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Zagreb, Croacia,11 de diciembre de 2004: Fiesta de la Campańa de la Virgen Peregrina Zagreb, Croacia, December 11, 2004: Feast of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign Zagreb, Kroatien, 11. Dezember 2004: Fest der Pilgernden Gottesmutter |
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Como madre de su pueblo, la Virgen Peregrina visita a Croacia As mother of her people, the Pilgrim MTA is visiting Croacia Als Mutter ihres Volkes besucht die Pilgernde Gottesmutter Kroatien |
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La misionera que recibió la Peregrina N° 1000 The coordinator who received the Pilgrim MTA N°. 1000 Sie erhielt das 1000. Bild der Pilgernden Gottesmutter für Kroatien |
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El P Christoph Horn la felicita: “El día más feliz de mi vida” Fr. Christoph Horn congratulates: “This was the most blissful moment of my life” P. Christoph Horn gratuliert ihr: “Das war der glücklichste Moment in meinem Leben!” Fotos: Molnar © 2005 |
CROATIA, FR. Christoph Horn / mkf. On Sunday, October 23, 2005, the Schoenstatt Family of Croatia will crown the Blessed Mother; since, as of yet there is no Shrine, the crowning will be done at a Schoenstatt altar in Slavonski Brod. In May 2005 a pilgrimage from Croatia will arrive in Schoenstatt: it is a great desire of this country to establish bonds with the place of origin of Schoenstatt. Since December 12, 2004, the centennial of Joao Pozzobon, a thousand Pilgrim MTA's are circulating in this country; the Pilgrim Mother leads thousands to Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life.
In December, three Dioceses in Croatia held encounters of the Pilgrim MTA which are specially associated with the initiator of the Campaign, Joao Pozzobon, whose centennial was celebrated December 12, the third Sunday of Advent. On December the 4th and encounter was held in Dubrovnik, the southern part of the country (during these days, there was news that the man responsible for the bombings in the city of Dubrovnik during several days of the Balkan war was sentenced). Two other encounters took place in Zagreb (December 11th) and in Nijemci, on December 12th, in the eastern part of the country.
In the hot and humid climate of Duborvnik, they had a great gift with the weather. The Blessed Mother took care so that the morning was sunny and later in the afternoon when everyone had returned home, heavy rains fell. More than 300 persons, who are coordinators of more than 140 Pilgrim MTA pictures, participated.
The 1,000th Pilgrim MTA Shrine in Croatia
In Zagreb - some 500 persons and more than 300 Pilgrim MTA Shrines- experienced the great joy of the commissioning of the 1,000th Pilgrim MTA Shrine for Croatia. The Pigrim MTA Shrine festively adorned with flowers, was commissioned by Mr. Ivan Posta, leader of the Campaign in Croatia. "It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life," said Father Cristoph Horn, who has carried out the the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign in Croatia. "When one hears all that the Blessed Mother does, that she is a living person who visits many people as a spiritual mother, it is simply incredible..." The Blessed Mother took care that the 1,000th Pilgrim MTA was given to Tea Kresic, who is a great apostle for the Campaign: thanks to her commitment some 40 Pilgrim MTA's visit the people in Zagreb.
In the East, in the city of Nijemci, about seven hundred persons congregated with more than three hundred Pilgrim MTA Shrines. They celebrated Holy Mass with the parish of that place.
During the three encounters Father Horn presented conferences about the person and life of the Deacon Joao Luiz Pozzobon, and he reported on his participation at the International Congress in Santa Maria, Brazil, which took place at the beginning of September. Impressive testimonies arrived from the local communities about the Blessed Mother's work in Croatia. They prayed together, they celebrated a Holy Mass and in the Covenant of Love celebration they experienced how new members of the Family consecrate themselves to the Mother Thrice Admirable through the Covenant of Love.
The growth of Schoenstatt in the Balkans
It was three marvelous days, where the presence and the love of the Blessed Mother could be felt.
During these encounters of the Pilgrim MTA Fathers Edwin Germann and Marian Wyrzkowski, of Switzerland, were also present, and on these occasions and during the meetings with the local representatives of the Schoenstatt Movement in Zagreb and Slavonski Brod, they were able to see the growth of Schoenstatt in Croatia.
In Djakovo, they visited the local Bishop, Mons. Marin Srakic. In Zagreb, they spent almost an hour with Cardinal Josip Bozanic. On December 11th both Fathers were on Radio Mary of Zagreb and they answered various questions during the Program of the Schoenstatt Movement which is aired monthly. In this way, the program and their visit to Croatia were rich with impressions and intensity, as were the personal encounters with Croatian families.
Both priestrs are surprised by the varied manifestations of life of the Croatian Schoenstatt Family. They were continually asked for more spiritual direction.
In October 2004 there was an important encounter with Father Zvonko Viah, a Croatian, Jesuit priest, who for eight years has been committed to a mission with the people in the Croatian parishes. He is especially interested in how the Pilgrim MTA reconciles families.
On Janaury 22nd a novena of several months was started in preparation for the crowning of the Blessed Mother. From April 22nd to July 22nd it wii be prayed in union with the Croatian Schoenstatt Family for the future Shrine, and until October 22nd they cordially invite that we pray with them for vocations for all the Schoenstatt communities in Croatia.
Translation: Celina M. Garza, Harlingen, Texas, USA