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Peregrina Original (imagen llevada por João Pozzobon durante 35 años) Original Pilgrim MTA, picture carried by John Pozzobon for 35 years Original-Peregrina, das Bild, das Joao Pozzobon 35 Jahre lang getragen hat |
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Peregrina Auxiliar en la procesión Auxiliary in the procesión Die Auxiliar in der Prozession: alle suchen die Nähe der Gottesmutter |
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Llegada de la procesión al Santuario The procesión arrives at the Shrine Die Prozession kommt beim Heiligtum an |
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Monseñor Hélio Rubert durante la Santa Misa Bishop Hélio Rubert during Mass Bischof Hélio Rubert bei der Messe |
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Frente al Santuario Tabór, cuna y fuente de gracias de la Campaña At the Tabor Shrine, cradle and wellspring of graces of the Campaign Beim Tabor-Heiligtum, der Wiege und Gnadenquelle der Kampagne |
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Bendición de los enfermos impartida por los diáconos permanentes Blessing of the sick Krankensegung |
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Tumba de João Pozzobon escoltada por sus hijos (4º día de la semana del Centenario) John Pozzobon’s tomb, 4th day of the centenary week Das Grab von Joao Pozzobon, 4. Tag der Jubiläumswoche Fotos: Favero © 2004 Más fotos – more photos – weitere Bilder |
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BRAZIL, Sr. Rosequiel Favero. The birth of John Luiz Pozzobon, originator of the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Virgin Campaign, was celebrated in many places around the world and within the huge country of Brazil. In his native land – in Santa Maria– his parish community promoted the ‘Week of the Centennial’, following his footsteps and remembering his life and work. The ‘great week’ ended with a large Eucharistic celebration next to the Tabor Shrine, presided over by the diocesan bishop of Santa Maria, Hélio Rubert, with the participation of two thousand pilgrims from the south of Brazil.
For a long time the members of the Santa Maria Schoenstatt Movement asked themselves how they would celebrate such a huge event as the centennial of the birth of John Luiz Pozzobon. As soon as the Congress with representatives from different nations, which took place in Santa Maria in September of 2004, was over, the subject of the celebration of the centennial became more urgent. To everyone’s joy, the parish priest of Our Lady of Sorrows, the parish where John belonged and worked, clearly manifested the desire of involving the entire church community in this celebration. The result was an extraordinary moment of thanksgiving, where one could feel that John Pozzobon is loved and important, not only for the Schoenstatt community but also for the entire town of Santa Maria.
Following the footsteps and life of John Pozzobon
The ‘Week of the Centennial’ was planned as a remembrance of the footsteps of the ‘pilgrim John’, in his life. The first step was his native land and the contact with his original community. A group of nearly 500 pilgrims from Santa Maria traveled 45 kilometers (nearly 28 miles) to Linha Bonita, where John was born and spent his childhood next to his family, then on to Ribeirao, next to the Church of San Pedro, where he received the sacraments of baptism, first communion, confirmation and marriage. The focus of the celebration was to remember and relive the sacramental life of John, having the renewal of the baptismal promises as the grand finale.
The second night, the meeting was held in the main church of Our Lady of Sorrows, to meditate and celebrate the ecclesiastical dimension of the life of John Pozzobon, his participation in the life of the Church and as the father of his children, and as a worker. The third meeting place was the Chapel of Our Lady of Graces, with the community where John Pozzobon worked directly as deacon. That night, the celebration started in front of the house of John Pozzobon, a few meters (yards) from the chapel, with the presence of many family members and neighbors. It was a moving moment when a group of teary men renewed their consecration to the Virgin Mary, the same consecration that they made when they were little, as members of a group of boys guided by John Pozzobon. Some of them had traveled more than 15 hours to be a part of the celebration.
During ‘Week of the Centennial’ the third step in the life of John Pozzobon, was the Shrine of the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt. In this place, where John himself assured us he found his mission in life, a ceremony of prayer and reflection took place to contemplate his missionary vocation for the apostle of the families. The Shrine was thought of as a coterie, where the Holy Spirit – through the maternal action of Mary – formed and educated John Pozzobon. The highlight at the end of the celebration, was the handing out of lighted candles to the participants to take home. The lit candles could be seen inside the buses that slowly disappeared among the city streets.
The celebration on the last night took place next to the tomb of John Pozzobon, where his serious desire for sanctity challenged all the participants to assume with courage his vocation to sanctity.
The night before the big centennial celebration was marked by a tribute to John Pozzobon with theater, dance, poetry and songs composed especially for him.
The Centennial Celebration: day of joy and prayer
The morning of December 12th was warm and sunny in Santa Maria. The first of 25 buses full of pilgrims who came that day for the centennial celebration arrived at 6am. Members from different branches of the Movement organized themselves in teams to care for the location and well-being of the pilgrims, whether it was by welcoming the delegations or distributing song sheets and water.
The celebration started with a procession, from the house of John Pozzobon to the Tabor Shrine, with a brief stop and prayer at the place of the accident that ended his life in 1985. To everyone’s joy, the bishop of Santa Maria, Bishop Hélio Rubert, who had accepted an invitation to preside at the Holy Mass, also participated in the procession with the townspeople.
At 10 am the Holy Mass, transmitted live by Radio Medianeira from the Santa Maria diocese, began. In his homily, Bishop Hélio affirmed that in this day, three ‘Johns’ could be called upon: the Baptizer, prophet of the Advent; Juan Diego, given that it was the day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and John Pozzobon.
Even though it was an outdoor Mass on such a hot day, the feeling among those present was one of deep joy and peace and it spread into all the other activities of the day. In the afternoon, all the pilgrims participated in prayer, watched a video about John Pozzobon, and visited the Original Pilgrim MTA and the house of John Pozzobon. In this way, there reigned a feeling of family and prayer next to the Shrine. Inside the Shrine, many people were involved in adoration and used the time to write their wishes to John Pozzobon or to ‘enlarge the amphora’ with contributions to the Capital of Thanksgiving.
Outside, the people sat together in groups under the trees, talked seriously, and savored delicious ice cream sold by the Sisters. 176 pounds of ice cream were sold! Even though there was much joy and familiarity, nothing disturbed the feeling of prayer in the Shrine. At 15:30 hours, (3:30) everyone met again next to the Shrine for a moment of adoration and the Eucharistic blessing. As a final ending, 5 permanent deacons of the Santa Maria diocese stayed for more than one hour giving individual blessings to the sick and to those who wished it.
A day of blessings and graces
Without a doubt, the day of the celebration of John Pozzobon was a day filled with graces for all that participated. One could feel all the pilgrims had attended to pray. All the social classes were present, although the majority belonged to the poor townspeople, so loved by John himself. It was impossible not to be moved by the lines of people formed to visit and pray in front of the ‘Original Pilgrim MTA’, by the devotion with which young and old, kneeling, prayed the rosary or waited more than one hour under the sun to receive the blessing of the sick. The celebration was so wonderful, that at the end one could hear voices suggesting another ‘dose’ for next year. Who knows?
Translation: Natalia Cava, Florida, USA