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Jornada en el Santuario de Bellavista Convention at the Shrine in Bellavista Tagung beim Heiligtum in Bellavista |
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Jornada en Concepción Convention in Concepción Tagung in Concepción |
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Concepción: encuentro familiar Concepción: family gathering Concepción: ein Familientreffen |
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Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles |
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Santuario en Antofagasta Shrine in Antofagasta Heiligtum in Antofagasta |
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Santuario en Viña del Mar Shrine in Viña del Mar Heiligtum in Viña del Mar Fotos: Vinculo, Chile © 2005 |
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CHILE, Ignacio Torrealba, Vinculo/mfk. The area journeys are a tradition within the Schoenstatt Movement of Chile, they are necessary to nourish the spirit. It is a time to meet, to dialogue, and to plan. It the best opportunity to assume new goals and to go forth to face the challenges that are confronting each Family throughout Chile. You are invited to review one of the area journeys – in Antofagasta, Vina del Mar, Bellavista, Los Angeles and Concepcion, each with their respective mottoes, inspired by the mission of the Shrine and the current situation of each area, that continues to inspire the work that is carried out by the Schoenstatt Family.
The first part of this year has been busy for the Schoenstatt Family in Chile. In many Shrines the work that programmed for the year 2006 is already in full swing for each of the Branches, the majority of which resumed their activities in March. The challenge: Our Soul for Chile. The impetus: the different area journeys held during the past months. It is a stimulating way to start, ideal for meeting and to dialogue from the starting point of our identity and life.
ANTOFAGASTA: The door of the Shrine should be open to our neighbors and us more frequently…
Father Francisco Rojas reports from Antofagasta: In Antofagasta, the rocky formation with the name "The Portal", is a good tourist attraction. Whoever visits the city for the first time will probably see this portal and its entrance to the edge of the sea. It has inspired artists and artisans, and it has also inspired us, Schoenstatters. In fact, it influenced the name of the shrine located in this city: "Cenacle, door of heaven". Recently, when the 12th Anniversary was celebrated on the 17th of April, the theme of the "door" reappeared. In Sunday’s Gospel, our Lord identified himself as the door of the sheep’s corral (no one can enter or go out without the shepherd’s knowledge). This inspired us during the journey to decide that the door of the shrine should be opened more frequently for ourselves.
We should open the door of the shrine for the neighbors who live in the land adjoining ours. Furthermore, we would like to open a beautiful portal on the southern retaining wall, so the new inhabitants will feel welcome to enter. But, we also, obviously, want to open the door of our hearts to the Lord.
He knocks on the door and he waits for us to open it. He does not force us.
In this "Year of the Eucharist" we want to open the door to the Lord more frequently. We want to open the door of our own hearts to our brothers, especially those who are in need of feeling welcomed. Finally, "Like Mary, our soul, we want to open doors". This is our motto for this year.
Like Mary, like the woman, who has the mission to encourage, influence (not manipulate) and to inspire…
Who has the mission of being Soul (because she has Christ in her heart), transforming the house into a home.
Like her and with her, our soul, we want to open our doors!
VINA DEL MAR: As Family, all yours, building your Shrine
Ignacia Rojas B. Reports from Vina del Mar: "Mary, when your children, unite for You, a Shrine is born".
This was the motto for the Journey of the Family of the Founding Cenacle Shrine which was held last April in Vina del Mar. The journey was strongly marked by the recent death of Pope John Paul II, and by the future construction of the Shrine of the Pines, in Renaca, which starts from the area of Agua Santa, of the Founding Cenacle Shrine. Participation was varied, it included: the Family Branch, Professionals, Ladies, the Men’s Branch, Pilgrims, University students, the Pioneers, Allies. All a part of one family, who share the life that has developed during the last months and with plans that are anticipated for this year. After the presentations that showed the "signs of the times", work continued with group discussions, seeking concrete ways to conquer the construction of the next Shrine. It was decided that the goal would be – to especially attach oneself to the places where the MTA has established herself: the Shrine, the Wayside Shrines, the San Luis Parish (in the Cerro Alegre of Valparaiso, where the founding of Schoenstatt in Chile developed), among other places.
To document this offering, notebooks were placed in each of these places, which will be buried in the foundation of the future Shrine, as a sign of the commitment of the Family of Vina del Mar.
This was illuminated by the commitment of John Paul to our Church, which is reflected in the motto that has inspired this conquest: "As a Family, all yours, we will build your Shrine".
BELLAVISTA; Our soul for Bellavista
Father Juan Pabno Roegno reports on the journey in Bellavista: Our area journey took place on Saturday, May 28th, in the shadow of the Cenacle Shrine in Bellavista. Accepting the invitation from the last leaders’ journey, we wanted to deepen in our identity and to assume the challenge of communion and coordination among the different situations, and to work on common projects to influence our atmosphere in a stronger manner.
The motto which motivated us was: "Our Soul for Bellavista". We want to deepen our identity as a family in that soul, to make it real by common reflection, to encourage it with testimonies many of which have been soul for this holy place throughout its 56 years of history.
A soul that we want to anchor with projects that are carried out as community, which we will develop throughout this year, and for each branch to consider in their planning, and we will all work together to carry them out.
LOS ANGELES; Toward the pastoral of the Shrine
On Saturday, the 16th of April the Annual Journey for the Family of Los Angeles was held, Nora Solo of Canto relates. The large and attentive group composed of all the adult and youth branches met at the Shrine to reflect and project how to make the motto: "From the Shrine, Soul of Los Angeles", come to life.
Father Ivan Simicic, traveled from Santiago, to provide inspiration for this important task. He presented two talks: Foundation for a Fruitful Projection" and "Methodological Elements for an Apostolic Projection", that served as a base for the group work that took place in the afternoon. During these sessions they discussed concrete projects that would deepen the Family’s consciousness of instrumentality, and like the Founder, to forge history, strengthening the identity of the Family, approaching the world of the youth and opening the doors of the Shrine.
After lunch ( a family atmosphere truly reigned, and the pleasant entertainment was provided by the choir of the Ladies’ Branch, that presented an outstanding repertoire of songs for all age groups). Sister Marisol presented the final conclusions that could be our contribution to make our dream for the Bicentennial of Chile a reality: To create a Pastoral for the Shrine, that will offer different services open to the public; to understand that the Apostolate of the Pilgrim MTA is a "great apostolic strategy" to make our Shrine known;
therefore, to support and integrate this apostolate within the Family. To maximize the things which already exist, such as the XII Encounter of the Diocesan Movements that will be held in October, and others, such as a method to make our Shrine and its specific graces known.
The Journey ended with the Eucharist, a special moment to express gratitude to God the Father for all the beautiful experiences that were shared and for the work that was accomplished.
CONCEPCION; An optimistic and hopeful vision for the future of the country
Ezequiel Gonzalez Jeria reports from Concepcion: With the motto: "With you Father, we will be the soul of the Bicentennial of Chile" the Family of Montahue (Concepcion) wanted to make a commitment that , assumed with our Father and Founder, would permit us as Chileans and Catholics to contribute to the consolidation of our country as a holy land. We proposed to generate experiences of dialogue and meetings with representatives from the diverse sectors of society, assuming the proposal of the Episcopal Conference, to contribute to the development of attitudes of acknowledgment, of valuing, and mutual respect, and to discover the potential of collective action and the unique and irreplaceable value of every member of our society. Through the acknowledgment of experiences and the planning of attractive and convening projects, that would respond to the challenges that face Chile, we seek to promote an optimistic and hopeful vision for the future of the country. In this way, we want to increase the attachments among the different members of the various branches of the Family of Montahue, and to give an official start to the activities of the year 2005.
Some 350 persons attended, representing each one of the branches, the Journey was structured in three blocks. The first block, was an orientation to motivate the main subjects that affect the family, the youth and work, which was accomplished through theatrical presentations followed by reflections, under the leadership of the youth.
The purpose of the second block was to learn about the experiences and the actual situations of the country. This was accomplished by the direct testimonies given by personalities and leaders from the local community. In this way, we were able to listen to the leaders of scientific organizations, representatives from the Armed Forces, and the mayor of the city, Mrs. Jacqueline van Rysselberghe; and other representatives from the fields of education, justice and others.
The third and last block was to motivate and to plan the specific proposals of work, which would be developed within the next five years. The outstanding ones are: the Corporation of the Laity of Montahue, the legacy of Pope John Paul II, the initiative of the City Shrine, and the Canonization process of Father Alberto Hurtado.
Finally, Father Jose Agustin Santori presented a closing reflection, inviting those present to study and to prepare themselves to face the ethical challenges that arise in the many activities in which we participate.
Translation: Celina M. Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA