John Pozzobon: through Mary, a disciple and missionary of Christ

Spring Pilgrimage 2006 in Santa Maria, Brazil

Peregrinación de primavera Spring pilgrimage Frühlingswallfahrt
Llegada de los peregrinos Arrival of the pilgrims Ankunft der Pilger
Un mar de Auxiliares frente del altar A sea of Auxiliaries in front of the altar Jede Gruppe stellte ihre Auxiliar vor den Altar
Entre los peregrinos, un grupo nutrido de Argentina Among the pilgrims was a numerous group from Argentina Unter den Pilgern eine große Zahl aus Argentinien
Santa Misa con el obispo Holy Mass with the bishop Heilige Messe mit dem Ortsbischof Fotos: Meister © 2006

BRAZIL, Sister M. Rosequiel Favero. The "Spring Pilgrimage" to Tabor Shrine took place 54 years ago. Joao Pozzobon was inspired to organize the pilgrimage to celebrate the second anniversary of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign. According to his notes, close to three thousand people participated in that pilgrimage. The pilgrimage was named that same year – 1953. It should be the expression and at the same time the petition for a new and holy springtime for the Church and for humanity.

This year, 2006, more than eighty pilgrims from fifteen dioceses from Argentina, who had arrived in Santa Maria on Friday, September 8^th, participated in the Spring Pilgrimage. There were also pilgrims from Alegrete, Uruguayana, Santana do Livramento, Lavras, San Gabriel, Tupacieretá, Vila nova do Sul, Agudo, and from different parishes from Santa Maria. Our Lady of Sorrows Parish was outstanding and they began the week of celebration for their patron with this event. This year the parish to which the Shrine belongs celebrated its 70^th Anniversary.

The Auxiliary Shrine was crowned again

Monsignor Helio Ruber, Bishop of the Diocese of Santa Maria, presided over the celebration. Many other priests concelebrated with him and several deacons also participated. After the solemn Holy Mass close to the Shrine, the groups could participate in alternate activities: conferences, workshops, prayer time that ended with the Eucharistic blessing at 3:30 p.m. in the esplanade in front of the Shrine. At this time six missionaries from Alegrete sealed their Covenant of Love.

The year the motto for the pilgrimage was: Joao Luiz Pozzobon: "through Mary, disciple and missionary of Christ". As every year – the Auxiliary Shrine was crowned again – this is a tradition from the time of Deacon Joao Pozzobon. The crown was embellished with a new precious stone that was donated by a family from the parish of Santa Maria.

Translatio: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA