Pilgrim Mother Gains Momentum in England

Small Steps Toward a Society Transformed

Santuario de Inglaterra, cerca de Manchester England Shrine near Manchester Heiligtum in der Nähe von Manchester Foto: McVicar © 2006
La Campaña de Rosario presente en todo el mundo – como se pudo notar en la Vigilia de Schoenstatt en Roma The Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign present all over the world – as could be seen in the Schoenstatt Vigil in Rome Die Kampagne der Pilgernden Gottesmutter in aller Welt präsent – wie man bei der Schönstatt-Vigil in Rom sehne konnte Foto: POS Fischer © 2006

ENGLAND, Vanya Gobbi. The Pilgrim Mother has been making waves in England throughout the first half of this year, travelling through homes, shrines and parishes that open their doors to her visit. This British experience demonstrates how quickly the Mother Thrice Admirable, as Pilgrim Mother, enters hearts and changes communities, one person at a time.

Co-ordinators across England have reported warm receptions to the Pilgrim Mother by their respective parishes and priests. St. Joseph´s parish in Longsight, England, reported, "[we] now have so many requests for pictures that Bill McEvoy, who is making the frames, cannot keep up with the demand." The parish already has five Pilgrim Mother´s circulating. Another co-ordinator, Judy Netto, reported that her pastor not only gave the go ahead in her parish, but also requested a Pilgrim Mother of his own. Prayers are requested: that the demand for the Pilgrim Mother continues to grow throughout England, and that co-ordinators and volunteers step up to take the blessed role of facilitating this powerful Campaign, as John Pozzobon, the initiator, called it.

Young Lives are Touched

The Pilgrim Mother is also working to enkindle the love of her Son in the hearts of British youth. A parish priest in Wales requested the Pilgrim Mother for the month of May so that he might take her to visit those homes where a child is making his or her First Holy Communion or Confirmation this year. The priest also took it upon himself to pray a decade of the Rosary with each family when taking the Pilgrim Mother to them. Further, Ana Lia of Oxford, England, reported that she hopes the Pilgrim Mother will soon set to work in the school attended by her children; this in addition to the Pilgrim picture already circulating in her parish.

A big thank you goes out to those priests listening to the needs of our times - and of their parishioners - in allowing this lifestream of prayer to take root among their parish families and schools!

Sightings of the MTA

The MTA is increasingly visible in England as a result of the Pilgrim Mother Campaign. Three MTA pictures were noted by Caroline Maybury, a new co-ordinator, when she attended a Divine Mercy devotion at Cardigan Shrine in Wales. At Fr. Tansley´s parish, also in Wales, the Pilgrim Mother was also spotted at Divine Mercy devotions. Other travels of our Pilgrim MTA include one out "on loan" to a potential co-ordinator, and yet another visiting an expectant mother. Hilda Madden, a Schoenstatt Family group member for over thirty years, and now also a Pilgrim Mother co-cordinator, has sent out her own Pilgrim Mother on its mission. The Madden Pilgrim Mother was blessed in the original shrine ten years ago, and it is hoped that more Pilgrim pictures will join in its work.

Mother Provides a Home in the Midst of Pain

Finally, an example is evident in Joan Evans, a parish co-ordinator who was injured in a car accident at the end of 2005, breaking her sternum and suffering pain as a result. The Pilgrim Mother continued to make her rounds while the co-ordinator waited her turn, longing to receive the MTA back into her home. The co-ordinator provides a model of Schoenstatt spirituality: as the Pilgrim Mother makes her home in parishes, let parishioners also make their home in the MTA.

With material provided by Mary Cole in the Pilgrim MTA Newsletter, England.