ECUADOR, Ma. Cecilia Avilés/Ma. Elena Vilches. The Father’s Home for the World Family experienced heavenly moments in the Shrine of Guayaquil when the Father Symbol that Father Kentenich gave to the Schoenstatt family passed into the hands of the Family from Brazil.
The Father Symbol arrived in Ecuador exactly two months ago. The Family received it in the Shrine with a solemn and festive Holy Mass. This visit of the Symbol has truly been an event for the Family from Ecuador. “Every person who had contact with the symbol experienced the close presence of our Father.” These months have been a revival of the paternal-filial current that has been enriching the entire Family.
On Sunday, July 3rd, members from the different branches gathered for the celebration of a Farewell Holy Mass for the Symbol Father. The delegation from Brazil was also present sharing these great emotional moments, and they prepared themselves to be the bearers of the Father Symbol for Brazilian lands.
Farewell Holy Mass
The Holy Mass began with the procession led by the International Schoenstatt flag, which reminded those attending of the internationality of the Family, followed by the Brazilian flag with its delegation, the Ecuadorian flag, and the Father Symbol carried by Sister Maria Cecilia, the first Ecuadorian vocation for the Sisters of Mary. In his homily, Father Humberto Salgada alluded to the important anniversary that is commemorated on this day: the consecration of Ecuador to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Ecuador was the first country to be consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the 19th century.
Joyful songs truly demonstrated a thanksgiving experience culminating with the emotional words of Agustin and Gladys Vera that expressed the feeling of “we became children with Father’s visit through the Father Symbol.”
After the Mass, the procession went to the Shrine followed by all those in attendance. Everyone was overcome with moments of great emotion. The Father Symbol presided on the way, and it passed through a path of honor formed by the Apostles of Mary, Allies, Pioneers and Crusaders of the Youth Branches.
“Father, consecrate us daily on the paten”
At the Shrine, the words of Aquiles and Laurita Guerrero, the Leaders of Commission 2014, brought everyone to tears. The entire Family was in agreement with the words they spoke in the Shrine: “When we received the Father Symbol exactly two months ago, we were certain that its visit would give us a time of grace. But we never imagined that it would reveal the mercy of God the Father so clearly when we approached the person of the Father and Founder, since we know that He has been among us.” During a moment of prayer, those participants asked the Father and Founder through the Father Symbol: “Father consecrate us daily on the paten…”
To conclude this hour of grace, Aquiles Guerrero said: “This morning, Ecuador with a profoundly grateful heart presents the Father Symbol to the Schoenstatt Family of Brazil, and it is our desire that its stay on Brazilian lands will awaken the ‘Victoria Patris’ current in each one of the communities it visits.” In this fashion, the Father Symbol was formally presented to the Family of Brazil, who received it with similar enormous emotion.
The Family of Ecuador bid farewell to the Father Symbol with profound gratitude and devotion.
For you Father, united on the Paten.
Your Covenant, our mission.
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