HUNGARY, Barbara and Gabor Szelestei. Cerszegtomaj was the last stop for the Father Symbol in Hungary; on February 28th there was a ceremony to present the Father Symbol to the delegation from Poland. On the 26th, the couple, the Attila’s, and Aliz Jagicza arrived at Cserszegtomaj to receive the Father Symbol. Mothers, fathers, and children from the ten families, who live in the surrounding area, came to welcome the Symbol with singing, prayers, and listening to the history of the Father Symbol.
The Father Symbol reminds us of our relationship with our heavenly Father. It is important for us to know that “He sees us, he loves us, and he needs us.” If we abandon ourselves without worry to Divine Providence with an attitude of filial trust, we can be transformed into useful instruments in the hands of the Heavenly Father; the Father can love everyone that surrounds us with our heart. In this way, we, as good fathers and mothers, can educate the biological or spiritual children who have been entrusted to us.
In April the Hungarian Schoenstatt Family is preparing to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the dedication of the only Schoenstatt Shrine that exists in Hungary by sealing a covenant with Father Kentenich asking that he be their educator and leader. Seeing this act in the light of the pilgrimage, they also received the visit of Father Kentenich through the Father Symbol in a very special way. And it was a confirmation of their proposal, while the Father Symbol went from Homeshrine to Homeshrine, Father Kentenich also went as if he were telling them: “All right, I accept the invitation and I am here with you.”
Another beautiful experience of this pilgrimage was the way in which the families took the Symbol to other families. In the practical as well in a figurative sense, they searched and found the way that led them to respective homes in such a way that they reached families they had never met before. The presence of the Father Symbol enabled the families to encounter both the Heavenly Father and Father Kentenich.
Farewell of the Father Symbol
At nightfall on February 28th, a small group of pilgrims (two Schoenstatt Fathers, a Sister of Mary, and lady from the Family Branch) arrived at Óbudavár from Poland. They came for the Father Symbol, since the pilgrimage through Poland would begin on March 1st. The ceremony of presentation of the symbol was held during a Holy Mass celebrated by Father Arkadinsz and his co-brother in three languages, German, Polish, and Hungarian. It was wonderful to recall the profound spiritual attachment of the two nations. It was also touching to hear how the members of the Polish delegation visited the Shrine of the Black Virgin of Czestochowa before traveling to Óbudavár, where they prayed at Our Lady’s feet for their Hungarian friends. This was the reason they brought two crowns to crown the Blessed Mother in the two Shrines in order to return rich in graces for transmitting the spiritual fruits of their trip.
Before the final blessing, Roberto and Rita Gódány presented the Father Symbol to the Polish delegation so that the Schoenstatters of this country could experience and live in the Father current.
Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio /Melissa Janknegt, Elgin, USA
