Ringing in the New Year

Blessing at Midnight, Holy Mass, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

Snow dusted the Original Shrine on New Year's Eve Am letzten Tag des Jahres 2000 - Schneelandschaft

Blessing at midnight in the Original Shrine Segen um Mitternacht im Urheiligtum

New manger scene in the Original Shrine Neue Krippe im Urheiligtum

Original Shrine in New Year 2001 Urheiligtum an Neujahr 2001

Fotos: PressOffice Schoenstatt, mkf © 2001

(mkf) Shortly before midnight on December 31, 2000, while fireworks exploded to welcome in the New Year (and new millennium), the bells of the Shrines in Schoenstatt and the Adoration Church began to ring. Exactly at midnight, Father Rummel SAC, director of the Original Shrine, gave the blessing with the monstrance in the Original Shrine for all those present and for all those who physically or spiritually visit this Shrine.

Approximately 80 people were in the Original Shrine for the benediction beginning at 11.45 PM. The new crib (a donation of the Schoenstatt Sisters from the Pilgrims' House), the Christmas decorations in the Shrine, along with the snow, clear skies and shining stars, created an appealing setting for the beginning of the New Year (and new millennium, mathematically) at the place where Schoenstatt members from all over the world are at home. "I am very well aware of representing all the League Members from Northern Germany and all those with whom we met during the year," said Martina Rasch, who spent some days in Schoenstatt helping with the "Ten Minutes by the Crib". "It's the first time that I have begun a new year in the Original Shrine. It's beautiful!"

At 5:00PM, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament had begun in the Adoration Church on Mount Schoenstatt. It lasted until 8:00 AM the following morning. At 0:30 AM, a festive Holy Mass – the first Holy Mass of the year 2001 in Schoenstatt, and maybe in the entire time zone – was

celebrated in honor of Mary, the Mother of God, commemorated on January 1. The Schoenstatt Sisters' choir provided the songs. Once again, the Jubilee Hymn of the Holy Year resounded. Like in the Adoration Church in Schoenstatt, members gathered in several places for adoration during that night.

Night of Adoration in Bujumbura, Burundi

More than 200 Schoenstatt members from Bujumbura and the surrounding hills went to the Shrine in Bujumbura for a Holy Mass on December 31 at 6:00 PM. Afterwards, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was held in the Joseph Engling House all night; at midnight, Father Othmar gave the blessing. The night of adoration closed with a Holy Mass in the Shrine at 6:00 AM. The people who spent the entire night in adoration were happy and grateful to have had the whole night to ask Jesus for peace in their country at the beginning of a new year.

Anniversary of the Blessing of the Portico

On December 31, the Schoenstatt Family in Paraguay commemorated the anniversary of the blessing of the entryway of the future Church of the Holy Trinity. Over 1,000 persons joined in the celebration that began at 9:00 AM; a commemorative plaque was blessed, and a Schoenstatt Father blessed all those who crossed the 'Portico of Hope' with holy water. Holy Mass was celebrated at an altar near the Shrine, with a tent giving some protection from the sun. It was very hot with a pleasant breeze "and beautiful blue skies" as one participant remarked joyfully. "It's so beautful to see the large number of people seeking some shade by the trees and to see the variety of people. They all experience the presence of the Blessed Mother, of our Father and Founder, and above all the presence of God."

Roberto Gebhardt, Asunción, and Sr. M. Lisette, Bujumbura, contributed to this report.

English edition: Joan Biemert, New Franken, Wisconsin, USA