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Los peregrinos de los Estados Unidos cerca del Santuario Original The USA pilgrims by the Original Shrine Die Pilger aus USA beim Urheiligtum |
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Los 27 peregrinos disfrutaron de cada momento de sus días en Schoenstatt The 27 pilgrims enjoyed each moment of their stay in Schoenstatt Die 27 Pilger haben jeden Augenblick ihres Aufenthalts in Schönstatt genossen. |
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Misa en el Santuario Original: P. Raphael Azarias, Ghana, P. Jonathan Niehaus, Estados Unidos Holy Mass in the Original Shrine: Raphael Azarias, Ghana, Fr. Jonathan Niehaus, USA Messe im Urheiligtum: Pfr. Raphael Azarias, Ghana, P. Jonathan Niehaus, USA Fotos: Rolen © 2003 |
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Marge Rolen, Oregon, autora del articulo (izq.), con otras participantes en la Iglesia de la Adoración Marge Rolen, Oregon, author of the article (l.), with other participants in the Adoration Church Marge Rolen, Oregon, Autorin des Artikels (l), mit anderen Teilnehmerinnen in der Anbetungskirche |
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Por la noche... descanso con café y té frente de la Casa Sonnenau At night... relaxing with coffee and tea in front of House Sonnenau Und abends… Entspannung bei Kaffee und Tee vor der Sonnenau Fotos: POS Fischer © 2003 |
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SCHOENSTATT, Marge Rolen. United States pilgrims were visiting the Schoenstatt fatherland in Germany, September 8 -19, 2003, a time span including the anniversary of September 11, the anniversary of Father Kentenich's birthday for heaven September 15, Covenant Day, and - not to forget - gorgeous early fall weather. Twenty-seven women and men from the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Florida, Ohio, Oregon, and from Puerto Rico agree with one pilgrim's comment, "Everyday we think we have reached the highpoint of the trip; then, the next day there is more."
"It's fantastic," says one woman who during the pilgrimage is crating an armful of cord rosaries to commemorate the unity and family feeling of the group.
Daily Masses for the pilgrim group are celebrated in the shrines and chapels all over the Schoenstatt region. On September 11, the pilgrims pray during Holy Mass in the Original Shrine for all those affected by the terror attacks. The Holy Mass in the house in Gymnich near Cologne, where Father Kentenich was born is a special highlight of the pilgrimage. The group also went to Husten, the birthplace of Sr. Emilie Engel, one of the spiritual sons and daughters of Father Kentenich whose process of canonization is well under way.
"I like the fact that we first greet Our Mother in each place before we study the history of that center," says one pilgrim. Another states: "The tasty food and excellent accommodation at each place is spoiling us."
A new closeness to Father Kentenich
A chartered tour bus carries the twenty-seven to sites and cities that give them a full experience of the vitality of the Schoenstatt Movement. Several assess: "The huge size of the 'Covenant House' built in 1928 amazes us. We did not expect to see such large gathering places, and from so early in Schoenstatt's history." And add to that the beauty of Mount Sion, Mount Moriah, the Family Shrine, Mount Schoenstatt, each a living dynamic center for the various Secular Institutes within the Movement. "We are amazed!"
The men in the pilgrimage comment upon their renewed insights and closeness to Father Kentenich's personality. "I enjoy seeing so many photos of his smiling face. His penetrating fatherly gaze reminds me of my own father. He was an amazing man." The pilgrims joined in the Commemorative Service at 7:00 AM on September 15, in the Adoration Church - without understanding a single word of the German-only liturgy, they feel part of a big family gathered around their father and founder. In the Founder Chapel they can talk to Father Kentenich - in English… Some are moved to tears with the experience.
"Visiting this special place of grace brings back to life all that I read in the Schoenstatt books," says a visitor from Wisconsin. "For me, personally, I have received inner healing graces," says another.
Not only pilgrims, but allies
The pilgrims were taking filmloads of pictures, purchasing lots of souvenirs, and taking many notes from Fr. Jonathan Niehaus' and Sr. Marie Day's history lessons. Sr Marie Day kept the group on schedule and watches over the "flock".
Twelve day pilgrimage experience, in the word of one visitor, is summed up, "The motto of Schoenstatt, 'Nothing without her, and without us' sums up my experience here. Yes, God and Our Mother have worked wonders, but not without those first boys, and later with many persons. Now it is also up to us as we carry these experiences back to the USA. Mother Thrice Admirable can do wonderful things, but she needs us as her partners."
The 27 Schoenstatt pilgrims continued their trip with a visit to Dachau, Munich, and Oberammergau, before heading home across the Atlantic back to the USA on September 20.