Agathe Hug/org. Saturday, January 28, 2012, marked the end of an intense week in Schoenstatt. Father Andrew Pastore mentioned the events of the week in his introduction of the Holy Mass in Covenant with the Dominican Republic: Father Jonanthan Niehaus’ funeral and the way in which one man can touch so many people in his life and in his death. Then a small but important step on the way toward 2014: This week, Father Pastore has become one of the first official residents of Covenant House where he will live and work- as the person in charge of the www.schoenstatt2014.org webpage and the monthly newsletter, “Toward 2014.”
Although during the coming months, he will only be living at Covenant House for a couple days of the month; it is a small step forward on the way toward 2014. In the coming weeks, María Elena Vilches, from Ecuador, will arrive at Covenant House to reinforce the Communication team, and many more people are expected to arrive.
The tertiary has become a tradition in the celebration of the Mass
On the morning of January 28th, the Original Shrine was too small once again. There were Sisters, who had a meeting in Schoenstatt, girls from Schönstatt-Zeit, (Time in Schoenstatt, the tertiary of the Schoenstatt Fathers) and a varied group of faithful. Fortunately it was not so cold this morning, and it was not raining, so those who had to listen to the Mass outside of the Shrine did not become blocks of ice.
In their trilingual introduction, Father Andrew and Father Raúl Espina introduced the Dominican Republic, and they read the petitions for which this Saturday morning’s Mass would be offered: For the Schoenstatt Family in the Dominican Republic and all their missionary projects, for the worldwide pilgrimage of the Schoenstatt Family toward 2014 and for a pilgrimage atmosphere that will be a testimony of faith for many people: for the family missions in Argentina, which would end this weekend, for all the members of the Schoenstatt Family, who died this week and for all those, who are seriously ill, and especially for the people of Nigeria and other parts of the world that suffer from violence, terrorism and natural disasters. And of course, for all those who sent their petitions, supplications, and expressions of gratitude to the Original Shrine from Croatia (for the first time!), Brazil, Argentina, United States, Chile, Spain, Bolivia, Scotland, Italy and Portugal.
The jar is already too small…
As always, everyone approached the jar. The jar in the Original Shrine is almost always full and perhaps it is time to get a new one, because there is not much room for the sheets where the petitions and offerings are written…A sign of the overflowing love of the Shrine.
The following week: Romania
The following Saturday, the Mass was offered in Covenant with Romania. Sister M. Aenn, who works there, has written the preliminary article. The Holy Mass was transmitted through Schoenstatt-tv, like every first Saturday of the month and afterwards a breakfast was offered in Marienau. This is also an opportunity for Schoenstatters from the different places and affiliations to get to know each other.
Information and petitions for the Holy Masses can be downloaded (on pdf format) on Fridays at schoenstatt.org (News 2014).
Celina M. Garza: Spanish/English translation – M. Peña-Janknegt: English edit
