mkf. Only two weeks had passed without a Holy Mass on a Saturday morning “in preparation for 2014” because Christmas and New Year’s fell on a Saturday, but it seemed like a much longer time. This Holy Mass in its simplicity and regularity is a strong sign of the unity of the common pilgrimage of the Schoenstatt Family toward 2014, in good measure, because it is here that the worries of the World-wide Schoenstatt Family converge and are offered in prayer. It was also for this reason that (within the now famous blue USB) all the “stars” remained in the Original Shrine’s manger from before Christmas until January 8th.
The largest virtual pilgrimage to the Original Shrine
Father José María García – spoke in Spanish and German – about those, who from all the continents virtually sent to Schoenstatt – and specifically to the Original Shrine – the “Stars in the Manger,” which totaled more than 50,000 names of relatives, friends, and many other people as an expression of the large pilgrimage current toward the Original Shrine. In the petitions, we again prayed for those people whose names appear on the stars. Among them were the residents of Humboldthöhe, who were visited by a group of Schoenstatters on December 23rd and who brought their names to the Original Shrine along with the names of their living and deceased relatives as well as their friends. It was a beautiful gesture to close the Christmas season and this large virtual pilgrimage to the Original Shrine with a Holy Mass.
The Schoenstatt worries throughout the world can be
This first Holy Mass “toward 2014” of this new year was also especially dedicated to Father Ernesto Durán, the first Chilean Schoenstatt Father, who died the day before at the age of 94 and to Father Horacio Rivas, who died on the Feast of the Holy Family. They were two great Schoenstatt personalities, who marked the lives of innumerable people. At the same time, there were those “stars” that shed light on Schoenstatt from heaven. We also prayed for a lady who died on January 6th, whose name is probably only known by the readers of the International website on the Internet and by the small Schoenstatt Family from Villa La Angostura, in the Argentinean Patagonia. Last December when she was already gravely ill with cancer, Silvina González and her husband sealed their Covenant of Love in the wayside shrine of Villa La Angostura; they were the first ones from their city to do this.
Schoenstatt in Ethiopia
We also prayed for the missions that began this week in several countries, and for the family missions that will start next week in several parts of South America. Of course we also prayed for the pilgrimage of all the Schoenstatt Family worldwide in 2014, during this Year of the Father Current that is experienced with such enthusiasm, joy, and imagination.
Ethiopia was a country incorporated into the Covenant during the first Mass “Toward 2014”. Schoenstatt has reached this country – quietly and discretely – through the Pilgrim MTA with the graces of the Covenant of Love. An unusual fact: The Blessed Mother has already been at the airport of Addis Ababa several times – the last time was through the International Auxiliary MTA before its arrival for the Planning Conference 2014.
From now on there will be a Holy Mass in the Original Shrine every Saturday at 7:15 a.m., and every first Saturday of the month, everyone is invited to a breakfast at House Marienau.
Video of the Holy Mass on January 8th
Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, Melissa Janknegt, Elgin, USA
