Father Stabel, a Federation Priest, passed on the pictures. Pfarrer Stabel, Bundespriester, überreichte die Pilgerheiligtümer.

Ladies from the Speyer diocese committed themselves to visit lonely people and bring a picture of the Pilgrim Mother to them. Frauen aus der Diözese Speyer versprachen, einsame Menschen zu besuchen und ihnen dabei die Gottesmutter zu bringen.

Pictures of the Pilgrim Mother were sent out in the Original Shrine. Aussendung von neuen Pilgerheiligtümern im Urheiligtum

Fotos: POS, hbre © 2001

A little bit of time for her and for each other: The Pilgrim Mother visiting with a family in Bendorf Ein wenig Zeit für sie und füreinander: bei einer Familie in Bendorf

rayer service in a parish church in Mengen Feier in der Pfarrkirche Mengen

Many families from Poland living in Germany joined the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother Campaign Viele in Deutschland lebende polnische Familien machen beim Pilgerheiligtum mit

Time to get together as a family - when the Pilgrim Mother is at home Etwas Zeit für die Familie beim Besuch des Pilgerheiligtums

Fotos: Sekretariat Pilgerheiligtum © 2001

(mkf) During a festive Holy Mass in the Original Shrine, ten ladies from the Speyer Diocese – participants of a Women's League retreat – committed themselves as missionaries of the Pilgrim Mother for new groups of families or for the new from of the "Pilgrim Mother for Visits" in a hospital in Ludwigshafen, AIDS patients, in a nursing home for terminally ill patients, or simply for visits with lonely persons in the neighborhood. More than 30,000 families or individuals in Germany are visited by the Pilgrim Mother for two or three days each month - she comes "to make it a bit more beautiful at home," as the motto for 2001 says.

For a long time, a lady from Speyer has been a volunteer in the social service, visiting AIDS patients whom she wants to give human contacts and help in the needs of the soul. Several times she found herself a surprise participant in a Schoenstatt Covenant celebration in her parish church, where she was invited for a retreat in Schoenstatt. Here she found the chance to add a new dimension to her social activity – the grace from the Shrine. She sealed her Covenant of Love on March 22, and on March 23 dedicated herself as a missionary of the Pilgrim Mother. "I will take the Pilgrim Mother on all of my visits with AIDS patients," she said with real joy. "Maybe I can't place her openly during my first visit, but she will be with me and she will work." Like her, several other ladies want to take the Pilgrim Mother to lonely people whom they visit – in a hospital in Ludwigshafen and in various towns of the Speyer Diocese. The pictures were sent out with a solemn celebration in the Original Shrine on March 23. Receiving the pictures was a special moment of commitment and mission for the ladies.

Responding to the Growing Fate of Loneliness

A growing number of people in Germany are suffering from loneliness; the German Caritas' theme for the year 2001 highlights this fact with the single word: "Lonely." Caritas Director Puschmann said, "Numerous people in our society are excluded from what is called one of its greatest values: communication and public life." The "Pilgrim Mother for Visits" is a response to this need. The missionaries commit themselves to visit at least five lonely people each month and take the Pilgrim Mother along. Many older Schoenstatt members especially feel encouraged and called to work for this apostolate.

The Gift of Time

Since the Covenant of Love was sealed in the Original Shrine on October 18, 1914, Mary, the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt, has set out to dispense gifts and graces from over 160 daughter Shrines all over the world and from countless home shrines. On September 10, 1950, in the Tabor Shrine in Santa Maria, Brazil, João Pozzobon, the apostle of the Pilgrim, who loved to call himself "Father Kentenich's small student," accepted the mission to carry the picture of the Blessed Mother from the Shrine to families. "What is Mr. Pozzobon doing? He carries the Blessed Mother where ever he can, and she has to work. In a certain way, this is exactly what we always wanted and emphasized," said Father Kentenich on April 4, 1968, commenting on the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign initiated by João Pozzobon -- a stream of life and grace from the Shrine, born from a simple beginning that today touches millions of people in over 80 countries. "What moves us most with our visits is the Blessed Mother's presence and her amazing work" João Pozzobon wrote to his bishop on December 8, 1972. "All the doors are open to receive her - the doors of schools, hospitals, jails." The Pilgrim Mother is visiting with over 30,000 families and individuals in Germany. Once each month, the families receive the picture for two or three days, then pass it on to the next family in the group. They experience that Mary comes to make it a bit more beautiful at home. The gift of time – in a time when being busy and not having time for each other seems to be the norm – is a special mark of these visits. When the Pilgrim Mother arrives, the families try to make a little gift of time – to the Blessed Mother for a prayer, and to each other: "It does not need to be much, but a little bit of time – given out of love. It makes a difference."

Opening for a More Profound Religious Life

Testimonies from missionaries and participants may illustrate how the Pilgrim Mother works.

• "When the Pilgrim Mother of God started coming to our house, I began to read the bible. I do not understand everything, but I got a number of answers from what I read."
• "I owe a new love for the rosary to the Pilgrim Mother. When all the others are out of the house, I light a candle by the picture of the Pilgrim Mother and pray the rosary. At first, I did not know how to spend that time – but then I discovered that I can pray each Hail Mary for someone: for my relatives, my friends, for those who drive me crazy, for the children preparing for their Firt Holy Communion, for the politicians ... And suddenly I began to "run out" of Hail Mary's ... After the prayers, I have much more peace. That is also good for my own family. The time spend praying the rosary is not wasted. I can do a lot more than when I am so nervous."

Imitating the Example of João Pozzobon

• "In the beginning when I worked to get the groups of families together I always walked like Mr. Pozzobon. I used the time to pray. I always told the Blessed Mother: I do what I can, and you are in charge of the rest. So I spoke with self-confidence, that in reality was confidence in her. I was terribly upset and nervous and calm at the same time. It was not about my own business, but God's business!"
• "Many older and sick persons belong to our group. Sometimes it is difficult to pass on the Pilgrim Mother. But then we need to imitate the example of João Pozzobon, who walked in rain and wind to carry the Blessed Mother to the people. It is a special blessing to bring old and sick people in contact with the Pilgrim Mother."

Being Missionary Christians: "We Need to Share ..."

"Again and again I talked about the Pilgrim Mother with my friends – and I have many! I simply said: I feel this is good for me and for my family, and then I shared how we do experience

• her presence. A goodly number of my friends then joined. I was especially happy when the Lutheran husband of one friend asked: 'Can we Lutherans also be part?' – They are in a group now and I am sure they like it."
• "When people ask me why I advertise the Pilgrim Mother wherever I can, I tell them: I want to pass on what I experience as a gift. I cannot keep these gifts of faith for myself; therefore I reach out to others. I sense that people believe me."

Building up Relationships

• "We don't do anything special when the Blessed Mother comes. But we greet her together, and after three days we say good bye to her together. In the meantime, she is on the kitchen table where the children do their home work or on the window sill or in the room where I do the ironing – just where we need her."

• "When Mrs. X and I met last week, we thanked each other for the good conversations we had We got to know each other through the Pilgrim Mother and found out that we have a lot in common, not only regarding faith."
• "Once a month the door bell rings, and I am waiting for the Blessed Mother to come to us again. Last month not only one person but the whole family stood at my door to welcome the Pilgrim Mother. We enjoyed that tremendously!"
• "When we meet each other on the street, we always wink at each other because we belong together - the kindergarten teacher of my youngest child or friends from the parish choir ...

• "It was always a beautiful time when the picture was brought to us. Here in our kitchen, we often met for a prayer. We always felt that the atmosphere in our house was different then, more friendly, more caring. In the course of time, that had a positive impact on our relationships in the family."

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