Francisca Urrutia. “When I touched Father’s tomb, something strange happened to me; the stone was cold, but my hands felt very hot and tingling. My eyes were filled with tears; I could not think about anything else other than him. After hearing so many stories about his life, I was receiving his energy, he was at my side.” Schoenstatt is filled with Father Kentenich’s footsteps, which are not discovered just during the large pilgrimages that come during the months of May through September.
Cristina Delpino and her daughter, Isabel from Chile, along with Luis and Susana Anello, an Argentinean couple and Francisca Urrutia, a volunteer at the Press Office, who is also from Argentina, began their walk through Schoenstatt on November 25th at 10:15 a.m. Sister Ivonne Maria, from Ecuador, was their guide.
The walk began at the Original Shrine, where Sister explained about its history from the time it was built until the time that it became the MTA’s corner. Then she continued with the Schoenstatt heroes and their black crosses behind the Original Shrine. Cristina was very enthused with all the stories, and Sister Ivonne Maria, who gladly answered her questions, clarified her doubts. She touched everyone with anecdotes about the Founding Father and the difficulties that he had to face. Some anecdotes were already known; however, they all seemed new and enriching.
Then they entered the Shrine and prayed for a long while. Some wrote their petitions and left them in the jar for the Capital of Grace, while others simply spent time in quiet contemplation in the peace of this holy place.
Getting to know Father
They continued their journey during the afternoon departing for Mount Schoenstatt in the Anello’s auto. Fortunately the Anello’s had a car! If not, they would have had to go by foot through a street under construction that was full of debris and construction workers and during the month of November with its typical daily rain. They would have gotten very muddy.
They went to the Father House, where they listened attentively about the life and work of Father Kentenich from beginning to end. A bracelet was left at the statue where little Joseph’s mother consecrated him to Mary. There is a box beside the statue filled with rosaries and little chains that people have given to the Blessed Mother, imitating Katherine Kentenich’s action.
Isabel entered the bunker, a replica of the bank vault turned into a jail in Koblenz, where Father Kentenich was imprisoned for four weeks in 1941. This vault was very narrow and poor Isabel bumped her head on the ceiling because it was very low.
The most anticipated destination
After going through Father’s House, they went to the Adoration Church. Since it was nighttime they could not see the play of lights from the Church, but they were surprised anyway by its grandeur and its beauty.
The final destination was Father’s tomb. They knelt at his side, leaving letters and photos but they could not stop praying. Everyone was touched; some showed it more than others with tears in their eyes. No one wanted to leave.
For the group, Schoenstatt was one more place to visit within the itinerary of their trip. They were only here, at this place of grace, for two days, and they were blessed by the MTA with sunshine on the day of their visit! No one wanted to leave when it was time to depart.
One more announcement: Every Saturday at 2:30 p.m. a guided visit for Spanish speakers is offered that concludes at 5:30 in the Original Shrine with the prayer of the International Rosary. If you come to Schoenstatt, do not miss this opportunity. Everyone is invited!
