From the Shrine of Valldoreix, Barcelona, to the Original Shrine

Schoenstatt Families from Cataluña on pilgrimage to the original source

Encuentro con el Padre Kentenich – también para los más chicos Encounter with Father Kentenich – also for the youngest ones Begegnung mit Pater Kentenich – auch für die Kleinsten
Cantando al Padre A song for Father Kentenich Ein Lied für Pater Kentenich
Familias santas para un nuevo Pentecostés Holy Families for a new Pentecost Heilige Familien für ein neues Pfingsten
Misa en el Santuario de las Familias Holy Mass in the Shrine of the Families Heilige Messe im Heiligtum der Familien
Entrega de los Santuarios Hogares de Cataluña Presentation of the Home Shrines of Catalonia Die Hausheiligtümer Kataloniens werden symbolisch auf den Altar gelegt Fotos: POS Fischer © 2006
Albúm de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum Vídeo

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. "The Schoenstatt –olé – families –olé – in Germany olé for the new Pentecost…"While they "organized" themselves on the steps in front of the Adoration Church for a group photo, between laughter and shouts the families from Cataluña sang an "adapted" version of their pilgrimage motto: "Father, holy families for a new Pentecost". A song, that expresses what moves and unites them on the eve of the 10^th Anniversary of their Shrine, could be heard before the tomb of the Father, as well as in the Mass in the Shrine of Families and several more times. "We build a Catálan Shrine…" 60 adults and 30 children came on pilgrimage from the so longed for and beloved Shrine of Valldoreix, Barcelona, " A New Pentecost". to express gratitude to Father and the Blessed Mother for the ideal of the Shrine and the mission that was entrusted to them, and to implore the necessary graces to be courageous apostles.

They arrived on August 9^th and they departed on the 15^th, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother. During this week they filled the House of Families and all of Shoenstatt with their joy and enthusiasm. Like each pilgrimage to Schoenstatt, they visited the most important places to pray, to renew their commitment with Schoenstatt and to fill themselves with graces; they went to the Original Shrine, Father’s tomb, the Adoration Church and the Shrine of Families.

During the Mass in the Shrine of Families each one offered all of the Home Shrines of Cataluña – it was an emotional moment for everyone. After Mass, the new general superiors of the Institute of Schoenstatt Families, Bernhard and Elisabeth Neiser cordially greeted the pilgrims.

In the Father Kentenich House the parents consecrated their children to the Blessed Mother in front of the same statue that Joseph Kentenich’s mother consecrated him when he was eight years old. There were also Argentinean, Colombian and Ecuadorian families, who presently live in Barcelona, on this pilgrimage.

"I still can’t believe it"

"I still cannot believe it", commented Carlos Medina. "it seems like a dream to have known Schoenstatt. It has been 22 years since the first time that the Blessed Mother and Father Kentenich were explained to me, and it seemed to me that he was a magnetic person since the first time a saw his photo, and since then the closest we have been was to imagine how this place where God gives special gifts, where heaven and earth unite, was until now, through the narrations of our advisors and the fortunate people who had traveled to this place. The "fortunate" thing because at that time I lived in Argentina, in Tandil, and 20 years ago the flights were very expensive and it was impossible to even think about it.

With the opportunity to make this pilgrimage from the Shrine of Valldoreix, all these dreams were made possible, and I cannot stop thinking and praying for the brothers and sisters of my group. Each picture and each visit or experience we hold dear were also made in their name, and I would like to take 1,000 pictures, but I realize that a letter or a prayer at Father’s tomb are the best gift for them…"

To be a small testimony in my daily life

"The first time that I came to Schoenstatt was for the 25^th Anniversary of my parents in the year 1990, and it was a precious family trip full of blessings", Maria Isabel Briz Briz, an Ecuadorian, relates. This second time that I come to Schoenstatt I am accompanied by my husband and I am on pilgrimage with the Catalan family. Throughout all these years the Blessed Mother has given me abundant blessings and she has made me feel very sheltered beneath her mantle. Although there is a physical distance from my family, I have always felt very close to them through the Home Shrine, which has always helped me to overcome difficult times and it has given me the strength to continue to go forward. And now, as part of the Catalan family I feel that I have again found my family, since the Shrine makes me feel at home. I only want to express my gratitude to the Blessed Mother for these days of pilgrimage that have been marvelous, and have helped me to discover our Father Kentenich anew in a closer and more personal manner. May he help me to loyally continue to fulfill my Covenant of Love, so that I can be a small testimony in my daily live.

I am as moved as I was on my wedding day

The Ramirez López couple, from Medellín, Colombia, has been married more than ten years, and they have a three year old son, they have lived in Barcelona for seven years. Everything began at the beginning of the year 2005; with some classes of Catalán…There they met Sister Ana Teresa who came as if from heaven. It was love at first sight. I questioned her on the first day: where was she from, what was her order…I was so happy to share something so trivial with such a marvelous person that I couldn’t believe it.

Everyone knew about her in my home, my husband and my mother, with time, our bonds of friendship were strengthened and one day she invited me to a couples’ meeting. It mentioned it to my husband we decided to go. That was in June of 2005. God had reserved a very special encounter with Schoenstatt for us. They welcomed us very affectionately, and during the three days that we shared with them we found what we were seeking for our family. As an anecdote, afterwards we found out that they all knew each other, they were a family. We were the only "strangers" and we never felt that we were. By the following week we had already obtained a biography of Father Kentenich.

How the Blessed Mother has captivated us! How much the Movement has filled us! The response is the here and now.

We hope that each day our covenant with the Blessed Mother will help us to be better persons and educators of our son; that we may be apostles wherever we are. We thank God for allowing us to have this encounter and this marvelous pilgrimage with our Catalan family.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA