BURUNDI, Fr. Paul Zingg • This year, the large pilgrimage on the Feast of Assumption of Mary (15 August) at Mount Sion was accompanied by light rain during the vigil. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the country and from the Congo vicinity came to the Shrine for the celebration, especially women with children and many youths. The first drops fell around 3: 00 a.m. Although many camped out, this first rain after months of drought, was welcomed with applause. The second blessing from heaven in the form of rain
Read More By Maria Fischer • It is a sunny Saturday unlike most lately at the Original Shrine. While a group of German pilgrims pass through the Holy Door of the Original Shrine and celebrate their Mass, a large group of young pilgrims approach, and stay on the grounds for almost an hour, in the sun, listening to Sr. Andrea Narvaéz’ explanations. “Their Mass will be at 3:45 p.m.” Hilde Fellhofer, from Austria, explains. She and her husband Herbert are substituting for the sacristans of the Original Shrine during vacation. “Today is
Read More GERMANY, By Maria Fischer • Cologne on “Sunday, the only 31 July 2016, the day that will never be repeated”, the good-humoured train driver of the Rhein-Sieg Express announced at 12.23 p.m. to help his passengers get over their frustration because of the delay. “If we trust in God we will still catch the connecting train in Siegen.” At that moment those taking part in the pilgrimage on foot with “Trust in God” had been walking for more than an hour through heavy showers of rain through Cologne towards Brühl
Read More ITALY, Salvatore Rallo, Claudia Geraci, Antonella Raimondi • Finally also in Vicari, a small town inland from Palermo, on Friday, June 10, 2016, thirteen missionary women have sealed the Covenant of Love with our Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt. It took a year of preparation, but thanks to the constant and committed participation of the missionaries, our “provocations” – which at times have possibly been or even been seemingly excessive – we have reached this milestone. The promptings have had a positive effect when they were a stimulus and when
Read More PARAGUAY, by Sandra Lezcano – Mass on 1 May at Tupãrenda (7) • During the 1 May Sunday Mass celebrated by Fr. Antonio Cosp, I could not help but think about how many stories were gathered there in Holy Mary of the Trinity Church. It made me realize the dimension of Schoenstatt’s richness in the Blessed Mother’s allies’ witness of life. Now I ask myself, what am I contributing to others with my life story? Photos: Cássio Leal, Sao Paulo, Brasil Original: Spanish. Translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX
Read More PARAGUAY, by Claudio Manavella and Maria Fischer • Claudio Manavella, from Asunción, is a civil engineer, who belongs to Mima and Juan Carlos Cardona’s circle; they are the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign’s great apostles in Paraguay’s interior. A few days ago, he was traveling between Yergos and Moisés Bertoni with his son when he had an encounter that he videotaped and went viral within the Paraguayan Schoenstatt Movement. “I was the one who experienced that wonderful experience of meeting my Blessed Mother on one of the many inhospitable roads I travel because
Read More FRANCIS IN ROME – HOLY YEAR OF MERCY• We don’t know how many of the rectors and workers of the Schoenstatt shrine ministry attended and heard Pope Francis speak about welcoming the pilgrim: “It is important for pilgrims who cross the threshold of the shrine to feel treated more as family members than guests. They must feel at home, awaited, loved and looked upon with eyes of mercy.” This is one of the messages that Pope Francis gave to more than 3,000 participants of the Jubilee for Shrines and Pilgrimages,
Read More CHILE, Montahue, Sr. M. Ivonne Latsague • Every year, pilgrims’ day at Montahue is truly a celebration of love, faith and joy. It is a year after a year homecoming to encounter the Mother and Queen who waits at the Shrine for the return of all those who welcome her in their homes and who were blessed by her visit. A personal greeting On Saturday, 28 November at 10:30 a.m., the first groups began to arrive. I have to greet them one by one, or they would not forgive me
Read More By Rafael Gualberto Ortiz Moreno, Paraguay • When I was seriously ill in the hospital, one of the doctors, who cared for me said: “You were born again, 90% of the people, who have the problem you had, do not survive; you have to celebrate another birthday; do whatever is possible, everything that you had planned to do.” I immediately thought about the Camino de Santiago [The Way of St. James], named after the apostle also known as James the Greater or James, son of Zebedee, which ends at Compostela,
Read More By Ani Souberlich, Vicky Ramírez Jou, Sonia Zaracho, Marité and Ramón Marini, José Argüello, Fr. José Pontes, Andreza Ortigoza, Mima Cardona, María Emilia Vidal, Maria Fischer, Fr. Antonio Cosp and 50,000 pilgrims • “How the world’s largest 18 October was experienced in Tupãrenda, Paraguay,” is the title of a Facebook post, while, Fr. Antonio Cosp thanked all the collaborators for their contribution to the “celebration of celebrations in Tuparenda.” The songs along with Bishop Francisco Pistilli and Fr. Pedro Kühlcke, Bishop Joaquín Robledo, Bishop of San Lorenzo (bilingual) and Fr.
Read More