María Francisca San Martín. A few days ago, a group from the Chilean Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign visited Schoenstatt. They shared their experiences with schoenstatt.org.
After a long preparation and many contributions to the Capital of Grace, the project became a reality, the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign’s group of missionaries from Chile arrived at the Original shrine to enjoy this place of grace for a week. Father Sergio Cobo, a diocesan priest, and by Sister Consuelo accompanied them.
Rome was the first stop of the pilgrimage, then they went to through the land of Saint Francis Assisi, the Shrine in Quarten, Swizterland, and the Dachau concentration camp. Then they arrived at the Homeland, they arrived at Schoenstatt. So, they came from the heart of the Church to Schoenstatt’s heart.
In Schoenstatt
At first the weather was not very good, but later they enjoyed beautiful days.
They traveled through, were enriched and educated about the history of the place, of the first sodalists and especially of our Founder and Father with their guide, Sister María Julia, who is charge of Spanish-speaking pilgrims.
They visited Gymnich, and they renewed their baptismal promises in the parish, where Father was baptized. In Marienau, they had a brief encounter with Father Angel Strada, who is in charge of the Founder’s process for canonization. They experienced special moments at Father’s tomb, they participated in the Holy Mass in German at the Adoration Church, and they went through the Joseph Kentenich House on Mount Schoenstatt. In Marienland, they had an encounter with the leaders of the German Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign, and they were blessed by the exchange of experiences.
They also visited Metternich, where they had a close encounter with the life of Sister M. Emilie, and they enjoyed a ride through the Rhine.
Covenant of Love
On May 18th, after participating in the Covenant Holy Mass, they happily sang the Hymn of the Pilgrim MTA around the bonfire of the Capital of Grace.
The pilgrimage concluded with the Holy Mass in the Original Shrine, where a couple, a lady, and three youth sealed their Covenant of Love, incorporating themselves into the graces of the “nothing without You, nothing without us”.
Finally the time for the third grace of the Shrine arrived, they had to return to Chile to share what they had experienced during these grace filled days with their loved ones.
Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, Tx: English translation
