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Fiesta del Santuario de Sión del Padre: procesión de entrada Feast of the Sion of the Father Shrine: entrance procession Fest des Heiligtums “Sion des Vaters”: Einzug |
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Una visita grata: el Cardenal Francisco Javier Errázuriz A most welcome visit: Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz Hochwillkommener Besuch: Kardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz |
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Coro de la Juventud Choir of the Schoenstatt Youth Chor der Schönstattjugend |
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A la sombra del Santuario... y de los arboles In the shadow of the Shrine... and of the trees Im Schatten des Heiligtums... und der Bäume |
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Prédica de Mons. Francisco Javier Errázuriz Sermon of Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz Predigt von Kardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz |
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Oración final Final prayer Schlussgebet |
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Encuentro, saludos... A moment of greeting Begrüßen und ein paar Worte wechseln Fotos: Crivelli © 2005 |
ARGENTINA, Monina Crivelli. On a day with radiant sunlight, less warm than previous days, Fathers, seminarians, Sisters and lay persons met at Father's Sion, Florencio Varela, to celebrate, just as every last Sunday of the month of February, the feast of the anniversary of the Shrine. It was a feast day for all the Schoenstatt Family of the countries of Plata a region that includes Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. A day to meet with familiar faces, coming from different dioceses in the country, from close by and not so close, you can fully enjoy all the Fathers, if and when you can find a little "space" among the group of people that surround each one of them since before the Mass begins until the time to depart.
The Shrine was adorned with the traditional flags of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, the German centennial flag and the papal flag; on the other side, close to the door, the Queen of Sion accompanied the ceremony, adorned with a sea of flowers, a gift from the Sisters of Mary, the interior of the Shrine was decorated with the same kind of flowers.
A little before 11:00, the beginning time, the people began to find their places, under the shade of the trees that face the Shrine, some Fathers heard confessions "al fresco", the choir practiced its songs; everything in anticipation of what would be experienced later, when the Fathers made their entrance procession, preceded by the Unity Cross carried by seminarians, and a long line of Schoenstatt Fathers, and ended with a pleasant visit...
The Shrine's eleven years
This year the celebration was special: besides celebrating the 11th anniversary - which coincided with the day of blessing, Sunday, February 27, 1994- Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz, Archbishop of Santiago, Chile and President of CELAM (Episcopal Conference of Latin America) , past Superior of the Schoenstatt Fathers for 18 years, was also present. He was in Buenos Aires on business and he made time to go to Sion to share this feast with his Community and the local family, as he did in 1994 for the blessing. It was a great joy for him, as it was expressed after the initial greeting and welcome given by Father Juan Pablo Catoggio, the Regional Superior. It was an enormous joy for all present to see him, hear his words, to greet him, and several persons relived the beautiful time they shared in Rome during the blessing of the Matri Ecclesiae Shrine.
Only Oceania was missing
As Father Juan Pablo stressed, it was at the same time a "multicontinental" celebration where four continents made rings around the MTA in her Sion Shrine: America, Europe, Africa and Asia; only Oceania was missing! This was made possible basically, thanks to the presence of Father Deo, the first Schoenstatt Father from Burundi, who is collaborating during this year with the Movement in Paraguay, and the seminarian, Dhanabal, from India, who is also working with the Boys' Youth in Cordoba. Neither one spoke one word of Spanish in October and today they not only read the readings fluently, but they also understand and speak Spanish perfectly and fast, to the surprise and admiration of everyone!
The Shrine - our Jacob's well
In his profound homily given in very simple terms, Monsignor Francisco Javier (Father Francisco Javier, as some called him) told about the 40 years that God acted as the "educator" of the Israelite people, educating them to grow in faith, as his sons and as brothers to each other. The same happens in our lives. God wants us to call him Abba. Referring to the Gospel of the day, he spoke about the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. A meeting where a very different dialogue was established between them, which began "tensely" on the the part of the Samaritan, who began to open up when Jesus revealed himself as the Redeemer, and who finally met him when Christ touched her heart. In continuation a theological aspect surges on the part of the Samaritan, which concludes with Christ's announcement: "I am He" (the Messiah), at this point the Samaritan is transformed into an evangelizer of the living Christ.
And what about us, he asked, which are Jacob's wells in our life, of our people? Do we and do they encounter the Lord? This brings about the whole subject of the New Evangelization. For Schoenstatters, the Shrines and our Home Shrines are our Jacob's wells, to which we thirstily take our needs, so that Jesus and the Blessed Mother can quench this thirst. It is not in the universitites, the political parties, governments in charge, nor the economic forums, where man finds a response to so many problems and challenges of all kinds that accosts him today, but it is in the profound encounter with Jesus, for which the Blessed Mother is the fastest and surest way.
An avalanche of greetings
Before finishing Mass, Father Juan Pablo Cattogio reiterated his gratitude for the presence of the Cardinal, the members of the Community that came from other countries, the presence of Father Pedro Kuhlcke (for whom he asked prayers so that he will return soon from Schoenstatt where he is Rector of the Seminary!), and the joy of finding among us someone who is very well liked - and very much applauded - by all: Father Nicolas Schwizer, from Switzerland and Paraguayan of heart. He also thanked those who collaborated for this feast, the Sisters, the organizers of the event, the team from San Isidro, who was in charge of the luncheon, the Youth Choir, the collaborators of the Schoenstatt Fathers of Sion, and all those present to celebrate together with them this great feast day.
Finally, with everyone looking toward the MTA in the Shrine, we renewed the Covenant of Love praying My Queen, My Mother, after which Cardinal Francisco Javier gave the blessing. Immediately afterward everyone crowded around the Fathers, who were surrounded by a cloud of people, with greetings, messages, objects to be blessed, even to ask for their turn for spiritual direction.. it was a great opportunity for everything! And of course, it was also the moment to visit the Blessed Mother in the Shrine, where long lines were formed in order to enter. In the meantime, as usual, several volunteers distributed the pamphlet Sion 2005, with photos and a letter from Father Juan Pablo in the name of all his community, where not only the latest news is given, but it also contains a beautiful reflection for this season, facing the past and the future of what awaits us this year.
Sharing food, laughter, comments, and a moment of Adoration of our Lord
The hour for lunch arrived at Joseph Engling House of the Boys' Youth in Sion, where everyone could taste the delicious "choripan" ( a sausage sandwich) and hamburger, a refreshing drink that was well appreciated in the midst of a hot day, cakes and ice cream. Of course the conversations with the Fathers continued, as with relatives, friends in small groups the length of the road that joins the Shrine with the house - under the shade of the trees and with a "mate" in hand -.in the interior and the gallery of the house, its surroundings and in the cabin, Gabriel Decarli, that also belongs to the Boys' Youth. It was time to share laughter, memories, information, questions and answers from the Fathers and the seminarians - the most asked question as usual was - when are you coming back? It was then that Father Pedro, pressured, felt obligated to venture a date that not even he knew. Just as the Father and seminarians from Paraguay, Cordoba, Chile, even the "absent" ones in Rome, Father Alberto Eronti and Father Ludovico Tedeschi, and Father Angel Strada, member of the General Council of Schoenstatt Fathers; no one escaped this question...Because it is not everyday that one has the opportunity to dialogue with all the Schoenstatt Fathers of the region and beyond.
At 3:00 the Eucharistic blessing, under the direction of Father Pedro and the seminarians Facundo Bernabei and Dhanabal began in front of the Shrine, it was the moment of encounter with Christ in the Eucharist to adore him. After the Eucharistic blessing the participants began to leave slowly, not without greeting and saying one last word to the Fathers.. truly hosts who gave themselves entirely to their family, as they have always done every year on the feast day of the Shrine of the Queen of Sion. Until next year, when we will meet again to celebrate together as a family this feast that is for everyone!
Translation: Celina M. Garza, Harlingen, Texas, USA