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Ermita en la Mater en Merlo, Argentina MTA wayside shrine in Merlo, Argentina MTA-Bildstock in Merlo, Argentinien Foto: Andrada © 2005 |
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Paisaje hermoso Beautiful scenery Atemberaubende Landschaft |
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Vista de Merlo desde la sierra View of Merlo from the mountains Blick auf Merlo von den Bergen aus Fotos: Vallendor © 2004 |
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Misioneras de Merlo en la ermita Missionaries from Merlo at the wayside shrine Missionare aus Merlo am Bildstock Foto: Andrada © 2005 |
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La Capilla Nuestra Señora de Schoenstatt The Chapel “Our Lady of Schoenstatt” Die Kapelle der “Gottesmutter von Schönstatt“ |
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Bendición de los Santuarios Hogares Blessing of the Home Shrines Segnung der Hausheiligtümer Fotos: Vallendor © 2005 |
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ARGENTINA, MKF. Merlo, in the province of San Luis, Argentina, is situated right on the sierra, surrounded by creeks, and forests of molles ( a kind of tree which grows in South America). It is located at the foot of the Sierra of the Comechingones, at an altitude of 850 meters. "Here, you could observe like a spy how the sun rises between the summits, and if you were close to them, at 1,300 meters of altitude you could see how its light blesses everything: Piedra Blanca, Pasos Malos, Rincon del Ester, Barranca Colorada…And you could see how this light is multiplied in a hundred creeks that flow down singing praises to the beautiful Merlo", this how a tourist guide describes Merlo. Whoever visits Merlo, also perceives how day by day love for the Blessed Mother is multiplied in more than one hundred of her pictures, before which the coordinators sing praises to the Blessed Mother…
Merlo was established on the 1st of January of 1797 by decree of the Marquis of Sobremonte, in the place where the conquistadors had founded a Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary, located at that time, in Tata Inti ("Los Caminos del Sol" "The Roads of the Sun") of the Comechingones. This climate of conquest-colony gives Merlo a very special style, that survives the tourist invasions which made modern hotels, comfortable homes, pleasant chalets, night clubs with all the "noise" and joy, appear.
Rosita Andrada, a member of the Mothers’ Federation, was born in Merlo, "but lived in Villa Ballester for many years, where she learned about Schoenstatt", says Odette Vallendor, who traveled with her husband to Merlo last year to speak about the Home Shrine to the coordinators of the Campaign. When they arrived at Merlo, via Route 1, the Blessed Mother greeted them like all the other visitors from a wooden wayside shrine.
The MTA wanted a wooden wayside shrine
Rosita Andrada excitedly told the story of this wayside shrine. A person was sent to the Telephone Cooperative from this area to ask if it would be possible to build a wayside shrine of the Pilgrim MTA some place along Route 1, where there was a service station of GNC (Compressed Natural Gas). Once there the person was seen by the manager, who responded that if it was up to him, he would say yes, but since it belonged to the cooperative of the area, he would have to speak to the owner. All of a sudden, he asked if the wayside shrine would be constructed of wood, the person responded yes, but he doesn’t know why he answered that way since the plans were already made for a brick construction…A few days later, the manager of the service station called saying permission had been granted, that the wayside shrine could be built in a beautiful little place in the garden of the service station, and the question arises again, if it would be made of wood. Because of this insistent question the coordinators began to meditate on what God and the Blessed Mother were saying, then the group decided to consult with a well known artisan, who was born in Merlo, about the possibility of building the wayside shrine out of wood in the shape of the Shrine.
When he received the request, the artisan remembered that a long time ago, someone had given him the trunk of a chestnut tree that was 200 years old so he could make some art object. Instantly, he thought that the trunk would be special for building the wayside shrine, and he decided to donate it for this purpose. "When we heard this, we realized that She, the Mother of Heaven, wanted a wooden wayside shrine and she used the necessary instruments to express her wish", Rosita shared. It turned out beautifully and very original.
The wayside shrine was going to be blessed by Father Guillermo Cassone on the 30th of October of 2003, the same day in which 12 persons from the area would seal their Covenant of Love, but because of his father’s death and later his many activities, it could not take place. "During all this time", says Rosita, "we accompanied our Mother spiritually with the novena of John Pozzobon: "La Madre ya lo arregló" (The Blessed Mother has already taken care). Finally, on the 26th of February of 2004 at 6:00 p.m. through the grace of God, it was blessed by Monsignor Puyelli in a very profound and touching ceremony. The manager of the Cooperative, the artisan, who excited us with his story about the trunk, and many coordinators were present. Then we went to the Shrine of Our Lady of Schoenstatt, which is on the ‘Hill of Gold’, on the same route, where the Holy Mass was celebrated"
"All the neighbors come to pray in my Home Shrine"
The Chapel of Our Lady of Schoenstatt, is made of brick, it has a hall for meetings, A bedroom for a priest, bathrooms and a kitchen; and it was built "for love the Blessed Mother", as the coordinators say. "Rosita, with her smile and her affection is the open door of the Blessed Mother in Merlo", affirmed Odette Valledor. "Schoenstatt belongs to Merlo, and Rosita was the instrument!"
In September 2004, when the Vallendors, pioneers of the Home Shrine current in Argentina, were in Merlo several persons had prepared themselves for the blessing of their Home Shrine. They took the symbols to the Shrine, waiting for the priest that Rosita had asked to officiate the ceremony…This priest totally forgot the date, so everyone waited and waited…until the priest arrived running. On the way to the afternoon Mass that he was to celebrate at another place, he passed by the Shrine of Our Lady of Schoenstatt, when all of sudden he remembered! Some mothers could not wait any longer, because they had to go on the last bus to their respective areas, but left their symbols, with the hope that the priest would finally come. "It was not a very festive ceremony, because the priest had to go to celebrate Mass, but - the Blessed Mother took care, and the Home Shrines were blessed!", shared Odette Vallendor. Some days later, one of the mothers commented to Rosita Andrada: "I am so happy, now that I have a Home Shrine, all my neighbors come to pray at my house.!"
A young man from Merlo always takes the Pilgrim MTA by motorcycle, to the remotest areas. He also participated in the talk about the Home Shrine, after which he commented: "Now I realize what it really means to take the Pilgrim MTA to the homes, it is the visit of the Blessed Mother to her children. I always did it with a lot of commitment, but now I feel so privileged to be able to take her!"
Translation: Celina M Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA