CHILE, mda.
“In Portugal, in Schoenstatt Germany, Belmonte Rome, Santa María Brazil, Atibaia Brazil, Córdoba Argentina, Buenos Aires Argentina, Tucumán Argentina, Madrid Spain, Austria, Bolivia, Switzerland, South Africa…and wherever there are members of Schoenstatt.org they are praying in covenant solidarity with the victims in Valparaiso and those who are fighting the fire,” wrote Carmen Rogers from Santiago to the Movement as members offered up prayers. At the same time, she was also in contact with Bellavista, where they were working to channel aid to the Agua Santa Shrine in Valparaiso. “I am watching the noon news and on one of the hilltops devastated by the fire, the residents returned and placed a flag in the middle of what used to be their home, because ‘we will build one just like it’ from the ashes,” she relates. So soon after the earthquake in northern Chile, this fire has destroyed – as always – the homes of the poorest. This has given rise to a wave of solidarity in the covenant of love by the Movement in Chile just like in the “network of covenant solidarity” created by Schoenstatt.org.
Going out to help the victims of the earthquake in Arica and Iquique. And today with our brothers in Valparaiso who are suffering as a result of this terrible fire. The organizations Fundaciones Hogar de Cristo [Christ’s Home Foundation], Corporacíon Maria Ayuda (Schoenstatt) [Mary Helps Corporation] and Caritas Chile have come together in a solidarity campaign using their headquarters as collection and distribution centres of material help. The same is being done at the various Schoenstatt Shrines.
A pastoral initiative by the Antofagasta Shrine: Holy Thursday Solidarity
“Thursday 17 April is a very special date because we celebrate the Institution of the Eucharist, we recall the day of solidarity and the 21st anniversary of the foundation of the Antofagasta Shrine,” writes Alejandra Olivera from the pastoral group at the Antofagasta Shrine in Northern Chile. “But we cannot ignore the catastrophes that have affected our country: firstly the earthquake, which to a certain extent, we did not see the psychological effect it had on the victims. This is why we cannot now ignore or fail to stand up for the deepest thing within us, which is our heart of solidarity. We therefore request your attendance at Mass this Thursday at 20.30 and bring with you non-perishable items, diapers for children and adults, cleaning products and water. All this will be handed to Hogar de Cristo, the he organization that is channelling this help. This will be our celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Heaven’s Door Cenacle Shrine in Antofagasta, providing solidarity to our brothers who today are and continue to suffer from natural disasters. We also want to invite those who can join us this Thursday from 17.00 to 19.00 to pray the Way of the Cross of God’s Instrument, to pray for Iquique, Arica, Valparaiso….the invitation has been made, now it all depends on you.”
May our Lord and the Queen of Chile protect their children and equip the professionals…
May our Lord and the Queen of Chile protect their children and equip the professionals…
This is the solidarity Pope. He cannot be anything else: he prays for Valparaiso, blesses Valparaiso and lets them know that he is near to them in solidarity, the warmth of a church family with a Father who has a paternal heart. In a letter addressed to the Bishop of Valparaiso, Gonzalo Duarte, Pope Francis offered “assistance for those who have died in this serious disaster, and to share the anguish of many who have lost their homes and their things.” Because of the fire, Pope Francis “prays that the authorities and the entire population do not lose heart in light of the adversity, so that with a spirit of solidarity and fraternal charity, the necessary aid can reach all those who are affected.”
Covenant solidarity
Just before the fire, at the Shrine of all of us in Rome-Belmonte, the slips with contributions to the capital of Grace were burnt – because 18 April falls on Good Friday. Since the day of the earthquake, the jar which was brought from the Bellavista Shrine has stood in the Shrine, together with some slips of paper containing contributions to the capital of grace form Chile, 2004 that were still in the jar. Together with the community at one of the nearby parishes who joined in the Palm Sunday celebrations and “had the honour of participating in the beautiful rite of this Shrine,” in the words of their parish priest, these contributions were burnt…and they prayed with great emotion in solidarity with Chile, for the victims of the earthquake and all those who suffer…Solidarity contribution for Valparaiso, without knowing it, but real, nevertheless.
“Thank you, each prayer from this holy place has helped Chile, I am sure of that!! The situation is not under control, the wind is strong and the fire keeps reigniting, it is so horrid to the see the pictures of those who lost everything…we keep praying for the people of Chile in this Holy Week,” commented Tita Andras.
“Dear Chilean Covenant brothers, the fire is showing us its most terrible side and it also shows our powerlessness,” writes Fr. José María García. “In Covenant solidarity, we are united with all of you, asking that the Lord and the Queen of Chile protect their children and equip the professionals who have the task of putting out the fire and its consequences. May the Lord help those who have to make the relevant decisions and an open and generous heart for all those accompanying the victims.
MPHCV
In covenant solidarity from the Shrine in Madrid,
Fr. José María
The fire shows us its most terrible face.
Covenant solidarity shows Schoenstatt’s most beautiful face.
Translated from the the Spanish by Sarah-Leah, South Africa
