She works miracles…and constant surprises

The Campaign as a bearer of the Schoenstatt nucleus in the Parish of Marineo, as small Sicilian town…and more

La Peregrina Original en el Santuario Tabor – una sola corriente de gracias y de vida que llega a Marineo

The Original Pilgrim MTA in the Tabor Shrine – the same stream of life and grace that reaches Marineo

Die Ur-Peregrina im Tabor-Heiligtum – es ist der eine Gnaden- und Lebensstrom, der nun Marineo erreicht hat

Foto: Meister © 2005

Manual de la Campaña en Italia Manual of the Campaign in Italy Handbuch der Kampagne in Italien
Marineo, iglesia Marineo, church Marineo, Kirche
Vista panoramica de Marineo Panorama de Marineo Blick auf Marineo
Marineo, castello Marineo, Castle Marineo, mittelalterliche Burg Fotos: Turismo Marineo © 2005

As we have already informed on other occasions, there is a group of Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary (from Brazil) who work with the Campaign in three different areas of Italy, in collaboration with Father Ludovico Tedeschi, from Argentina. The number of pilgrim MTA's is growing and it is becoming a reality that when the Campaign is spread faithful to its origin as a stream of grace and life flowing from the Shrine, nourished by the capital of grace, it creates a Schoenstatt Family in those places where the Pilgrim MTA arrives. The town of Marineo and its parish are one example of this and that is what we want to share with everyone through the service of "Schoenstatt.de".

Marineo is located 266 Km. from Messina and 30 km. from Palermo, the province to which it belongs. The town has 6,772 inhabitants and it is located in an interior mountainous region that is 575 meters above sea level. Its main agricultural products are grapes, olives, oats, almonds and vegetables, while in works of art it is outstanding for wooden and cast iron objects. In its vast territory there is a castle that dates to the year 1559 and there is a Shrine of the Madonna of Dajina that is preserved as a magnificent treasure of the XVth century. The town of Marineo, is located at the foot of a clift, called Rocca (Rock), the intactness of its medieval look is preserved. Even today you can see the actual picturesque patios and typical narrow streets with large rustic houses on the sides, which are built around the ancient castle of medieval construction.

We have received the "program" for the celebration of the 18^th of October in this little Sicialian town.

Marineo is preparing everything for the 18^th

With the title: "The Pilgrim Mother of Schoenstatt: October 14^th –18^th" and with the announcement that Sister Ivone Zenovello, Sister of Mary will participate, they are inviting everyone to several activities, beginning on Friday, the 14^th of October (the same day in which October Week begins in original Schoenstatt) to an Encounter for the Missionaries with Sister Ivone in the Marian School.

On Saturday, October 15^th, there will be a Cantata to Mary: "Ave Miriam", by the group of Medieval Music, "Ancient History", in the Mother Church. On Sunday there will be a spiritual retreat in the Convent, with a meditation alternately presented by Father Salvino Pulizzotto and Sister Ivone and a Eucharistic celebration in the afternoon. On Monday, the 17^th of October, there will be an Encounter with Sister Ivone and the families and the sick.

With this intensive preparation, Marineo is preparing a great feast on October 18^th…and in this way Marineo will also celebrate the 18^th with the same love and the same intensity of the thousands and thousands of pilgrims who will go to the Shrine of Tuparenda, Paraguay, this day, and the Shrines of so many other countries. On October 18^th the Family of Marineo will meet at 5:30 p.m. to participate in praying the Holy Rosary, a concelebrated Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration and Vespers. This celebration is in honor of the Mother Thrice Admirable, who on the 18^th October 1914 made her dwelling in the small Schoenstatt Shrine, from which she wished to depart to more than 90 countries throughout the world to take her graces to millions of persons.

The Shrine of the Madonna of Dajina (also known as the Franciscan Convent, where the retreat for the Campaign will take place) was built in an area outside the city and it symbolizes the medieval linear architecture. It was built around 1400. It was restored by the inhabitants who worshipped the Madonna of Dajina, whose image is found in a picture that dates to year 1300. The ancient word Dame (Lady) could be read on this picture, later the derived word Dajina appears. In the interior of the Shrine there are outstanding and magnificent works of art, such as a wooden carving of the Pieta, that dates to the year 1500, and a statue of St. Vito that dates to year 1600.

Organized by the missionaries and the families that receive the Pilgrim MTA

What is remarkable about all this? What is remarkable is that the program was organized by the missionaries and the families that are visited by the Pilgrim MTA! This confirms that when the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign is presented with the nucleus of Schoenstatt - and only then!-, a Schoenstatt family is created and it spontaneously organizes itself based on what is essential in Schoenstatt. Such a program can only be understood from this perspective. Furthermore, the role of the parish priest is of great importance.

Undoubtedly the small Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign "Manual", edited in Italy, the relationship with the parish priests and the good selection of missionaries, transforms the Campaign in Italy into an apostolic impact. They are the graces that come with "the New Visitation".

Translaton: Celina M Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA