URUGUAY, Maria del Rosario de Armas Pasó. During the first week of May, the Father Eye Symbol destined for the Original Shrine and on pilgrimage throughout the world during the triennium preparation for the 2014 Jubilee visited Uruguay. Uruguay is the country with the first Daughter Shrine and has the first Father Eye Symbol enthroned in a Schoenstatt Shrine. And to add to its significance, Father Joseph Kentenich himself enthroned the symbol.
The entire Schoenstatt Family enthusiastically prepared for its arrival. Activites were programed in both Montevideo and Nueva Helvecia.
It arrived in Montevideo on May 4th. It was received in a Holy Mass concelebrated by Fr. Francisco Pistilli, regional superior of the Schoenstatt Fathers, and Father Alvaro Rodríguez, a Pallottine priest who is a friend of the Movement. The entire Family was present.
In Nueva Helvecia
On the following day, Saturday, May 5th, the Father Eye Symbol was taken to Nueva Helvecia by Father Alvaro.
It was awaited there with great emotion. The Nueva Helvecia Shrine is the first Daughter Shrine and the place of the first community Covenant of Love with the Father and Founder in 1947. It is also the place where for the first time, he enthroned the Father Eye Symbol on Christmas, 1948. That Symbol was painted on wood by the artist, Irma Ulmer, a now deceased Schoenstatter who shared many moments with our Father and Founder. On repeated occasions, she took Father Kentenich as a model to paint diverse representations of God the Fahter, and in this case she concentrated on his eyes.
Father Alvaro gave the Symbol to Sr. Maristela at the doorway of the Shrine. This is the second time that the Father Eye Symbol destined for the Original Shrine arrives in Nueva Helvecia. The first time was in 1968, when the Symbol also traveled throughout the world after Father Kentenich’s going Home to Eternity.
Holy Mass was concelebrated by Fathers Alvaro and José in the presence of the precious Symbol which travels throughout the world, uniting the Family to Father Kentenich and calling them to the Jubilee celebrations in Schoenstatt, in Rome and throughout the world. The event concluded with a fraternal gathering.
Unforgettable moments
That same day in the afternoon, the Father Eye Symbol returned to Montevideo where the celebrations continued until Tuesday, May 8th, accompanying the Family in Nueva Helvecia until it was sought for by representatives of the Schoenstatt Family from Buenos Aires.
Translation: Carlos Cantú, Schoenstatt Family Federation, La Feria, Texas USA 05252012
