mkf. “It has been the largest conference of Schoenstatt Priests in Rome, and we were there!” The young priests, members of the first course of the Federation of Diocesan Priests in Chile, radiate joy and still want to take one more picture with the Shrine in the background. “All of Schoenstatt was our guest and we were its hosts, this is historic!” The Italian Schoenstatt Youth is very aware of its role. “Amid the Church and amid life,” says Fr. Mauricio Torres from Chile. “Now, for the first time, one can see how many of us Schoenstatt Priests are here, and how many Focolare friends and friends from other Movements.” Fr. José Luis Correa knows them all because of the preparation for the afternoon in the auditorium. It is Friday, June 11th, 8:00 P.M…..the conclusion of the conference in Belmonte…..agape in front of the House of the Covenant…..climax of a great week in Rome…..in the shadow of the Shrine. And above everything and everyone is the statue of Father Kentenich, blessed that afternoon.
A couple of hours have passed since the closing of the Year for Priests with the great Eucharistic celebration in St. Peter’s Square. While 15,000 or more priest leave Rome, a torrent of tourists arrive for the weekend…..there is a strike by bus drivers…..the Italian soccer enthusiasts prepare for the opening of the World Cup and Via Boccea submerges in the common Friday traffic chaos…..hundreds of priests and laity go on pilgrimage to Belmonte…..to the International Schoenstatt Center in Rome.
At the new entrance – below, at the corner of Via Boccea, near the Wayside Shrine – the gate is totally open and friendly people await those who have not arrived on the chartered busses, and especially not punctual. Among them are the Most Reverend Ignazio Sanna – Archbisop of Oristano and a member of the Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests Institute, – the Most Reverend Gino Reali, Bishop of the place, numerous members and friends of the Italian Schoenstatt Family, the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary from the house on Via Aurelia Antica, almost all of the Schoenstatt Priests who participated that day in the closing of the Year for Priests in Rome.
A vision of the Church
After a few moments for the encounter and getting to know the place, all gathered to follow a way of stations on the broad property. Texts in German, Spanish and Italian were read alternately – they could be followed in the pamphlet with the translations – deepening in the meaning of this celebration and this place.
“We want to let ourselves be inspired by this place called Belmonte and by the priest, Father Joseph Kentenich, who, here, 45 years ago – enthused by the Second Vatican Council which had just ended – developed a vision about how the Church can continue on its journey toward the future,” read one of the texts.
The stations: the Wayside Shrine, the memorial for the torch run, the Shrine and the statue of Father Kentenich, and the symbols: torch, pilgrim’s staff, bits and pieces, the jar, a picture of Cardinal Ratzinger’s visit to the Shrine, the book which contains the “telegrams sent to Father Kentenich” by people from many countries, but what really put its stamp on the festivity was the pilgrimage, an image of the pilgrim Church on its way to men and women, on its way to God. All was accompanied by the music of Fr. Juan Ignacio Pacheco and Fr. Ignacio Camacho. On the way, there are greetings, a reflection of the joy of receiving the torch, a visible joy because of being together, and this marvelous place with the Shrine which simply attracts…
We encounter a prophetic charisma
In front of the Shrine are the jars which were brought on the day of the inauguration – brought from Perú, Paraguay, Argentina and Burundi – seen by the pilgrims when they enter. The readings, petitions and prayers are from the many persons who throughout this day are connected this afternoon to the festivity in Belmonte, in the heart of the Church.
The ceremony culminated in the Shrine with the renewal of the Covenant of Love in many languages, then they proceeded to the place where the day before, the statue of Father Kentenich had been placed. The shroud which had covered the statue until that moment was pulled off between applauses when Msgr. Peter Wolf interpreted the moment of the blessing of this statue as a visible encounter with the prophetic charisma of Father Kentenich…
At that moment, Fr. Georg Egle disappeared: the text for the blessing was missing. Then, Fr. Michael Gerber motioned to the two Chilean Fathers who had their guitars in the Shrine to intone a hymn, and then another and another and another….. But before they had to compose a new one, Fr. Egle returned and Bishop Reali blessed the statue and the cinctures which all of the priests received at the conclusion as a gift and remembrance of this day.
Encounters
The invitation to dine was very well received and thus there were encounters in the program. It was the first opportunity for an exchange – in such a large circle – the experiences in Rome during those days, especially on the exciting afternoon in the Paul VI Auditorium. Fr. Bernhard Schneider related, visibly enthusiastic, the commentaries of the architect who built the Auditorium and who had been invited for the occasion. “I had never seen anything like this since the construction of the Auditorium!”
Fr. Gerardo Cárcar – one of the moderators for this afternoon – was overjoyed with the first echoes of the press which were transmitted to him. Sr. Marie Johanne, superior of the Schoenstatt Sisters of the house on Via Aurelia Antica, dispelled all doubts: yes, she was the one who prayed in German the petitions at the end of Vespers.
Fr. Esteban Casquero, from the archdiocese of Bahia Blanca (province of Buenos Aires, Argentina), conversed with three men from the Italian Schoenstatt Movement and “on the way” laid the foundation for the madrugadores (dawn breakers) in Italy – there are now four of them. Some of the Chilean priests from the Federation were recruited as correspondents for Schoenstatt.de, the Italian girls from the Girls’ Youth spoke about their encounter with girls from Friburg….. And continuously could be heard: “Until soon, in Schoenstatt…..”
Now many are traveling to Schoenstatt to celebrate the centennial of Father Kentenich’s priestly ordination – which will take place next Sunday, June 20th – and to participate in the international conference for priests from the 21st to the 23rd of June.
With this they want to say, like the ones who participated last year in the torch run bringing the fire of Schoenstatt to Rome: Let us now return this fire. We take responsibility for it so that the charisma of Schoenstatt may be fruitful in the Church.
Video (available at the end of the week)
Translation: Carlos Cantú, Schoenstatt Family Federation, La Feria, Texas USA 061510
