COLOMBIA, Carlos Aranguren. During the days of the Jubilee celebration, the Colombian Schoenstatt Family of Bogotá vividly experienced the lack of not having a Schoenstatt Shrine. It was believed the Jubilee indulgence was lost because we were not close to a Shrine. After making a request to the Archbishop of Bogotá, Cardinal Rubén Salaza Gómez, it was granted to a parish that had opened its doors to Schoenstatt. The pastor fell in love with the Mother Thrice Admirable, and this January, he will participate in a diocesan priests’ retreat in Chile.
The celebration was held at the primate’s cathedral; Cardinal Gómez celebrated. Since we do not have a Shrine, Providence took care that the location as well as the celebrant were very special.
What could be offered to the Blessed Mother? Father Humberto Salgado, the adviser, visited Bogotá in October 6 – 13. He celebrated ten pilgrims’ covenants, four of them are parents of boys, who belong the Schoenstatt Boys’ Youth and five covenants were couples. A group of Colombians went on pilgrimage to Schoenstatt representing the entire family.
The Girls’ Youth organized a vigil accompanied by their adviser, Sister M. Amparo, who was another gift from heaven, she accompanied the invitations made on radio and television and she collaborated with the celebration of the 18th.
The day arrived
The day arrived, the cathedral was beautiful, and leading the accompanying procession was the picture of the Mother Thrice Admirable and Victress inviting Schoenstatt to be reborn in Bogotá. The family is confident and hopes that she will show them the place where she wants the greatly desired shrine to be built. Bogotá, Colombia needs new men/women for a new society.
Two Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests from Chile con-celebrated with the cardinal; they are studying at ITEPAL (Pastoral Theological Institute for Latin America).
It was a great gift for Bogotá’s Schoenstatt Family to see the picture of the Blessed Mother in the Colombia’s Primate Cathedral for the first time and that many people want to learn about the Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement.
Original: Spanish – Translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX USA
