PERU, Queca Espinoza. It was the final days of December 2010 and upon returning from Sunday Mass at the Schoenstatt Shrine in La Molina, Lima, Mr. And Mrs. Chang and Queca, who belongs to the Ladies’ Branch, conversed in their Home shrine as they looked at a book about the 50th Anniversary of the Founding of Schoenstatt in Ecuador when they found a photo of Sister Petra. They asked themselves: what if we invite her to come to Peru to have her tell about the experiences she had with the Founding Father in Milwaukee, and how her life changed since she knew him personally? This would be a highlight for the current of the Year of the Father.
They had the idea and the enthusiasm, but it had to be made reality. Looking at the picture of the Blessed Mother, they offered this to the Capital of Grace: “We are going to make it a reality.”
“I will go to Peru”
Phone numbers were quickly found, contacts via the Internet were made to see if Sister Petra could come. Speaking with her, she said: “I will present your request to my superior, you be patient and make contributions to the Capital of Grace, because if it is something for the Blessed Mother, it will be done.” They waited patiently, offering it to the Blessed Mother, until the day that Sister Petra replied: “I will come to Peru from August 23rd to September 6th.
When one waits for something very impatiently and then receives an affirmative answer, they feel a certain fear before the unknown! But as Schoenstatters in soul, one also feels serenity and trust to do the work, and the desire to be bold to conquer the desires of the heart, and that was done.
Fundraising…
They thought, “We need to raise funds for this visit, and the idea emerged to have a dinner with a drawing of donated objects. The nice and stimulating thing was to see how the Blessed Mother works equally as when the first person was approached to get an estimate and the availability of dates, they were offered a place in the city’s most important restaurant, and not only that, they donated the meal, because it was for the Blessed Mother!
A meal with a drawing
They had taken the first step, the second step was to sell the tickets and the same thing happened. The Blessed Mother touched the people, and they voluntarily signed up. Thus the restaurant’s capacity was reached moreover, they received donations of objects for the drawing.
The third step was for the guests to feel welcomed, sheltered, and well attended at the restaurant. And so it was, because when they entered the Blessed Mother in the Auxiliary Shrine welcomed them. The food was delicious; the personal attention and service in the company of the owners of the restaurant was another sign that the Blessed Mother was present as our Mother working along with us to fulfill our desires.
A new “Restaurant Shrine”
Bishop Salvador Piñeiro, military bishop of Lima, attended, and he blessed the picture that the organizers gave the owners and it was immediately enthroned in the restaurant. Father Rafael Reátegui, a diocesan priest, who sealed the Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother, also attended.
The participants left after a very beautiful night shared with friends who had helped to make this project a reality.
Welcome to Peru
Now we have the arduous task to develop an attractive agenda for her visit that we will we tell you about later.
Anyone who wants to come to Peru attracted by Sister Petra’s visit will be welcomed and sheltered in the Shrine of La Molina in Lima, and in the Shrine of Ciudad de Trujillo where she will also visit.
