mev. The “Holy Mass toward 2014 celebrated on December 29th – Saturday during the Christmas season and the end of the year – was in covenant with an apostolic project in the Church field: Mothers of the Schoenstatt Ladies’ Branch from Viña del Mar, Chile, who have sponsored seminarians from the Diocese of Valparaíso for three years.
The ladies visit the seminarians two or three times during the year by celebrating their birthdays (with a cake and gifts), praying with and for them and remaining attached to them. This initiative was motivated by the contact that was created when the seminarians arrived at the parish to perform their practicum and because of the loneliness and discouragement that these young priests might experience. The Mothers of the Schoenstatt Ladies’ Branch became their “godmothers” and they accompany them spiritually and in a natural way.
“We are grateful for this apostolic initiative”
Father Ángel Strada celebrated the Mass; after his introductory remarks, he thanked the Blessed Mother for the apostolic initiative of the Ladies’ Branch from Viña del Mar.
The paper with the names of those who placed their Covenant lives into the hands of the Eternal Father was on the altar once again, among them Sylvia Chanetsa, of the Mothers’ Branch in Zimbabwe and Hubert Fischer from Germany, who lived his covenant of love for more than seventy years. The papers of petitions – this week there were forty pages – were also on the altar during the Mass until the Pilgrimage Prayer 2014 was prayed, when Father Ángel placed them in the jar…there were prayers and expressions of gratitude from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, the United States, Spain, Portugal, Venezuela, South Africa, Italy, Peru, Switzerland, Austria, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Ecuador and Canada.
Special participation
This Saturday, the national delegation from Germany, which organized the European Pilgrimage and the crowning of the European Auxiliary Pilgrim MTA was present; they collaborated with the readings and the songs.
Everyone united in prayer for the project of this week, for the Boys’ Youth Retreat that was held in Schoenstatt, for the Youth Missions, for all those who – like the shepherds and kings – arrived at the shrines around the world throughout these days of Christmas, for peace in Syria and in the world…
This is how the last Mass “toward 2014” of the year was held. Next Saturday, the first Mass of the month will be celebrated for the projects of reconciliation and peace.
Projects and dates January – April 2013
Original: Spanish – English translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, Texas, USA
