The Blessed Mother invites…

Pilgrims called to seal the "Open" Covenant of Love

Alianza de peregrinos en el Santuario en Lisboa, Portugal Pilgrims’ Covenant of Love in the Shrine in Lisbon, Portugal Liebesbündnis von Pilgern im Heiligtum in Lissabon, Portugal
Una „alianza abierta“ An „open covenant“ Ein “offenes” Liebesbündnis Fotos: Camara Pestana © 2005

PORTUGAL, Ana Maria Silva Carvalho. Mary invites the pilgrims to the Shrine in Lisbon to seal the Covenant of Love, the Schoenstatt Family prepared them and they renewed their own Covenant of Love.

Last January invitations were distributed. They read: Go out and challenge the people.

The names on the list of the welcoming team kept growing and the preparation began coordinated by Ze Pereira. Several persons from the Schoenstatt Family were invited to present one of the subjects of the workshop or to simply give a testimony. The group kept growing, since there were some who wanted to renew their own Covenant or they wanted to accompany one of the invited persons.

There was always someone available to help, to welcome the people and to collaborate in all the details. Lucilia and Father Alexandre, Assessors of the Pastoral, also guaranteed a spirit of conquest throughout all the meetings that were held weekly during the lunch hour: from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Although the majority were mothers, it was not exclusively for women…It was an open group for all the pilgrims who visit the Shrine. The date for the Covenant of Love , the 31^st of May, was chosen by all the participants and by consensus. It was not a coincidence for the family, that this historic date would be celebrated with 30 persons sealing the Covenant of Love in the Shrine

The organizational plans had to be changed…because a group from the parish felt "called"

The school year began in October and there were more persons interested in deepening the love of the Blessed Mother and they wanted to strengthen their attachment to the Shrine. The registration slips that were placed in the foyer began to be filled with names and telephone numbers. The original idea was to continue with the method of the previous year, but a situation made them revise the plan. A group from the Saint John of God Parish, who had met Father Ze Melo, "felt called" by the Blessed Mother…so the plans had to be revised and a group meeting was organized during the lunch hour (1:00p.m. to 2:00 p.m.) and another one was held at night (9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.) at Restela. Finally the day for the Covenant of Love arrived, and the 18^th and the 31^st of May were chosen. Again the Shrine was filled with hearts willing to serve the Blessed Mother. Many persons attended and surely, it was a great joy for the Blessed Mother: the renewal of the Covenant by those who had made it many years ago united with those who were making it for the first time. A group of approximately 30 persons sealed a unique and personal commitment with the Blessed Mother.

A Covenant open to all

The organizational team wishes to profoundly thank all who were instruments and who helped in the Covenant preparation, especially those who participated last year and who welcomed the persons who made their Covenant this year so warmly…

Spanish translation: aat, Argentina

The registration slips will again be placed in the foyer, and next school year this service will be offered again, not only for the Schoenstatt Family, but for all the pilgrims and for the Pastoral of the Shrine.

Translation: Celina M Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA