"Welcome to Schoenstatt"

A Myriad of Pilgrims and Encounters in the Original Shrine

Familia Gilbert en Sonnenau: Pamela, Oscar, Oscar (hijo), Carola y Valerian, una amiga de la familia (de Izq.a Der.) The Gilbert family at Sonnenau: Pamela, Oscar, Oscar jun., Carola and Valerian, a friend of the family (from right to left) Familie Gilbert in der Sonnenau: Pamela, Oscar, Oscar jun., Carola und  Valerian, eine Freundin der Familie (von links nach rechts)
Peregrinos de Inglaterra en su primera Misa en Schoenstatt England pilgrims at their first Holy Mass in Schoenstatt Pilger aus England in der ersten heiligen Messe in Schönstatt
P. Andrew Pastore Fr. Andrew Pastore P. Andrew Pastore
Mas novedades: carteles con afiches e impresos de articulos de schoenstatt.de More new things: displays with posters and prints of articles from schoenstatt.de Noch mehr Neues: Infoständer mit Plakaten und Ausdrucken von Artikeln aus schoenstatt.de Fotos: Garmendia © 2006
Jorge Aldo Brito con su mujer en Schoenstatt Jorge Algo Brito with his wife in Schoenstatt Jorge Aldo Brito mit seiner Frau in Schönstatt Foto: POS Fischer © 2006

SCHOENSTATT, mkf/Juliana Garmendia/Stefanie Frank. "Welcome to Schoenstatt!" In early July, large signs were posted to help greet pilgrims traveling to Schoenstatt this summer. Written in many different languages and all including the symbol of the shrine, the signs give a sense of welcome and home from the first moment people arrive. Pilgrims come from all over the world, and the international and multi-lingual atmosphere is incredible to witness. To name just a few, in mid-July, Schoenstatt welcomed pilgrimages from Brazil, Spain, and Puerto Rico.

Currently, a group is here from England, in addition to all of the participants in the General Chapter of the Schoenstatt Institute of Families.

Soccer fans from Argentina drawn to Shrine

This July in Germany has been marked by record-breaking heat and stifling humidity. During one of these "unbearable" weather days, a tired looking couple stopped me outside the Original Shrine. "Could you please tell us where the Original Shrine is located?" asked Jorge Aldo Brito and his wife from Buenos Aires. "This is the Original Shrine," I responded. "I can’t believe it," said Jorge, "so small?" He always thought that the other Shrines were replicas in miniature of the original one; the origin of such a great work as Schoenstatt could not be something so small.

The Britos are Argentinean soccer fans that had come to see the World Cup. When Argentina was eliminated and they could not get an earlier flight to leave, they "took advantage" of it and traveled to Schoenstatt. Jorge is an anesthesiologist in the Mater Dei Hospital of the Sisters of Mary in Buenos Aires. As a couple, they are also involved in the family work. They only had two or three hours to visit Schoenstatt, so they went to the Original Shrine, Father’s tomb, Father’s room in the House of Formation of the Sisters of Mary, took another moment for prayer in the Original Shrine, and then went shopping for souvenirs for the Sisters in the Hospital. "They are going to be surprised that we came to Schoenstatt," they said. Then they added with a tinge of sadness: "It’s a shame that Argentina was eliminated, but at least we were able to come to Schoenstatt!"

An Ecuadorian Schoenstatt Excursion

Carola and Oscar Gilbert belong to a couples’ group in Ecuador, and Carola is also a member of the Mothers’ Branch. This summer, the Gilbert Family has been vacationing and traveling throughout Europe; however, they did not have a visit to Schoenstatt planned on their itinerary. During a visit to their friend in Belgium, Valerian, he suggested that they visit the Blessed Mother. Since both of the Gilberts belong to the Movement and they were so near, they did not want to miss going to Schoenstatt even if it was only for a short time. So Valerian’s father loaned them his car, and they drove to Schoenstatt. They arrived in the afternoon on July 11^th and returned to Belgium on July 12^th, but they felt it was well worth the trip. They were very happy for the opportunity to come to the Original Shrine and that both they and their children got to see Schoenstatt first-hand and get to know it more.

Five buses of pilgrims from the Diocese of Regensburg

Camps of the Boys’ Youth, a bicycle pilgrimage from the Shrine of Maria Rast, journeys and mothers’ retreats: in Germany, it’s vacation time, which is clearly seen and felt in Schoenstatt through the many different activities that are happening throughout. One example is the five buses of pilgrims that came from the Diocese of Regensburg and stayed in Schoenstatt from Friday, July 7^th to Sunday, July 9^th. With them, they brought a crown of gold that will be placed on the MTA picture in the Shrine of Nittenau next year. Until that time comes, they will be striving for precious stones for the crown.

On Saturday, July 8^th, a Mass was celebrated for the pilgrims in the Adoration Church, and on Sunday, Mass was in the Pilgrims’ Church. Since this coincided with the last weekend of the World Cup Soccer Tournament, a comparison was made with it for the theme of the homily: Almost everyone affirms that Germany has been an excellent tournament host, offering gracious hospitality for visitors from all over the world. In the same way, Mary, in her small Shrine, is a hostess full of graces for all people. The final homily ended with the words: "The tender eyes of the Blessed Mother are with us at every moment."

Pilgrims from England

On July 11^th, 31 people from England along with Father Andrew Pastore arrived at Sonnenau for a stay of one week. This year the pilgrims were from Liverpool and Manchester. Some of them were coming for the first time, while others in the group come every year. They say that a trip to Schoenstatt is a gift that the Blessed Mother gives them so that they can continue with their mission when they return to England. They began their stay with a Holy Mass that was celebrated in the House Chapel of Sonnenau.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen /Amy Peebles, Austin, USA