Chile, René Tordoya, Dept. of Communications Diocese of Arica •
Just as on every Solemnity of Mary’s Assumption, the Arica Schoenstatt Family and the Diocese of San Marcos of Arica organized a pilgrimage crowned by our spiritual Mother.
Very early on 15 August, a large part of our diocese gathered to go on pilgrimage, and to pray the Holy Rosary together, placing many intentions into the Blessed Mother’s hands. The picture of the Pilgrim Mother was carried on a platform from the rotunda at the north exit of the city. At different stations, they prayed and sang, walking toward the Shrine of the Mother Thrice Admirable.
Mary goes before us
Fr. Daniel López, the Vicar General of the Diocese, who transmitted our bishop’s greeting and walked with the faithful people the entire way, celebrated the Eucharist. In his homily, he said that “that God the Father could not withdraw from Mary at the final moment. If he had conceived her immaculate, she had to be taken up to the glory of God, as a prefiguring of our also being taken up at the end of our lives,” we place our hope on her.
The Lord brings peace to hearts
All the participants celebrated the Eucharist with mixed feelings of profound joy, songs and prayers. At the end, a special greeting was sent to the religious who were present, since it was the day in which special prayers were said for them and Bishop Moisés Atisha sent them a message saying: “I pray to the Lord of mercy to reward you for all the good that you give us, and that their communities will not lack of His help. May He be bring peace and good to the hearts of each one.”
“It was a hard, but beautiful work for the entire family, to welcome the pilgrims,” commented, a happy Paola Oyarzun Hidaldo, who belongs to the Arica Schoenstatt Family.
Source: Communication Department Diocese of Arica, with permission of Bishop Moisés Atisha C., Bishop of Arica
Original: Spanish, 19 August 2017. Translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX USA
