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18 de junio: peregrinos-motociclistas en el Santuario Original June 18: biker-pilgrims at the Original Shrine 18. Juni: Motorrad-Wallfahrer am Urheiligtum |
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Misa de la Alianza en el Santuario Original: peregrinación de España Covenant Mass in the Original Shrine: pilgrimage from Spain Bündnismesse im Urheiligtum: Wallfahrt aus Spanien |
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Ir y venir... peregrinos de Alemania, España, Chile, Polonia Pilgrims from Kommen und Gehen am Urheiligtum: Pilger aus Deutschland, Polen, Spanien, Chile... |
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45° aniversario de casamiento: los Vasquez de Santiago de Chile 45th wedding anniversary: the Vasquez from Santiago de Chile 45. Hochzeitstag: Ehepaar Vasquez aus Santiago de Chile |
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Celebración de Alianza en la Iglesia de la Adoración Covenant Celebration in the Adoration Church Bündnisfeier in der Anbetungskirche |
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Capital de gracias... Capital of grace Gnadenkapital, bitte! |
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Fotos: POS, Fischer © 2005 |
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Encuentro familiar Encounter after the celebration Begegnung nach der Feier – mit Erdbeerbowle |
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Pilger aus Brasilien |
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Aussendung eines Bildes der Pilgernden Gottesmutter zu polnischen Familien |
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Fotos: POS, Brehm © 2005 |
SCHOENSTATT, mkf. The 18th of June a new shrine, the City Shrine of Quito, Ecuador was blessed. If each 18th is a feast day, it much more so when on this day the MTA is offered a new place where she can establish her dwelling, and provide graces, and she accepts the invitation. "We truly have many persons who with their prayers, their presence, and their work have contributed so that today we have a Shrine in our city", said the report from Ecuador. In Schoenstatt during the Covenant Mass in the Shrine as well as during the afternoon celebration, all the participants united themselves in prayer with the family in Ecuador…and with all who celebrate the Covenant of Love today.
This June 18th in Schoenstatt began with a totally blue sky, without a single cloud, and a brilliant sun and a cool breeze - that is to say, it is a spectacular day. A pilgrimage of the Mothers’ Branch from Spain participated in the Covenant Mass in the Original Shrine at 9:00 a.m. "From this place, where the sodalists departed for war, we return to Spain, not to a war, but to our daily lives, where we want like they, to live in the strength of this covenant", said Father Jose Maria Garcia in his homily. He said that 20 years ago, during Father’s centennial, the Cardinal de Madrid, at that time, told him: "Everything is beautiful in Schoenstatt, but what good is Schoenstatt for my diocese?" It is not only one more Shrine, there are many shrines in Spain. No it is the Blessed Mother, since Spain is a very Marian country. What is it then" The covenant, he said. "We want to give Spain the covenant, the covenant with the Blessed Mother, who makes us live in covenant with God, and with others…" The mothers renewed their Covenant of Love in the Original Shrine and along with them the Vasquez from Santiago, Chile, celebrated their 45th Wedding Anniversary.. . A little later, a group of Polish families also had a Mass.
Confident in the miracles of the Blessed Mother
On this day some very beautiful news came in: the joy that: thanks to a generous donation and many smaller contributions from the German Schoenstatters, along with the prayers of the Campaign in Argentina, from where the campaign was taken to Senegal - a young man, who is a coordinator for the Pilgrim MTA will be able to participate in the Youth Festival in Schoenstatt and the World Youth Day in Cologne. When he received the news about the much desired gift, this 25 year old young man, Paul
Mendy, wrote from Dakar: "We give immense thanks to the Blessed Mother, who worked a miracle…And we continue praying to the Mother Thrice Admirable so that she will work more miracles". What extraordinary confidence…what an unreachable desire…more than one person thought. But before two weeks had passed, precisely on the 18th, the great news arrived: another of the coordinators, Franck, who works with a French geographer, learned that he wants to help him so he can go on the trip, and offered to pay for his ticket! The Blessed Mother certainly answers promptly and with love to those who trust completely in her.
While most of the Schoenstatt members were still celebrating Covenant Day, in Japan it was Sunday, the 19th of June, the day the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign would begin among Japanese families! There are at least two Pilgrim MTA's that travel among the Latin American families in Japan, but that Sunday through a young girl from Argentina, Connie Gutierrez Zaldivar, the Pilgrim MTA would depart to visit Japanese families. Connie writes: "the Chapel where we started the campaign is very small. Only 20 Japanese attend on Sundays. I have been able to translate the information that explains the Campaign, its origin, and a little about Schoenstatt.
Although, I still have not found the Consecration prayer in Japanese. At the beginning it will be just a few who participate since it is very difficult for the people to take the Pilgrim MTA to their homes (where the families are not believers) and the veneration of Mary is not strong among Japanese Catholics. But anyway, we will begin this Sunday and we will allow Her to work miracles".
The Pope calls us to come to Rome
More news, from Rome, thanks to Father Alberto Eronti, who informs us that, "the Pope has instructed the Pontifical Council of the Laity to organize:
- An encounter with the Movements and New Communities, in the style of Pentecost ‘98 with John Paul II. This encounter will take place in St. Peter’s Square on the vigil of Pentecost 2006.
- In March 2006, there will be a Continental Latin American Congress of Movements and New Communities co-organized by CELAM and the Pontifical Council.
- A second World-wide Congress of the Movements of the Church is planned for 2006.
Next Saturday, the 25th, we will have a meeting in the Pontifical Office with Monsignor Rylko and all the committee along with representatives from the Movements and New Communities. Sister Lisianne and I will represent Schoenstatt.
A very special pilgrimage
In the early afternoon, under a burning sun - the spectacular day was transformed in a day of blazing heat - hundreds of pilgrims who are not seen around here very frequently,…motorcyclists from different parts of Germany, some of them with their spouses and even their children, (and a dog) on board of their power motorcycles!!! At 4:00 p.m. they all gathered in the Pilgrims’ Square, which was recently renovated, for their departure, after a prayer and a blessing and a two hour tour that ended in the Original Shrine. That night they participated in a celebration for cyclists, and the Pilgrims Mass tomorrow will be converted into a Mass of Motorcyclists, with a blessing of the motorcycles!!!
Contributing to the Capital of Grace since childhood
As usual during the month of June, the Schoenstatt families from Vallendar and Niederwerth were in charge of the afternoon Covenant of Love celebration in the Adoration Church, with music, and the burning of the Capital of Grace, and later they invited everyone to some strawberry punch! During the celebration, Father Peter Nothen invited everyone to renew their Covenant of Love, with the certainty that the Blessed Mother always accompanies us with great affection. Luciana Mocelin along with her husband and son from Curitiba, Brazil, participated in the celebration. It was beautiful to see the young child "writing" his contributions to the Capital of Grace…it must start since childhood!!!
Translation: Celina M. Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA