GERMANY, from Maria Fischer •
“Everyday life has started again. Trust in GOD helps us to dare to move into the future strengthened by the pilgrimage graces”, Werner Philipps wrote in the Whatsapp-Chat of the Team of Trust in GOD. For days after the end of the pilgrimage on Saturday 6 August, the team was still busy exchanging photos and experiences. The end? Not really.
“We could say that the World Youth Day begins today and continues at home tomorrow, because that is where Jesus wants to meet you. The Lord doesn’t want to remain only in this beautiful city or in lovely memories, he wants to come to you at home, and dwell in your everyday life. …” That is what Pope Francis said on 31 July when he sent the young people out at Mass at the end of the World Youth Day in Karakow. These words can easily be transferred to the mood as we set off in the late afternoon on 6 August from the garden of Haus Sonnenau in Schoenstatt. It hasn’t ended, it only starts properly now …
Radiant sunshine and seventy pilgrims on the final kilometres
The last day of the pilgrimage led the participants from Urmitz to the Original Shrine in Schoenstatt. An impressive number of single day pilgrims who joined them brought the group to almost seventy people. Petra Rasch related that people spontaneously joined the group for the day. A number of good conversations, a number of inspirations, a number of genuine encounters took place along the way. “Sometimes these day pilgrims joined us even for the evening gathering where we opened our hearts and simply related what we had personally received that day and what had moved us. They had never encountered this before, and some were deeply touched.” On the whole a spontaneous count resulted in the calculation that around a hundred people had been with us at some time or another.
“Today I experienced a day in which a number of things impressed me and touched me emotionally. …Once again many thanks for the welcome into the pilgrim group this morning, for the spiritual accompaniment as we walked along, for the super-work of the entire organising team …” Those were the words of a day pilgrim from Mechernich.
“That was a really impressive number, it attracted attention”, Werner Philipps stated. “When we walked over the Rhine Bridge many waved and hooted!” The road along the Rhine past the St Sebastian Chapel is also one of the most scenic sections.
After a number of days with more or less heavy rain the pilgrims were spoilt with radiant sunshine and summer temperatures. Sweaty, sunburnt, tired and all-round happy they arrived in the early afternoon at the Original Shrine where families belonging to the Family Federation had prepared refreshments and rang the bell for some minutes in welcome.
Through the Holy Door of Mercy
Holy Mass began in front of the Original Shrine. Fr Antonio Bracht, Rector of the Original Shrine, and Fr Michael Hagan, who had joined the pilgrims on some stages, welcomed the pilgrims and the many who had gathered with them around the Original Shrine. Schoenstatt-tv had set up a screen and broadcast what was happening in the shrine and the arrival of the pilgrims and Holy Mass. A group of pilgrims from Paraguay stood at a respectful distance on the grass, others looked on from closer by, attracted by a group in hiking clothes and any number of flags … Mr & Mrs Fellhofer, the substitute sacristans, carried more and more stools to the shrine, and many helped them, until everyone was seated.
The actual climax was quiet. After the Confiteor, individuals, couples or whole families walked through the Holy Door, taking with them the experiences of the pilgrimage and what had grown or developed in them on the way. Meanwhile everyone heard ideas that had been collected during the gathering the previous evening to describe what trust in GOD is: Father, serenity, … He is there … A moment of reconciliation, of grace, of encounter.
For a time after Holy Mass the candle with the pilgrimage logo remained in the Original Shrine on the beautiful candlestick and the blue and white cloth with the characteristic knots. Trust in GOD continues. The finale took place in the garden of the Sonnenau – a real feast accompanied by lively conversations, thanks and some sadness as we departed.
Trust in God continues
In the coming weeks we will be publishing experiences of the pilgrimage and trust in GOD on the website www.gott-vertrauen.net. Many will meet again on 5 November in Cologne when the fiftieth anniversary of the covenant with God the Father is celebrated. Cardinal Woelki of Cologne will celebrate the festive Holy Mass, Fr Juan Pablo Catoggio, Chairman of the General Presidium, will give a talk.
Trust in God begins today and continues tomorrow, especially at home, in everyday life and through new encounters.
Photos: Domberger, Knoch, Schreiber, Helmes, Fischer
