VENEZUELA, Daniel Rodriguez, interviewed by María Fischer •
“Arrived” – a single word sent on WhatsApp on 23 October 2017, but it was a story of love, trust, and giving of self: on October 23, a picture of the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother arrived in Barquisimeto, Venezuela that a young missionary, Daniel Ramirez, age 16 eagerly awaited.
A response to a great desire
“Everything began on 15 September 2017,” the young man commented. “He knew about the Schoenstatt Movement for several years, but it did not interest me. On September 15, it occurred to me to ask a friend who is Puerto Rican, and he explained the basic charism. Then I went to the schoenstatt.org website and learned more. I believe that this website helped me, and it helps many people. Thanks to Maria Fischer I found Mercedes MacDonough, who is in charge of the “Founding Pilgrim Mothers.” The Blessed Mother’s hand was in this.”
“Founding Pilgrim Mothers” is a project of schoenstatt.org that has the collaboration of a circle of missionaries from Argentina and whose goal is to place pictures of the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother at the disposal of people who want to be missionaries, but are in countries or places where the organized Schoenstatt Movement or the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign does not exist. The Pilgrim Mothers are accompanied with preparation, materials for the missionaries, and those who will receive the Pilgrim Mother and accompaniment. There are already Founding Pilgrim Mother in two other places in Venezuela, as well as in Cuba, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Siberia in Russia.
Daniel continues: “Mercedes sent the picture of the Pilgrim Mother on 28 September, and I felt the Blessed Mother came to reconcile the Venezuelan people and with that many more things. Many days passed before she arrived. Meanwhile the only thing that I could do was offer this waiting to Divine Providence. Upon receiving the picture, I was glad I had waited so long, because it is a fact that the Blessed Mother and Joao Pozzobon will always bless Venezuela. At the post office, they opened the package for customs purposes, and the employees fell in love with the Pilgrim Mother!”
She began to work as soon as she stepped on Venezuelan soil…
Conquering hearts
A few days after its arrival, the Pilgrim Mother was already conquering hearts… Daniel’s mother’s as well his younger brother who accompanied Daniel to introduce the Pilgrim Mother at the parish.
On October 28, the Schoenstatt members from Barquisimeto and the Pilgrim Mother visited the Santa Rosa Shrine in the state of Lara, which contains some of the city’s treasures, such as the Divina Pastora, a title that comes from Spain and which is very important in Venezuela.
October 30 was the official commissioning of the Pilgrim Mother in the St. Peter Church of Barquismeto..
“She is already working miracles,” Daniel commented.
Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt, bless Venezuela.
Original: Spanish. Translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX USA – Edited: Melissa Peña-Janknegt, Elgin, TX USA
