders of the Region, have added printed “Belmonte Infos” to the Regional Letter in the last few years, and repeatedly mention Belmonte and its mission. So those who attended this year’s Regional Day on 30 October were very open for the subject of Belmonte, which was made visible through an information stand, a tombola, and a talk by Fr Egle, photos and videos. Besides everything that moved hearts and minds, the financial result was impressive: the tombola, collection and sale of refreshments collected 2,124 Euros for Belmonte, which at present, when the building work is being completed, can be put to very good use!
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Covenant Day in Belmonte
As on every Covenant Day a small group of pilgrims met at the Belmonte Schoenstatt shrine on 18 November to celebrate the covenant of love. Afterwards the slips of paper with contributions to the capital of grace, which had been placed in the course of the month into the jar – it is still the one from Chile that had been brought into the shrine in March to mark the dedication of the shrine at Talca – were burnt.
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