Día de Peregrinación para mujeres: procesión al Santuario Original Pilgrimage Day for Women: Procession to the Original Shrine Wallfahrtstag für Frauen: Prozession zum Urheiligtum
Jovenes "dirigentes" de la procesión Youngster "leading" the procession Jugendliche an der Spitze der Prozession
Coro de la Catedral de Cambrai, Francia Choir of the Cathedral in Cambrai, France Chor der Kathedrale Cambrai, Frankreich
El P. José Barmettler en la Misa con el coro de la Francia Fr. Joseph Barmettler during the Mass with the choir from France P. Josef Barmettler bei der Messe mit dem Chor aus Frankreich Fotos: POS Fischer © 2003
Testimonios de Nigeria: Entrega de una peregrina a un misionero Testimonies from Nigeria: Fr. Klaus Desch giving the Pilgrim MTA to a missionary Zeugnisse aus Nigeria: Überreichung eines Bildes der Pilgernden Gottesmutter Foto: Kistler © 2003

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. Thirteen nations were present in House Sonnenau on that sunny, hot Sunday, June 29, day of the 50^th anniversary of the Goldsmiths' Workshop of the Brothers of Mary, feast of Peter and Paul: Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Croatia, Germany, Australia... On July 2, when the Feast of the Visitation is celebrated in Germany, a special day of pilgrimage for women was offered, and in the later afternoon, the Cathedral Choir from Cambrai, France, on tour to Hungary to meet with a partner choir, visited Schoenstatt and sang in the Pilgrims' Church.

The Schoenstatt Brothers of Mary, along with all those who work in the Goldsmith's workshop and shop, at 10.30 AM celebrated a Holy Mass in the Tabor Shrine, "with ecumenical songs, so our Lutheran employees could sing along", Ernest M Kanzler, director, said. It was the 50^th anniversary of the opening of the workshop.

Coming home, coming to the place of grace

Two sailors from Chile arrived to Schoenstatt, the Pilgrim Mother in hands… Their ship had a stop n Hamburg, and knowing that Schoenstatt like Hamburg is in Germany, they set out to find "home"! And were happy to be in the Original Shrine, finally! And while they, along with students from Australia, couples from various Latin American countries, met with the Mother Thrice Admirable in the Shrine, Sr. M. Ernestine Dunkel met with her in heaven on this feastday of Peter and Paul. The long term provincial superior and member of the General Council, who died, high in her nineties, is known to many in Schoenstatt as superior of the Schulungsheim (Formation House) in Schoenstatt during the "three years" of Father Kentenich's presence there, 1965 - 1968. Many sisters from all over Germany came to her funeral on July 3; the Mass was celebrated by her nephew, with Monsignore Zimmerer, director general of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, Fr. Dr. Michael Marmann, Fr. Angel Strada, and other Fathers concelebrating.

Father Fred Kistler arrived from Nigeria, literally packed with new photos of the construction of the Shrine and Center in Nigeria, and of the growing Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign in the country. On July 1, Elfi Stitz, from Clifton, Virginia, USA, arrived for the retreat of the Schoenstatt Prayer Community to begin the other day. She was still in full enthusiasm with the National Convention of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign that had taken place the weekend before. From Austria, a course of the Families' Federation is spending a week in Schoenstatt, also from Austria, a group of Professional Women.

July 2 - A Day of Pilgrimage for Women

July 2, Feast of the Visitation in Germany, is the traditional day of pilgrimage for women. A group of members from different Schoenstatt communities had joined ideas and forces this year to prepare this day. Approximately 200 women, in the afternoon some more, were welcomed in the Pilgrims' Church. A variety of programs was offered: Personal prayer in the Original Shrine with meditation texts copied for all, modern Marian songs, Sacrament of Reconciliation, Crafting, discussion groups about relationship, "Seeking Signs", picture meditation, and more - all centered on "encounter", according to the biblical content of the day, the encounter between Mary and Elizabeth.

At 4:00 PM, all met for the Holy Mass in the Pilgrims' Church, celebrated by Father Franz Widmaier, and from there processed to the Original Shrine… facing the dreading downpour!

The Cathedral Choir from Cambrai in Schoenstatt

On their way to meet with their partner choir in Hungary, and sing concerts and Masses in Budapest and Esztergom, the Cathedral Choir of Cambrai, France, made a stop in Schoenstatt. Too bad the announcement came with short notice - the songs they sang in the Mass in the Pilgrims' Church late afternoon would have deserved an audience!! Father Josef Barmettler celebrated Mass in French with them, congratulating them for their luck of celebrating twice the Feast of Visitation, on May 31 at home and on July 2 in Germany. He shared about Father Kentenich in Dachau, who during the long forced waiting periods had prayed and encouraged others to pray: Mother, I greet you - greet me too!

That the Blessed Mother would greet each and everyone on this day and at this place, was his wish for them, and for all.