Oratorio a Maria - Ave Mjriam Cantata a Maria – Ave Mjriam Cantata to Mary – Ave Mjriam Oratorium für Maria – Ave Mjriam
Ritiro Spirituale al Convento Retiro en el Convento Retreat in the Convent Einkehrtag im Konvent
Accoglienza alla Messa – 18.10. Recibimiento a la Misa – 18 de octubre Reception for Mass, on October 18 Begrüßung zur Festmesse am 18. Oktober
Bruciati i bigliettini della giara Capital de gracias para la tinaja Sheets of paper for the jar Zettel und Briefe für den Krug
Consegna delle immagini Entrega de peregrinas Commissioning of Pilgrim MTA’s Überreichung von Bildern der Pilgernden Gottesmutter
Messa  - 18.10. Santa Misa, 18 de octubre Holy Mass, October 18 Heilige Messe am 18. Oktober
Quadro della nostra Madre, Marineo Cuadro de la Mater en Marineo MTA picture in the parish church of Marineo MTA-Bild in der Pfarrkirche von Marineo Fotos: Tuzzolino ©2006 Álbum

Marineo, ITALY. By Calogero Tuzzolino. On 13 September 1959 Sicily was consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and it is through this that the Campaign of the Pilgrim Mother is growing so rapidly in our region. Sicily has a marian heart, and there are many miracles which Our Lady is working in Sicily.

At Marsala, in the province of Trapani, in the Diocese of Mazara del Vallo, fully 21 MTA images have been received among families, especially in the parish of the Holy Trinity (Santissima Trinità), where Mass is celebrated on the 18th of every month, thanks to parish priest Fr Placido Chisari.

At Carini, in the Province of Palermo, in the Diocese of Monreale, 25 images of Our Lady are visiting the families, and already for some time now Mass is being celebrated on the 18th of the month in the parish of Saint Joseph (San Giuseppe alla Stazione), with the support of parish priest, Fr Angelo Inzerillo.

Last year was a year of particular grace for Marineo, a small town in the diocese of Palermo. On 18 January 2005, the first Mass of the Pilgrim Mother was celebrated, and since then there has been a meeting in the parish every month. This initiative is encountering an ever greater and more active participation of the families at the Eucharistic Celebration. Furthermore, an image of the Thrice Admirable Mother of Schoenstatt has been painted for the feast of 18 October, and the parish priest, Fr Salvatore La Sala, has expressed the desire that the image remain permanently in our church. And so today it is possible to venerate Our Lady of Schoenstatt in a Sicilian place of worship.

At Marineo and in the whole diocese

At the beginning of 2005 there were barely nine images of Our Lady, and ours was the only town of the diocese where the Pilgrim Mother Campaign was to be found. At the end of the year, the number of images had grown to 49, of which two were for the sick. A good 40 Pilgrim MTAs have thus been given out in Marineo during 2005. Moreover the task of spreading this initiative in the diocese has been undertaken. An MTA image has been given to Cefalà Diana, thanks to parish priest Fr Massimiliano Purpura, who has shared the apostolate of the Pilgrim Mother Campaign, selecting a Missionary couple, and forming the first group of families. Another MTA image has arrived at Vicari with the support of parish priest Fr Antonino D’Anna, who has said he is satisfied with how families have welcomed the Pilgrim Mother, and he plans to extend the experience to other families, personally motivating new Missionaries.

At Bolognetta the parish priest Fr Pino Graziano has been installed for just a few months, and being profoundly devoted to Our Lady he has wanted to take up his new mandate by proclaiming 2006 a marian year. In this context, he has appreciated the presence of the Pilgrim Mother Campaign, which will help him in spreading devotion to Mary. On 18 January 2006, Fr Pino celebrated his first Mass dedicated to Our Lady of Schoenstatt, and personally handed over three MTA images to the Missionaries, thus bringing to five the number of Pilgrim Mothers images present in his parish.

In Palermo, there are already eight MTA Pilgrim Mother images, six of which are in the parish of Saint John the Apostle (San Giovanni Apostolo), thanks to the enthusiasm of parish priest Fr Pino Spataro, who wished personally to entrust the images to six Missionary couples during an intense Mass, concelebrated with Fr Ludovico Tedeschi, leader of the Schoenstatt Movement in Italy. It is noteworthy that it is the same Fr Pino who selected and motivated the Missionary couples, because of his conviction that this apostolate will help the families of his community to draw closer to prayer and to the sacraments.

Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Dajna, with all the Missionaries carrying their own Pilgrim Mothers

2005 has also been a year packed with activities in our community. In March Fr Ludovico was the guest of Marineo. Fr Ludovico held spiritual exercises in preparation for Easter, and celebrated the Mass of the 18th, handing over eight MTA images.

From 28 to 30 July Marineo also hosted Marlene Alves, a lay consecrated woman of the Schoenstatt Movement. For this occasion meetings were organised at which Marlene spoke to us on the topic of Father Kentenich, on the Movement and on the Covenant of Love. Of particular spiritual intensity was the striking pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Dajna, with tremendous participation, during which each Missionary brought forward their copy of the Pilgrim Mother accompanied by a candle.

The pilgrimage concluded with a Eucharistic Celebration, presided over by the Director, Fr Giuseppe Messineo.

18 October at Marineo

In preparation for the feast of the Covenant of 18 October, various formative events were organised. From 14 to 18 October, Sr Ivone Zenovello, a Schoenstatt sister of Mary, was at Marineo, where she held a meeting with the Missionaries, on the topic ‘John Pozzobon and the Pilgrim Mother campaign’. She also met the families and the sick of the community.

On Saturday 15 October, in the Mother Church, the mediaeval music group Historiae Antiquae performed an oratorio dedicated to Mary, by the title ‘Ave Mjriam’, a striking piece consisting of musical songs and dances. The following day a spiritual retreat at the shrine of Our Lady of Dajna took place, given by Fr Salvino Pulizzotto and by Sr Ivone, both of whom moved the participants greatly by their personal accounts of their experience in the service of the Movement, and by the miracles which have taken place in their own country, Brazil, through the intercession of Our Lady of Schoenstatt. In addition, various other people spoke about their own experience of the Pilgrim Mother.

The retreat formed a moment of spiritual enrichment for all those present, culminating in Mass.

The solemn concelebration of 18 October, Day of the Covenant, was presided over by parish priest, Fr Salvatore La Sala, and was an especially intense liturgy that many participated in. The church was decorated for the feast, the Schoenstatt flag was at the front, as was the jar where we place the ‘Capital of Graces’, both of which were taken up to the altar during the Offertory. Before the Mass, Sr Ivone led the rosary and at the end of the celebration the papers from the jar with our prayer intentions were burnt.

During the Christmas feast, Fr Ludovico returned to Marieno with a fully booked calendar. There was a meeting with the priests who had welcomed the Pilgrim Mother in their parishes. Then, together with the parish priest and the leaders of the Movement in Marieno, there was a meeting with Cardinal Salvatore De Giorgi, Archbishop of Palermo, who had given his blessing to the Pilgrim Mother Campaign in the diocese. Moreoever, the archbishop met those families who are hosting the MTA in order to gain deeper insight into the Covenant of Love theme. This last-mentioned meeting took place at the College of Mary, where the Movement has been hosted a number of times, thanks to the graciousness of the superior, Sr Rosa Maria.

The Pilgrim Mother brings peace, serenity and joy to our homes

Numerous are the testimonies which have come from people who, thanks to the monthly visit of the Our Lady’s MTA, have drawn closer to prayer and to the sacraments, from families who had been in crisis and who are now more united. And many people are confirming that the Pilgrim Mother brings peace, serenity and joy into their homes.

The spirit of Schoenstatt and love for the Pilgrim Mother are growing in Sicily, and we wish that our region may become an ever more fertile field, where Jesus and his Mother may gather fruits abundant in holiness.

Translation: Simon Donnelly, Rome, Italy (South Africa)