"We built the Shrine for the Blessed Mother and She builds the house for us...

Work continues in Belmonte: By August or September of this year the house for the guardians of the Shrine will be finished

El Santuario vela a las obras en Belmonte The Shrine watches over the construction work in Belmonte Das Heiligtum wacht über die Bauarbeiten

Nueva entrada al terreno de Belmonte New access to the land of Belmonte Neuer Zugang zum Gelände von Belmonte
Manos a la obra! Let’s work! Hand ans Werk!
La semana pasada, comenzó la construcción de la Casa de los Guardianos Last week, the construction of the House of the Guardians began Letzte Woche begannen die Arbeiten am Wächterhaus
Casi como el año pasado... Almost like last year... Fast wie letztes Jahr…
Desde el camion... From the truck … Vom Lastaufwagen …
…en la tierra. Listo! …on the ground. Done! …auf den Boden. Fertig! Fotos: Gerber  © 2005

ROMA, Michael Gerber. Five months have passed since the blessing of Matri Ecclesaiae Shrine. Since that September 8th pilgrims come to the Shrine daily. In the same way, the Shrine played a very important role in the preparation for the Golden Anniversary of the neighboring parish, St. Gema. In the meanwhile, several Pilgrim MTA shrines travel through the parish visiting families. Simultaneously, ideas are exchanged over how to prepare for a diocesan pilgrimage to be held each September 8th. There are obvious signs, which is very encouraging, that the Shrine has been accepted rapidly by its neighbors, who experience it as a place of grace. After intense planning the construction of the house for the guardians of the Shrine began this week.

An enormous trench made as a result of the work that will be done in the lower part of the grounds, to the left of the Shrine, attracted the attention of many of the pilgrims who came from far away during the month of September. Last week the work began after long planning. At the same time a new access road had to be laid out from Via Santa Gema, approximately at the place, where later on, the road to the Retreat House will be. Around August or September the house of the guardians of the Shrine should be finished. It is about time, since its future occupants, Nivaldo and Tersinha Abram - a Brazilian couple, who belong to the Schoenstatt Institute of Families - have resided in the Eternal City since August of last year. Their presence at the Shrine is a daily manifestation of authentic hospitality.

The house of the guardians of the Shrine - who are presently they- will also include a hall so that in the future pilgrim groups can hold journeys close to the Shrine, and until the big Retreat House is built, it can also serve, that at least, limited groups of youth can spend the night - in modest conditions.

The panorama of Belmonte today, almost one year later

Whoever sees photos of Belmonte today, almost a year later, with the cast of machinery and works of construction, - and under the expectant gaze of an always greater number of Schoenstatters in the whole world who follow the progress of the work, with enthusiasm and with the desire to be able to participate -.can immediately feel the strong desire and hope that the mission of this Shrine, that was built by all the Schoenstatt Family, will be accomplished more and more.

That the stream of pilgrims going to the Shrine will continuely increase, and at the same time, that an always stronger stream will form the Church according to the prophetic vision of Father Kentenich.

Translation: Celina M. Garza, Harlingen, Texas, USA