Naturally, a silent sower

Thank you, Sr. María Celia Klein….. a thousand thanks

Hna Celia, en Solaz de Maria Sister M Celia in Solaz de Maria Schwester M. Célia in Solaz de Maria Foto: Lopez Ruiz © 2005
Hna. M. Celia en una jornada en Corrientes Sister M. Celia at a meeting of the Campaign in Corrientes Schwester M. Celia bei einem Treffen der Kampagne in Corrientes Foto: Crivelli © 2005

ARGENTINA, Melba López Ruiz. Her soul departed on this first Friday of September and the news was startling to those of us who knew her for so many years in Corrientes, Resistencia, Formosa, Ituzaingó, Paso de la Patria, Barranqueras, Oberá and in all her missionary territory. Everywhere, the news arrived like a slow and heavy fluttering of wings. At a distance and impossible for us to arrive in time to bid her farewell, we rehearse in our hearts the heartfelt prayers which must have formed us into a strong and wide chain recognizing her honor and all she sowed.

In the land of the National Shrine, a privileged homeland, "God brought heaven and earth together" – as a priest friend says – and the dear Sr. Celia left just as she had lived. Silent, with little hustle and bustle and with the hint of a smile which always demonstrated some childlikeness in her mature face. Surely she left as she was.

First steps in Corrientes

Her first connection in Corrientes, at the end of the 1980’s, was with the Santa Teresita (St. Therese) Community and the Nuevo Belén (New Bethlehem) Wayside Shrine. When Fr. Esteban Uriburu arrived and fired up the Marian souls in an unequalled current of growth of the Rosary Campaign which had come forth in different communities who did not know each other, it became necessary to form a Team of Coordinators to coordinate the many "initiatives" of the MTA. Sr. Celia becomes the Advisor of the Team which was led by Ana María de la Torre who was the person in charge. She also guided, along with Fr. Esteban, the "explosive" growth of the Campaign as he would say.

In Sr. Celia, the Campaign had an enthusiastic spreader, a friend, an untiring sower who would silently propose and since she would see the hearts on fire, she would find the means to suggest so that the "armies of the Victorious Mother would advance." We would tell her this sometimes jokingly and sometimes seriously.

She met families, she met children, grandparents, homes…..

We felt as her happy apprentices. We would travel through neighborhoods, schools, official and private institutions. We visited pastors, small chapels, the sick, distant streets and zones which we discovered together. We never heard her say she was tired even when her face showed the hustle and bustle of a day’s work…..she was always upbeat and smiling. "Can we continue?" she would ask us and we would never say no. We would continue. It was the thrust for those years of discovery and sowing, of clamor with regional encounters which marked attachments forever. The verses of the song "Pilgrim Mother" were entoned from the heart and would unite us with each other. Thus we came to know unforgettable moments of brotherhood and generous surrender. We also came to know moments of complicity before that which was unseen and these brought jokes and laughter. Approximately 50 missionary images inaugurated that "take-off" a month after the arrival of the dear Sr. Celia. She came with José and Lili Fellermaier who brought her in their car. We then reached 100 images, then 200, and then more. Then began the images made of a more clear wood, "blonde like the mission territory"…..and each year there were more. There were more trips and waiting on the routes to take the minibuses to reach the new localities. We went along. "They await us at Paso de la Patria!!!"….."Let’s go," she would respond. Sometimes it would be at dawn with cold rain and sometimes it would be the hot afternoons of this Correntino land. She would arrive and she would leave. She would share with our children, she would enjoy the families. We would not give her time to breathe. She would ask for this one and that one. She met children who today are adolescents. She met grandparents who are no longer with us. She met homes who attached themselves to the Mother, Queen and Victress.

"She alphabetized us in Schoenstatt"

When we shared the news: "Sr. Celia died"…..there was not much to explain, she was someone familiar. We saw their pensive faces: "Sr. Celia" they slowly repeated in a hushed voice. We could imagine from their eyes the longing for the rich experiences, that indelible memory which will never be erased. The missionaries came forth, or better said, flourished and the smiling caretaker took care of each one individually. She entrusted them to the MTA. With infinite patience she taught us "a particular abandonment to Divine Providence" with the Confidence prayer. She alphabetized us in Schoenstatt. Fr. Esteban left behind his homilies and advice for a growing but slow understanding and sharing among the groups. Sr. Celia, sweet and maternal, reconciled her children and reminded us of the advice received: "what would Mary do if she had to"….. Her simple surrender and wisdom united many hearts and she helped to outline strongly not only the Campaign but the entire Corrientes Schoenstatt Family.

That subtle way to be a missionary

She attached us to the Shrine of Oberá. How can we forget those yearly pilgrimages for the closing of the month of November …..breakfast next to the Shrine, and we would leave for the little camp of the Sisters. We came in so many minibuses that they had to park out on the road….."the little camp" was too small. God showed us so much productivity!!!!! We really were beginners, so she wisely told us anecdotes from our Father and Founder and the restlessness to know more about the Prophet of Mary dissipated. From the book HEAVENWARDS, she would spontaneously take prayers. So much childlikeness was embedded in our hearts that we wanted to imitate that attitude. From her we discovered more about that Don Joao who had been described to us by Fr. Esteban. We visited Santa María and the Tabor Shrine. We met Pozzobon’s daughters, Ely and Vilma, the Auxiliary Pilgrim MTA, and we witnessed the opening of the Process for Canonization of Don Joao. In everything she encouraged and inspired us. The fascinating and unique world which makes up the Rosary Campaign was understood with no gadgets by Sr. Celia. From her simplicity and perseverance, she discovered that "subtle charm" of being a missionary and she demonstrated that. In her work she could be a wise advisor, a formation giver, a discoverer of new missionaries, a speaker, a good listener, and an untiring and simple teacher who enjoyed her students as a mother enjoys her children.

Anniversary month of the Campaign, month of her homegoing

For many years, Sr. Celia encouraged and took meticulous care of the growth of a community that today feels her homegoing. We can say: "she knew each and everyone of us." We follow her travels through other places and we recall when we arrived at the Shrine of Tuparendá how she was awaiting us, smiling, with the brothers and sisters of Asunción. On a trip to New Schoenstatt, we saw the figure of a Sister who moved with difficulty. "Our Sister Celia"…..we said with emotion and she with that distance which the Daughters of the Father guard so wisely, only smiled. We insisted on taking her photo. "We owe her a testimony"…..and she, minimizing her work, told us: "Do not write anything, only take my picture so that in Corrientes they can see that I am well." There, in Solaz de María, we said goodbye. Escorted by the Father and Mary, she must have arrived at the heart of Jesus on this first Friday of September…..the anniversary month of the Campaign, the month of her homegoing.

Translation: Carlos Cantú La Feria, Texas USA