Five Bishops together in the Shrine:Puerto Montt, March 31 Fünf Bischöfe auf einmal im Heiligtum: Puerto Montt, 31. März

Cardinal Errázuriz in the Shrine in Puerto Montt, Chile, March 31, 2001 Kardinal Errázuriz beim Besuch im Heiligtum in Puerto Montt, 31. März 2001

Foto: Schönstatt, Puerto Montt © 2001

(Karin Habermann, Puerto Montt) On March 31, during an informal visit, five bishops were together in the Schoenstatt Shrine in Puerto Montt, Chile: Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz, Archbishop of Santiago and President of the Bishops' Conference of Chile; Monsignors Tomislav Koljatic and Felipe Vacarreza, Auxiliary Bishops of the diocese of Concepción; Monsignor Camilo Vial, Bishop of San Felipe and Monsignor Sixto Parzinger, Bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Araucanía.

Altogether 22 bishops were in Puerto Montt on this weekend, as Monsignor Cristian Caro Cordero – who had been in Rome for the consistory and concelebrated the Holy Mass with Cardinal Errázuriz in the Schoenstatt Shrine in Rome – was introduced as new Archbishop of Puerto Montt, as successor of Bishop Bernardo Cazzaro, who had retired due to his age. Before the solemn Mass ended, the new bishop announced that he wanted to dedicate his new pastoral mission in Puerto Montt to the Blessed Mother; he turned to the image of the Virgen del Carmen, patroness of the diocese of Puerto Montt and of Chile, and invited all to join in praying: "My Queen, my mother ..." – the same prayer that Schoenstatt members all over the world pray to seal and renew their Covenant of Love. For the Schoenstatters present, this was a meaningful moment that they won't forget.

The Atmosphere around the New Shrine: An Intensive Life of Prayer and Many Visitors

Since the day of the dedication of the Shrine on November 18, 2000, an intensive life of prayer enfolded in and around the Shrine. One of the highlights was the visit of the Apostolic Nuncio who came together with Bishop Bernardo Cazzaro, who felt like home in this Shrine.

They spent more than an hour in the Shrine; the Schoenstatt members joined in praying and brlight an official petition to the Nuncio regarding the process of beatification of Father Kentenich, as "a great longing of our hearts: to ask the Holy Father to have an eye on this process, and, God willing, canonize him to the honor and glory of the Holy Trinity and the welfare of the church."

Until February 25, exactly 6,864 persons, including the 3,000 participating in the dedication, had visted the new Shrine. Many holy Masses and hours of adoration of the Blessed sacrament are taking place in the Shrine. And day in day out, pilgrim groups come to the Shrine.