A hundred homes for the hundred years of “our home” in Schoenstatt – “our shrine is also there!”

PARAGUAY/INTERNATIONAL, mda. “This wonderful idea will definitely catch on! You can be sure that the shrine in Dietershausen will also be involved. I shall see to that!” Sabine M. hadn’t even really heard properly what the idea was about when she decided to join in. It sometimes happens that a “quiet favourite idea” isn’t even properly expressed before it spreads. … Fr Kentenich always did it this way – first of all he passed the idea to a small group and then waited, watched, and then, when it had awakened life, real life, he passed it on to his Movement and beyond. “Wouldn’t it be a fitting jubilee gift, a gift that would really please Pope Francis, if we were to build a hundred homes? We have been given “our home” in Schoenstatt, the Original Shrine, so let us now give a hundred homes, a hundred home shrines in the fullest sense of the words, for the poorest people!”

Then the simple reckoning: These people in a parish in Asuncion, who simply could not look any longer at the extreme poverty without trying to help, need 200 Euros. They saw the misery of families who are searching hopelessly for a better life, who have come from the countryside to the city and now find themselves in the middle of Paraguay’s cold and wet winter under four stakes and some plastic bags, which they call their home. With 200 Euros and their commitment, which involves doing the building work and donating the materials, they could build a simple home for a family. It would be small and very simple, but also dry, clean and warm. And a toilet would be part of the package.

They quickly continued their reckoning. A hundred years of the covenant of love, Original Shrine, two hundred shrines. If each shrine built a home, then … Even before they had thought the idea through fully, a message arrived from Switzerland: “Berg Sion and Schädtrütli in Lucerne are joining in! We will see to it,” announced Melanie and Ulrich Grauert, who had already passed on the idea to the members of the International Kentenich Academy for Leaders. On the final day of the World Youth Day, with it strong emphasis on solidarity with the poor, the first shrine in Schoenstatt, Germany, also joined in. Which? “If it is said that each shrine could give a home for the jubilee, then our shrine here on the Reginaberg is definitely joining in!”

A crazy idea

It all started early in May with the “crazy idea” of a Schoenstatter in Paraguay, who, together with a couple belonging to the Family Movement and some people in their parish, simply wanted to do something for these families and their children living in inhuman conditions on the streets of Asuncion. Then Pope Frances said something about going out onto the streets, to the marginalised, to the people in need. Of course, someone had to care for these people. Of course, there are any number of initiatives in Paraguay to combat starvation, child labour, poverty and homelessness. Yet the need seems to grow more rapidly than the help. Someone had to do something. What if we were this someone? Contacts were set up to firms, begging visits were made, Bank accounts “robbed”, books sold …. Then 200 Euros were still lacking to build thirty homes for those in the worst need. The initiator in Paraguay turned to schoenstatt.org for help. I have treasures you can only “buy” in Schoenstatt, she said. There were five holy cards on which Fr Kentenich had personally written something – original cards. Would someone make a donation for one of them? A new idea: Let us give everyone the possibility to help, to become part of this marvellous, simple and very practical initiative. The treasures would be “drawn” among all who joined in building these thirty homes.

The day the article appeared in the internet the first donation arrived. “The first three or four homes can be built”, it was announced a few days later in schoenstatt.de. However, until everything had been done to transfer the money to Paraguay as cheaply as possible, it had become 3000 Euros. Fifteen homes. In the meantime initiatives have been taken in Brazil and Argentina. Some men in Spain contacted the group in Paraguay. Two helpers with schoenstatt.de got their neighbours in Brazil enthusiastic about it. A German who reads schoenstatt.org returned from a visit to the sick with “a home”.

“When I hear Pope Francis, I feel so confirmed in what I have always thought: Let us DO something instead of talking all the time! I have never before in my life felt such inner joy as now when I can do something practical,” wrote Ani S., the initiator in Paraguay. “As far as I’m concerned God and our Father are there when I tell them about what I see; when I tell them what these people need and what I need for them. … At first I was terrified when I heard about this idea of a hundred homes, but you can do it for these people and for Christ, and use my hands and my readiness to carry it out – that is what I have to offer.”

The first homes are built

We are ready. On the weekend when the World Youth Day began the work began. It was cold and wet, which made the building work more difficult – but also more urgent. The material donated by the local firms was delivered, and the rest bought for 3000 Euros. That was enough for fifteen homes. On account of the commitment, and after much discussion, the city donated prefab toilet units that can easily be installed. The homes won’t all look the same, Ani S. emphasised. “Each will look different according to the needs of the families. After all, that is our strength in Schoenstatt – we don’t work according to the cookie-cutter approach, we do it personally. It is wonderful to work with the people, and to see the joy and gratitude in their eyes.”

In these days another 1400 Euros will be being sent to Paraguay from Switzerland and Germany. Then we will soon have built the new “Vila Nobre de la Caridad”, which is what Joao Pozzobon called the housing estate he built in 1952 near the shrine in Santa Maria, Brazil, for destitute families. “From the shrine to the poor” was the challenge he addressed to the Missionaries of the Pilgrim Mother. There is a wayside shrine, which he erected in 1980, in this housing estate on which you can read the following: “Live and learn to live. Wayside shrine of little Puebla”. At Puebla the South American Bishops took up the option for the poor. Pope Francis 2013.

A hundred homes – for the hundred years of our home in Schoenstatt.  This makes 20.000 Euros, 200 Euros for each shrine. Who will build for the Original Shrine? For Belmonte? For …? 20.000 Euros. That is what Pope Francis donated to a Favela and the Hospital San Francisco.

“I firmly believe that this initiative has been inspired by the Holy Spirit and again draws out attention to the fact that we live the “Nothing without you – nothing without us”. We could not bring it alive in a more beautiful way. Many thanks for this initiative!” That was a comment in schoenstatt.org.

Fr Kentenich’s faith moved you to set up your home in Schoenstatt – the worldwide Schoenstatt Family prays these words on their pilgrimage to 2014. And maybe goes on to pray: Gratitude for this home has moved us to build a hundred homes in Paraguay. …

Original: German. Translation: Mary Cole, Manchester, USA

Our Shrine takes part …