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La peregrinación argentina en la tumba de Don Joao Pozzobon, Santa Maria The pilgrimage from Argentina at the tomb of John Pozzobon, Santa Maria Die argentinische Wallfahrt am Grab von Joao Pozzobon, Santa Maria |
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Rosario Iluminado Illumined Rosary Lichter-Rosenkranz |
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Entrega de nuevas Auxiliares en el Santuario Tabor Presenting of new Auxiliaries in the Tabor Shrine Übergabe der neuen Auxiliar im Tabor-Heiligtum |
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En la Capilla Azul At the „Blue Chapel“ Bei der „Blauen Kapelle“ |
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Con todas las peregrinas en la tumba de Don Joao Pozzobon With all the Pilgrim MTA’s at the tomb of John Pozzobon Mit allen Pilgermüttern am Grab von Joao Pozzobon |
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Durante al Misa de Alianza During the Covenant Mass Bei der Bündnismesse |
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En la Casa de Don Joao Pozzobon At the house of John Pozzobon Beim Haus von Joao Pozzobon Fotos: Scian © 2005 |
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ARGENTINA/BRAZIL, Alicia Scian. To commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Joao Pozzobon’s death, on the 27th of June 2005, Father Guillermo Mario Cassone organized a pilgrimage to Santa Maria from June 16th to the 20th, 2005. 64 Pilgrims from nine dioceses participated: Nueve de Julio, Mar del Plata, Bahia Blanca, Quilmes, San Luis, San Marin, San Nicolas, Moron and La Plata and Father Guillermo, Father Enrique Cisterna, from San Nicolas, Sister M. Roxana, from Paraguay, who is currently working in Villa Ballester. When they arrived on the 17th, Sister Rosequiel welcomed them and from then on she was their hostess. Immediately, everyone went to Tabor Shrine to give thanks and where Father
Welcomed them saying: "IT IS GOOD TO BE HERE". They traveled 1100 kilometers seeking the testimony of a person: Joao Luis Pozzobon, an extraordinary man, chosen by God to continue with his apostolic task. During those days, the pilgrims made contact with the places where he was born, where he lived, he married and carried out his apostolic task, three days that were very rich in graces and only God knows how many new ideas.
Absorbing Joao’s mission
Father Argemiro Ferracioli, Postulator of the Cause of Beatification for Joao, addressed the pilgrims with a warm welcome to Santa Maria, affirming that every pilgrim who comes to Santa Maria comes to learn about the way of grace that Joao traveled and to learn more about his mission in order to live it.
He told that when Joao learned that the Tabor Shrine was to be constructed in 1947, he personally helped, and from that time on he began to soak in the pedagogy of the Father and Founder. He was blessed to share the blessing of the cornerstone and then the blessing of the Shrine with him.
He loved the founder and his work so much, that it can be said that the Schoenstatt spirituality and pedagogy were alive in the life of Joao.
He united himself so deeply in the Covenant of Love with our beloved Mother Thrice Admirable and Queen that he gained much patience and much Capital of Grace from her in the Tabor Shrine, which undoubtedly the pilgrims will enjoy during their stay in Santa Maria.
He specially stressed the loyalty of 35 years of apostolate with the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign and the teaching of catechism he carried our through prayer.
Then he informed us about the current state of the process of beatification, commenting on the steps that have taken place since 2002, when he took charge of the cause.
He asked that petitions be written to attain a prompt beatification:…"pray for his prompt beatification, and through her we will receive the miracle which is necessary.
Since some persons attribute possible miracles of healing to Joao, he asked that they send them in writing to Postulate for the examination of each case.
Stations of the Cross at Noble Village of Charity
After the talk they went to Tabor Shrine, where Father Guillermo Mario and Father Enrique celebrated Holy Mass. Before Mass they had a very moving encounter with Joao’s daughters, Eli and Vilma, who accompanied them for the rest of the activities. At the end of they day they had a beautiful fraternal encounter where they introduced themselves to each other and they exchanged experiences. Then they went to the Sisters’ chapel for closing prayer under the direction of Father Guillermo Mario.
The 18th was very exciting, They prayed the Stations of Cross through the Noble Village of Charity with Sister Rosequiel, where they could relive the road that Joao traveled, and to see how Joao attached himself to the most needy. When they reached the last station, Father Argemiro received them, showing them the only dwelling left in the Villa that Joao built, and he gave a beautiful testimony about him.
They visited the Blue Chapel, where they saw the rules of living that Joao had written to make such a beautiful endeavor work properly, where family life was profoundly valued, and stressing that work gave the person dignity.
A common spirit that unites us as brother of John
They departed, close to midday, for Ribeirao, the place of John's birth, where the Italian community was waiting for them in the church where he was baptized, made his First Holy Communion, he was confirmed, and married actually seeing where these milestones took place. Father Guillermo Mario celebrated a very moving Holy Mass with Father Enrique, where we renewed our baptismal promises and the couples in the group also renewed their marriage vows.
The community, along with its director, hosted us to a tasty barbeque accompanied by Italian songs. We were also entertained with typical Argentine folkloric songs and dances. This encounter was very animated and entertaining and we felt the common spirit that unites us as brothers: Joao.
Afterwards they departed, accompanied by the director, to the place where Joao was born, the house no longer remains, then to the house where Joao lived during his adolescence with his parents and where he worked the land to help the family.
Covenant Day in Tabor Shrine
Upon returning they had a Covenant Mass where they were surprised by the enormous participation of the community. There were more than 650 persons present, who had arrived on pilgrimage to the Shrine from far way places to celebrate this Covenant of Love Day in spite of the rain.
5 Auxiliaries presided over by Ubaldo Pimentel, a close collaborator of Joao during his last years of apostolate were brought in followed by the celebrants: Father Argemiro, who celebrated the Mass, which was concelebrated by another priest from Santa Maria, Father Guillermo Mario, Father Enrique, and a Brazilian deacon. Father Argemiro made it a point to especially acknowledge the pilgrims from Argentina, and Sister Rosequiel allowed them to participate with several hymns during the beautiful and joyful celebration.
The day ended in the Sisters’ chapel with an illuminated rosary with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, it was a very touching moment in which everyone could participate and experience the moment spiritually just like Joao did.
Joao’s walking cane, his companion in so many travels
The 19th, the last day of the stay in Santa Maria, they visited the house where Joao lived in Santa Maria along with his spouse and seven children, the house is currently being restored. There they had a very moving encounter with several of his children, Humberto, Nair, two grandchildren and Vilma and Eli, who had accompanied throughout the trip.
They saw the room where Joao played with his children while his wife cooked, the kitchen, his room with many of his drawings, the store in front of the house, and the children’s rooms upstairs. He loved the Mother Thrice Admirable so much that he painted the outside walls pink, like the color of the Blessed Mother’s mantle, and the interior was green to symbolize hope.
Father Argemiro brought the cane that Joao used during his last years and everyone could feel it physically and spiritually.
God had a mission for him
Sister Rosequiel Favero told them about the nostalgia that he could not overcome during his youth and for which he would climb the hills close to his parents home to look at the horizon. God had prepared a mission for him: The Schoenstatt Shrine. When he started building it and he sealed the Covenant of Love, he understood that what he always longed for was Schoenstatt. Then she gave a brief account of his life and his work, that proved his great love and loyalty to Schoenstatt, rooted in the Mother Thrice Admirable, the Shrine and the Founding Father.
Farewell to Santa Maria with the desire to return soon
Finally and as a farewell, the most moving part of all the stay: the Mass of Commissioning in Tabor Shrine celebrated by Father Guillermo Mario and concelebrated by Fathers Argemiro and Enrique.
There were tears in the eyes of those present when two Auxiliary Shrines were commissioned – one for Pehuajó and another one for the Diocese of Mar del Plata, which will go on pilgrimage through Pinamar, General Madariaga, Villa Gesell and the town of la Costa -, the Covenant of Love was sealed by six pilgrims from Henderson and the commissioning of a Pilgrim Shrine of Serenity and Confidence which will go on pilgrimage in Mar del Plata.
In conclusion, we all renewed our commitment as missionaries consecrating ourselves to the Blessed Mother, more willing than ever with more desire and fire to inflame new hearts after visiting so many grace filled places.
"Finally, we want to express our gratitude to the Sisters of Mary, especially Sister Rosequiel, who showed us so much love. We also thank Father Argemiro, who the Blessed Mother used as an instrument to organize this beautiful pilgrimage on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of Joao’s departure to the Father’s home: Father Guillermo Mario, who was truly a father for us (we also celebrated Father’s Day in Santa Maria), taking care of each detail and spoiling us with small deeds, and who accompanied us every minute of this pilgrimage, in spite of how tiring it was, he was always joyful and jovial ready to give a little bit more of himself, as Joao was in the habit of saying.
We thank God for these three days of Glory that we experienced in Santa Maria, hoping to return to our home and being able to fulfill whatever he asks of each of us. In this way we ask that we will return to Santa Maria very soon on another pilgrimage to deepen our knowledge of the Servant of God, who we are convinced will be soon be raised to the honors of the altar for being a Saint throughout his life".
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