You have no idea what it means to us that the Blessed Mother has chosen to come here to Delphi.

Dedication of the wayside shrine in Delphi, Indiana

Ermita en Delphi Wayside shrine in Delphi Bildstock in Delphi Fotos: Astell © 2006

USA, Sr M. Anna Astell/mkf. The Schoenstatt family in Indiana has received a piece of land for a possible future shrine. It has come into the possession of the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victuress of Schoenstatt with the dedication of a wayside shrine last year. Since then, the Schoenstatt Family of Indiana counts with a "small piece of Schoenstatt" in their midst.

The dedicaton of the wayside shrine in Delphi, Indiana, has made for a good opportunity to present Schoenstatt to Bishop William L. Higi of the Diocese of Lafayette, Indiana. Father Gerold Langsch and Sister Anna Astell visited him together with Tom Russell, journalist of the Catholic Moment weekly newspaper. The Bishop (and the reporter) wanted to know more about Father Kentenich’s exile. The Bishop remarked, "It’s striking how often in Church history bishops have been instrumental in making a saint", through testing and persecution]. He referred to the example of St. Faustina and also to a Blessed in Indiana, the foundress of St. Mary of the Woods, who had been persecuted by her bishop. Father Langsch emphasized how Father Kentenich had protected the Church by not calling attention to the (potentially) scandalous injustice of his exile, and of course to his ultimate rehabilitation and the current favor in which Schoenstatt stands among bishops worldwide. Father Langsch told him about some of his recent contacts with Bishops in the USA – the meetings in Phoenix, in Madison, in Milwaukee, etc. – and Bishop Higi was impressed with the link between Eucharistic devotion and Marian culture as a fruitful source for vocations. At present, the diocese of Lafayette, Indiana, has a goodly number of young seminarians, and they are all John Paul II generation people, devoted to Mary and the Eucharist. The Bishop expressed joy that the wayside shrine honors Mary as "Mother of the Eucharist."

The grace of home

The reporter asked a question about the three pilgrimage graces, especially the "grace of home." Father Langsch answered, laying stress on the grace of transformation and how it is linked to the grace of home. Sister Anna added a comment on the whole notion of pilgrimage graces, and how the grace of home is connected to the pilgrim’s experience that our true home is in heaven, for which the shrine is a sacramental. The Bishop and the reporter also wanted to know more about the local development of the Schoenstatt Movement – how many groups, members, etc.

The dedication day dawned brightly, and all agreed that heaven had cooperated by providing a gorgeous fall day for the dedication. The members of the local Schoenstatt family arrived about 8:30 in Delphi, at St. Joseph’s Church, for Holy Mass at 9:00. There was instrumental music before Mass, played by Juan Carlos Venis (violin) and Carole DiFabio (flute).

About one hundred people came for the Holy Mass, so the church was practically filled with people of all ages, young and old, men and women. A whole carload of students from Purdue was also there, and some whole families with their children. Father Langsch and Father Peter Vandekolk con-celebrated. Father Langsch gave a truly inspired, long sermon on Mary as the Mother of the Eucharist, emphasizing the importance of a Marian attitude in one’s participation in Holy Mass, and tying everything back to the significance of the Schoenstatt wayside shrine dedication.

After Mass, people took their contributions of food to Honan Hall, where the Ladies Guild was busy preparing the luncheon. The hall was beautifully decorated, thanks to Gloria Thompson, a Schoenstatt Mothers group member and a member of that parish. By 10:30 or so all were all at the site of the wayside shrine. There is a wonderful billboard, with the MTA picture, that points the way to the wayside shrine. More people came for the dedication. There were between 130-140 people, among them quite a number of small children. A great turnout! Two reporters were there, and they were interviewing many of people. The whole event was videotaped, and there were many photos taken. A tent had been set up with about sixty chairs, but there was no need for them. The weather was so beautiful that people gathered close to the shrine. Most stood. A few sat on the stone benches near the shrine. One of the Schoenstatt couples, Randy and Kathy Smith, were filling helium balloons for the children. The Legion of Mary came with their banner and there was also a sign for the Cursillo Movement. Members of the Lay Franciscans and of the Lay Dominicans were also there. Two young men supported a large Schoenstatt banner on poles behind the wayside shrine. The area around the wayside shrine was beautiful with chrysanthemums and evergreen trees, plus the stone benches and two oak kneelers, which had been built by the elderly father of one of the diocesan priests, Father Buckles.

This wayside shrine is now your possession

When Bishop Higi arrived, the dedication celebration began. People were moved by the prayers and there was an intense spiritual atmosphere. Many different voices were heard as people read, responded, and sang. For many, it was a unique prayer experience. Carole and Juan Carlos played their instruments, and a second soloist sang Ave Maria as a tribute after the Bishop had blessed the wayside shrine. During the recitation of the litany, people came forward to offer gifts of flowers to the MTA.

With the blessing of the wayside shrine, Bishop Higi prayed:

Dear Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen, and Victress of Schoenstatt, this wayside shrine is now your possession, dedicated to you as the Mother of the Eucharist. Thank you for accepting this gift. Knowing that you cannot be outdone in generosity, we stretch out our hands in childlike confidence to receive your gifts of grace in return.

People here were obviously moved by this event. One woman said, with tears in her eyes: Sister, you have no idea what it means to us that the Blessed Mother has chosen to come here to Delphi.

From: Schoenstatt Family Magazine, USA