29 de febrero de 2004: Diez años del Santuario de Sión February 29, 2004: Ten years Sion Shrine 29. Februar 2004: Zehn Jahre Sionsheiligtum
Los 10 postulantes de la Región, cinco de Argentina, cinco de Paraguay The ten postulants of the Region, five from Argentina, five from Paraguay Die 10 Postulaten der Region, fünf aus Argentinien, fünf aus Paraguay
Ofrenda: un ramo de 10 rosas, una para cada postulante Offering: a bouquet of 10 roses, one for each postulant Gabengang: ein Strauß mit zehn Rosen, eine für jeden Postulanten Fotos: Pol © 2004
Participaron unas 800 personas Approximately 800 participants Gut 800 Personen feierten mit den Schönstatt-Patres
Misa festiva; celebrante principal: P. Heinrich Walter (segundo de izq.) Festive Mass; main celebrant: Fr. Heinrich Walter (second from left) Festgottesdienst; Hauptzelebrant: P. Heinrich Walter (zweiter von links)
Bendición: P. Guillermo Carmona Blessing: Fr. Guillermo Carmona Segen: P. Guillermo Carmona
Procesión Procession Prozession
Padres de la Región Fathers of the Region Patres der Regio
P. Juan Pablo Cattogio, P. Heinrich Walter, P. Guillermo Carmona (de izq.) Fr. Juan Pablo Cattogio, Fr. Heinrich Walter, Fr. Guillermo Carmona (from left) P. Juan Pablo Cattogio, P. Heinrich Walter, P. Guillermo Carmona (von links)
Entrega de vasijas con tierra de Sión Each participant got a vase with soil from Sion Jeder erhielt einen Krug mit Erde von Sion
P. Enrique Schäfer con vasijas Fr. Enrique Schäfer passing on vases P. Enrique Schäfer beim Austeilen der Krüge
Coro Choir Chor Fotos: Gago © 2004
Fotos: © 2004

ARGENTINA, Ana Hoffmann de Correa. Who would have dreamed 10 or 15 years ago with a place like this? Under the leafy trees across from the Sion Shrine, with the presence of Fr. Walter Heinrich, General Superior, and many Priests from the Del Plata Region (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay), as well as Fr. Gonzalo Castro, Rector of the Fr. Kentenich Major College in Santiago; and priests from Chile, Ecuador, Portugal, Brazil, and Paraguay who are doing their (tertiate ?) work here . On February 29^th 2004 a thanksgiving Mass was celebrated for the first ten years of the Sion Shrine. Many members of the Schoenstatt Movement of Paraguay and different dioceses of Argentina, the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary and neighbors attended - about 800 people total – accompanying the Fathers in this festive day, where the youth presence was remarkable.

Father Juan Pablo Cattoggio, Regional Superior, welcomed everyone: the ones who traveled from far away, the neighbors, relatives of the ten candidates, Fathers from the tertiate, novices, Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, friends, etc. They all welcomed the Priests’ General Superior and President of the Movement: Fr. Heinrich Walter, who presided the Eucharistic ceremony, and expressed a few words in Spanish, told the audience he was present when the Shrine was inaugurated, ten years ago.

All participants found a shady place under the big trees near the Shrine.

It is necessary to begin by the garden

The desert began transforming into a garden. In 1994, the Queen of Sion established her throne in this rustic place, without plants, "almost" a dump pile; while we, in exchange for Her gift, gave her another gift: we built Her another Shrine.

Nothing is impossible for God, said Fr. Juan Pablo Catoggio, Regional Superior. The following day, February 29th, Fr. Catoggio celebrated his 50 years, in the mass of the 10^th Anniversary. It is possible to build up a new world. It is necessary to begin with the garden of each heart and each home, and to faithfully follow, day by day, without lowering the arms. "If we do our jobs and deposit our trust in the good Father and the power of Our Queen, one day, our nation will be a family paradise, a garden for all.

Nothing is impossible for God, Maria learned in the Annunciation, and she wasn’t to teach it to us in the Shrine, because Sion is sign and proof of hope".

Ten years of the Shrine, ten candidates of the Region

He also referred about the request made a year earlier: last year, which was a year dedicated to the Rosary Campaign, and as a gift for the 10 years of the Shrine, the proposal was to pray ten Rosaries a day, to implore for the twelve candidates of our Region for the next novice course.

The Blessed Mother manifested herself and wanted to be more precise… she gave us ten candidates, one per each year of the Shrine…: five Argentinean, and five Paraguayan. These candidates will begin their novices next April 18^th, Covenant Day, and the day of the blessing of the new shrine in Garanhums, Brazil under the leadership of Fr. Francisco Pistilli, from Paraguay.

The ten candidates are: Manuel Lopez Naón (Buenos Aires.); Juan Pablo Villani (Buenos Aires.); Juan Segundo Clavijo (San Isidro); Santiago Arriola (Mar del Plata); Javier Lascano (Cordoba); Francisco Santa Cruz (Asuncion, Paraguay.); Jose Velasquez (Ciudad del Este, Paraguay); Oscar Saldivar (Asuncion, Paraguay); Joaquin Santiviago (Asuncion, Paraguay); Santiago Cacavellos (Asuncion, Paraguay).

A vessel with soil from Sion

We all were happy to see Fr. Juan Jose Riba recuperated from a brain vascular accident. Not only did he celebrate the Eucharist, but he also read the Gospel and participated in the final procession.

The offerings to the altar were: two jars filled with Capital of Grace contributions, one bouquet of 10-roses, one per each candidate, and a Rosary offered by the Literary Circle. When mass was ended, a bulleting was handed out. This bulletin was larger than last years’, with more pages, however, not as big as the first magazines. The Fathers also gave to each one of the presents a small jar filled with Soil from Sion: "Holy soil" as they said, thanking to all those who were there and prayed for them; they asked to continue the prayers. Fr. Juan Pablo said: In order to complete our mission, it is imperative we count with candidates (vocations)

The celebration continued with a delicious outdoors lunch, where all Region’ priests were present: the Superior General, Fr. Walter, and the Fathers from the tertiate, also the "first residents of Sion", as novices, in 1988.

For sure our Founder Father is smiling from that sunny sky… This is the family he dreamed of!

Translation: Vera Gamez, Austin, Texas, USA/ John and Jan Beebe, England