INDIA, Fr. George Jeganathan. The feast of the Covenant of Love celebrated in the Madurai Shrine with lots of devotees from difference parts of the Tamilnadu was a great experience. Seminarians and Schoenstatt Fathers worked together to make these days beautiful and blessed.
Everyone prayed and prayed before and during these days in constant adoration and the prayers for no rain to disturb the feast were heard. It rained either before or after the Mass. What a wonder to cherish!
In spite of the fear of heavy showers, the pilgrims from far away had not given up coming to the feast. The last day saw more than a thousand pilgrims in attendance.
There are voluntary donations that are a blessing for the development of the shrine. People witnessed many miracles as the MTA visited their homes.
October 18: The celebration begins with Mary
On the first day, the 18th of October, hoisting the flag at the beginning of the Mass, Most Rev. Dr. Edward Francis, the former Bishop of Sivagangai celebrated his episcopal silver Jubilee with all the faithful on this day. Fr. George preached on the theme of Mary. He stunned the people with a statement that Mary was a Protestant. Later he unfolded the statement saying, “Mary basically fulfills the two requirements of the Protestant theology. First, she lived in and for the Faith completely and secondly her Motherhood was the great gift of grace from God.”
On the same day, around 30,000 children participated in the ‘one million Kids praying rosary for peace and unity in the World’. The Schoenstatt Movement in Tamilnadu organized this project in cooperation with the VENEZUELA LAY MOVEMENT.
October 19: Day of Eucharist
The second day was the day of Eucharist. Fr. Britto Suresh with his melodious voice celebrated the Mass for the faithful. Fr. Antony Raj ISCh, came from Bangalore to preach in the Mass. He motivated the faithful to have a deep faith and devotion to the Eucharist. There were processions with three pauses when special prayers were said.
October 20: Test in faith
The third day was the climax. For everyone it was their day of testing in their faith. Since it was an outdoor and on the ground celebration, everyone needed good weather. There was a shower at night that left the ground with puddles of water therefore they had to fill the water-filled ground with mud and sand. Finally just before the Mass, there was not a single drop from heaven. Their prayer was answered; it was a blessing and a strong faith experience to all.
The Mass became musical when Fr. Rajasekaran, the Chancellor of Trivandrum diocese, began with his cuckoo voice. Fr. Anbu ISCH with his fiery and inspirational preaching made the faithful sure they are faithful. The year of the Faith and the Year of the Missionary Current (Schoenstatt year) was declared after the preaching.
The Mass ended with a procession of our Lady around the Shrine campus followed by a spiritually awakening prayer service by the Director, Fr. Celestine. The service all together went on for just 3:15 minutes only. A delicious agape meal was served at the conclusion to the pilgrims.
Everyone went home full of God-Mary-Covenant Experiences.
