Laying the foundations of the ShrineAmidst unsecurity and fears, the Shrine in Nigeria, and the confidence in the reality of the Covenant of Love, are growing… |
NIGERIA, Fr. Fred Kistler/mkf. "All for the foundation of the Shrine", this is currently the motto that inspires the community of the Schoenstatt Fathers in Nigeria, as the Shrine, and the Formation Center, in Ibadan, Nigeria, are being built. End March, the students of the Schoenstatt Fathers, together with the novices, broke the ground to lay the foundations of the Shrine - a task they did not want to leave to the construction company. While the stone foundations of the Shrine are being laid, the confidence foundations are being laid, also. "We pray for the Schoenstatt Fathers and students in Nigeria, and for the Shrine to be built…" - A petition said outloud during Holy Mass in Schoenstatt, on April 6, 2003, and during the Illumined Rosary in the Adoration Church, on April 5. Recent experiences of violence and threat created much insecurity, nervousness, and fear. It takes time and grace to grow into the firm confidence in the reality of the Covenant of Love. The prayer support that was created by the recent article about the Shrine in Nigeria to be built, is a strong incentive for the young Schoenstatt community in Nigeria. A place of grace for NigeriaThe construction firm is working on the "big construction site" of the Formation Center, trying hard to get the foundations and basement done before the rain period to start. For the company, the Shrine is "small fry" to be done later; for the Schoenstatt Fathers, and the small Schoenstatt family of Nigeria, it is the big hope and anticipation that the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt, will soon erect her throne of graces in Ibadan, Nigeria - a place of grace for the local community, for the country, for Western Africa, and maybe beyond… A week of work for the ShrineMost of the work on the constructions sites is made by hand, and with slow but steady progress. During the last week of March, the novices of the Schoenstatt Fathers spent a week working on the construction site. They wanted to sleep on the grounds of the future Shrine during the nights in order to take the land into possession. On March 26, when the students had no lectures, they, together with the novices, began to break the ground for the foundations of the Shrine - a task they did not want to leave to the construction company. After removing a layer of sand, they met hard ground… On April 2, some students continued and completed the work. The day of the corner stone laying of the future Shrine has not yet been definitely fixed, and still depends on the progresses of the construction, and other pending matters, but there is a wish to do it on May 31, 2003. Contact, support, prayer promises: sion-nig@skannet.com (text mails only, no photos) |
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