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La estrella del logo de la JMJ, bendecida por el Papa The star of the WYD logo, blessed by the Pope Der Stern des WJT-Logos, vom Papst gesegnet Foto: Holding © 2006 |
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Delegación de la Juventud de Schoenstatt en el altar del Papa en Campo de Maria Schoenstatt Delegation at the “Hill of the Pope” in Marienfeld Schönstatt-Delegation auf dem Papsthügel, Marienfeld |
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Foto sacada desde el lugar donde estuvieron los jovenes Photo taken from where the youth sat Foto aus der Perspektive der Jugendlichen Fotos: www.wjt.schoenstatt.de © 2005 |
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SOUTH AFRICA, Sarah-Leah Pimentel. On Tuesday evening, 20 December 2005, more than 200 people from many parishes spread throughout the Diocese of Johannesburg gathered at the shrine in Bedfordview to celebrate the last evening of their annual Shelter Seeking.
The evening’s theme recalled the recent World Youth Day held this year in Cologne, Germany – "We have seen his star and have come to worship him". Dawn Ngwenya of the Young Women’s League formed part of the Liturgy Team in Cologne and, as the African representative, brought home the star from the World Youth Day logo. Dawn gave a beautiful testimony of her World Youth Day experiences, in particular, her meeting with the Holy Father. She also explained the meaning of the World Youth Day logo and significance of the star for Africa. Another member of the Young League, Sarah-Leah Pimentel also shared her special moment during the World Youth Day, where she and 30 other members of the International Schoenstatt Youth had the opportunity to participate in the Vigil with the Holy Father from the altar and how they witnessed the Pope acknowledge the Mother of God and her Son by means of the large Pilgrim Mother that they were able to bring up onto the altar with them.
Seeking stars to follow
These testimonies were followed by Mass celebrated by Fr. Frank Santucci. In his sermon, he further developed the theme of the following the star. He said that our generation increasingly searches for signs, seeking stars to follow. However, many of the stars that we follow are devoid of real meaning and satisfaction. It is for this reason that it is important that as Catholics, we fix our eyes upon the real stars that will lead us to Christ.
After Mass, we formed a guard of honour, while members of the congregation processed to the Shrine with all the Pilgrim Mothers and statues of Our Lady that had been used
throughout Shelter Seeking. These were led by the star from the WYD logo and all were placed on the altar inside the shrine. All this in the midst of vibrant singing and a decade of the Rosary.
It was a moving evening and it reminded us what is truly important as we made ourselves ready to receive the Christ-child into our hearts and come to worship him.