CHILE, Alejandra Tike Felmer. Several days ago seminarians from the Saint Rafael Pontifical Major Seminary of the Diocese of Valparaíso, Chile, were invited to the Holy Water Shrine in Viña del Mar. The Rector, Claudio Ortiz Vásquez, celebrated the Eucharist at 12:00 p.m., Father Alfonso Boess, a Schoenstatt Father con-celebrated. On a very sunny, heavenly day, the Shrine was vibrant with the youth choir and surrounded with a profound atmosphere of prayer, which a great number of women, who accompanied the celebration, experienced.
The Ladies’ Branch from Agua Santa Viña del Mar, Chile, hosted the seminarians from the Diocese of Valparaíso
After the Holy Mass, the ladies prepared a delicious lunch with many desserts and special gifts for them.
Father Alfonso Boess’ testimony
Father Alfonso Boess related some of his experiences about his youth in the Schoenstatt Fathers’ novitiate during a very difficult time of history (the Second World War). The unity and contact amongst themselves helped them to maintain their vocation. He was ordained in 1955, and he arrived in Chile in 1956, where he has felt very welcome. He expressed gratitude for all these years in Chile. He told them that he prayed Father Kentenich’s Thanksgiving Prayer every day… “What would have become of me, without your motherly care!” (Heavenwards, p.146) and he told them: what would have become of me, without the motherly care of the Virgin. He entrusted them to the Virgin Mary, so that She will also take care and accompany them.
The love for the Church demonstrated in concrete deeds
Father Joseph Kentenich had a special interest and concern for the youth, and this was recorded in the first founding document of October 18, 1914, along with the sodalists.
The Ladies’ Branch from Agua Santa will sponsor each one of the seminarians from this diocese with prayer, and they will accompany them on their road to the priesthood.
Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX: English translation
