Jaraguá Shrine celebrates its 50 year jubilee

BRAZIL, Sueli Vilarinho •

The Shrine of our Mother and Queen of Schoenstatt in São Paulo/SP, situated in Jaraguá, is celebrating the 50^th anniversary of its founding and mission. The shrine was blessed on 31 May 1969 and since then, has welcomed many pilgrims, families, youth, consecrated men and women, and laity from so many different backgrounds, drawing them into a personal encounter with God through our Mother Thrice Admirable.—

In order to celebrate these five decades of grace, the regional community of the Institute of the Schoenstatt Fathers, together with the Schoenstatt Family, are preparing a jubilee celebration taking place between the end of May and the beginning of June 2019.

On 31 May, Mass will be broadcast live on TV Canção Nova at 8pm Brazilian time.

The day-long jubilee celebration will take place on 2 June, culminating with Mass celebrated by the Cardinal of São Paulo/SP, Odilo Scherer, together with the Auxiliary Bishop of the Brasilândia Region, Devair Araújo da Fonseca, the fathers of the General Superior Council (resident in Germany) and several other priests.

It will be broadcast live via Facebook at 4pm Brazilian time, by the Brasilândia Pascom Communication Apostolate at @pascombras

The Jubilee Shrine

Jubilee motto: With Mary, in the heart of the Father, Zion renews the mission!

The rector of the Sion shrine and the superior of the Schoenstatt Fathers in Brazil, Fr. José Fernando Bonini, shared his desire for this jubilee: “We wish that the Mother of God act from this place, creating a unity of hearts in the heart of the Father. May this place continue to be even better known and that all who come here may experience these graces.”

1000 Ave Marias

On 11 May 2019, a 1000 Hail Marys were said at the Zion Shrine. About 60 people joined in, encouraged by gratitude for the 50 years of our Mother and Queen’s presence and the return of the Ave Maria frame which was reinstalled in the shrine after being taken away for repair.

Each Branch of the Schoenstatt Family prayed 100 Hail Marys. Between the hymns that marked every 200 Hail Marys, the 1000 Hail Marys took more than four hours to pray. At the end, the symbol of the Jubilee, which marked the mysteries, was complete.

According to Edna Serivdori, who organized the event, it is time to look back on Schoenstatt’s history and how each person has contributed to it and to once again take up their mission, each according to their abilities.

“The Hail Marys are offerings, an impulse from our hearts, moved by love for our Mother and Queen and her mission at this Zion Shrine. We rejoice in her presence and offer her our love and gratitude.

Gratitude is first and foremost to relive and take up the mission placed on the fragile shoulders of generations passed, led by Eternal Love.”

Covenant of Love

On 18 May 2019, at the Zion Shrine in Jaraguá, on the day of the renewal of the Covenant of Love, Mass was celebrated by Fr. Marcelo Aravena and concelebrated by Fr. José Fernando Bonini, Fr. Ailton Brito and Fr. Afonso Wosny Filho. Sr. Elvira Maria, the spiritual director for the Mothers’ Branche, was also present at the celebration, together with a group of 22 mothers who made their Covenannt of Love with mary, and about 200 people from the local family who participated in the celebration.

Original: Portuguese, 25 May. Translation: Sarah-Leah Pimentel, Cape Town, South Africa