ITALY, Marie- Christine Jeannenot •
The weekend of June 17 and 18 was a time of great celebration for the Schoenstatt Apostolic Family Federation in Italy at the Cor Ecclesiae Shrine in Rome. —
Sunshine and joy dominated the meeting, the atmosphere was cheerful and like a Roman “dolce vita” in such a beautiful place as the Schoenstatt Shrine. Imagine this combination of beauty and the scent of spring, and of course the good Italian dinners after the Masses on March 17 and 18.
The first course of the Italian Schoenstatt Family Federation …
On June 17, the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the first course “Mariae Apostoli” (the final name of the course after the provisional name “Vino Nuovo”) celebrated its consecration after three years of preparation.
The consecration of the eight couples of the course took place during a Holy Mass in the Shrine, in the presence of Stefan and Maria Pelz (from the international leadership of the Apostolic Family Federation) and the course assistants (Father Beltrán Gomez, Sister Asunción Bergen Pape, the Argentinean couple Gabriela and Gastón Zurita).
The following day, during Covenant Mass, the first course of the Italian Federation was able to share the good news of the consecration with their families and the different Schoenstatt groups from Italy who were present in the Cor Ecclesiae Shrine, renewing their prayer of consecration and commitment to the mission.
… thanks and greets the entire Schoenstatt Family of the entire world
The couples of the “Mariae Aposteli” have entrusted their journey (personally, as a couple and as a community) to the Lord and the Blessed Mother with the Blanket Authority, with the strength of the Covenant of Love, the Sacrament of Matrimony (in the light of the Evangelical Counsels), the priestly intercession of the Father and Founder, the course ideal (“Apostles of Mary, on the way to the families”) and the capital of grace of the covenant brothers and sisters.
In this sense, the first Italian course “Mariae apostoli” thanks once again the entire Schoenstatt Family and especially all the Schoenstatt Family Federations in the world for the communion of prayer, the affection and the gifts received.
Moved by so much affection and enveloped in so much love, all the couples of “Mariae apostoli” pray for each one of you as they wait to perhaps one day meet in person.
Original: Italian. Translation: Maria Fischer @schoenstatt.org
