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Celebración del 50° aniversario del P Alfonso Boess, en Viña del Mar Celebration of the 50th anniversary of Fr. Alfonso Boess in Viña del Mar Feier des 50. Priesterweihejubiläums von P. Alfons Boess in Viña del Mar |
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Mons. Gonzalo Duarte, obispo de Valparaíso, y el P. Alfonso Bishop Gonzalo Duarte of Valparaíso, with Fr. Alfonso Bischof Gonzalo Duarte von Valparaiso mit P. Boess |
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Misa Mass Festmesse |
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Predica. P. Mariano Irrureta Sermon: Fr. Mariano Irrureta Predigt: P. Mariano Irrureta |
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La familia le acompañó masivamente The Schoenstatt family participated in great numbers Die Schönstattfamilie nahm in großer Zahl teil Fotos: Vinculo © 2005 |
CHILE, Maria de los Angeles Miranda B. "Father Kentenich had an extraordinary memory, Father Alfonso Boess recalls as he celebrated his 50th year of priesthood. And as proof, he relates this anecdote: "When he was in the United States I wrote to him several times from Germany and also from Chile, and he answered me. I have those letters. When he returned to Schoenstatt, he entered the Sisters’ drawing-room to greet them. There were more than 400 Sisters present. My sister – Maria Alfonsia, who is a Sister of Mary – was in the hall when he arrived and he recognized her, that was incredible because she was a novice when Father left. And he asked her: "And how is your little brother?" It was incredible, I was one among many and this Sister was one of 400, and that was 15 years after being away from Schoenstatt.
It is clear that knowing the Founder well, what impressed Father Alfonso the most was his ability to remember, but, that thanks to Father Kentenich’s ability, he feels specially loved and chosen.
Undoubtedly, Father Alfonso and his generation were chosen. His companions in the seminary of the Pallotine Fathers were the ones that followed in the footsteps of the first members and they left for World War II to live the Ver Sacrum, the Sacred Springtime, with the motto: "for a few pure ones who offer themselves as sacrifice, God saves all the people" And they ended up giving their life for Schoenstatt.
Father Alfonso, survived, but he offered great sacrifices. He lived his novitiate in the trenches for 5 years and then he spent another 5 years as a prisoner in Russia, after the end of the war.
That is why on June 17th, this Golden Jubilee was celebrated in a grand manner in the Shrine of Holy Water, in gratitude for his paternal presence, that allows us to directly share history with one of the first ones. And furthermore, he has spent 47 of his 50 years of priesthood in Chile, the majority of them in Valparaiso and Vina.
Giving back the war years
The centennial drawing-room was completely full. Flags expressing ideals hung from the walls and the children also carried small German and Chilean flags. Father Alfonso presided the Mass, concelebrated by Monsignor Gonzalo Duarte, Bishop of Valparaiso, and several Movement priests.
"Personally chosen by God", said Father Mariano Irureta in his homily, referring to Father Alfonso’s vocation, who, after many trials and dangers in his life, was able to celebrate his priestly ordination in Schoenstatt in 1955.
Father Alfonso told how Father Kentenich, when they were expelled from the seminary by the Nazis, they were reminded of the words of Jesus: "You have not chosen me, I have chosen you so that you may bear fruit". Father Mariano stressed that in this phrase the primacy of grace and mercy shine, because God wants to glorify himself in his small instruments. In this way, he chose the generation of Ver Sacrum, "to give a response to the challenges and the needs of its time. It was a world that was crumbling, totally losing hope of life. God touched them and this living hope emerged from them, of forming a new man in a new community, that Christ wanted to fulfill through them", preached Father Mariano.
He also stressed the paternal closeness that Father Alfonso had with the young priests of the community. He also spoke of the affection that he shows to each poor person, and to the children in the home that he serves with the German community, and to the many needy persons who knock on his door and who never leave without food and clothing.
After the Eucharist, the celebration continued with an instrumental band from the German school. Father Alfonso was very happy and he humbly said, he never would have imagined that he would receive so much affection. He always said the war robbed him of ten years of priesthood and that now he should be celebrating 60 years of ordination. That morning he said with great emotion that God was giving him those ten years anew.
With permission from Vinculo, Magazine of the Schoenstatt Movement of Chile, 6/2005
Translation: Celina M Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA