Little Christopher knew…

The Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign gets under way in British Columbia, Canada

En la casa de los Fernando In the house of the Fernando family Altärchen im Haus der Familie Fernando
Rezando el rosario Praying the rosary Rosenkranzgebet
La Peregrina en la peregrinación a la Gruta de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes The Pilgrim MTA at the pilgrimage to the Grotto of Lourdes Die Pilgernde Gottesmutter bei der Wallfahrt zur Lourdes-Grotte
El Obispo saludando a la Virgen de Lourdes... y a la Virgen Peregrina de Schoenstatt The Bishop greeting Our Lady  of Lourdes...and the Pilgrim MTA Der Bischof grüßt die Gottesmutter von Lourdes... und die Pilgernde Gottesmutter von Schönstatt
Peregrinación multitudinaria... Crowds of pilgrims... Bei der Großwallfahrt wurde auch auf die Kampagne hingewiesen Fotos: Fernando © 2006

CANADA, mkf. The Pilgrim MTA tours British Columbia. So far, it is just a small, a very small beginning, but this is how she likes to start… Remember October 18, 1914. Remember September 10, 1950. Her new visitation of this area of Canada began on June 14, 2004, in Sri Lanka…

Anthony Fernando is coordinator, or better, missionary, of the Pilgrim MTA in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His little son Christopher had faith in the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign On the 14th of June 2004, when little Christopher knew that his father was leaving Sri Lanka, he carried the picture of the MTA in front of the father, when he was leaving his residence, and carried the picture of the Blessed Mother into the van, in which his father got in, and thus carried the Pilgrim MTA to the Colombo Air Port, to bid good bye to his father.

Anthony Fernando is the son of Oswald Emmanuel Fernando & Helena Mary Pamela Fernando, brother of Elaine Fernando (USA). While in Sri Lanka, the father and the son initiated there Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign, carrying the Pilgrim Mother to families. Anthony’s father Ossie loved carrying the Pilgrim MTA and placing her at the foot of the alter, where the Holy Mass was held and also took part in all processions carrying the picture.

First homes visited in Vancouver

After Anthony’s family, his wife and the two children joined him in Canada on 1st December 2005, Anthony has made up a little altar, as he calls it, to place the sacred heart statue and the picture of The Blessed Mother, in the new home, right below the wedding photograph of his mother and father, and the family is now spiritually united to gather in prayers. A little home shrine growing in Canada…

After Anthony Fernando was officially appointed as a coordinator in B.C. Vancouver, Canada, in July 2006, on 11th August, 2006, Mr. Paulraj Gnaprakasam and his wife Mary and the children were the first to receive the Pilgrim MTA into their home. It was like a first beginning of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign. Soon more doors will open, for now the Pilgrim MTA stayed for two weeks with this family, and then was brought to Lucy Varghese’s home, the second person who has accepted, to keep Pilgrim MTA for two weeks.

Present in the annual pilgrimage to the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes

It was the first Friday of the month of August, 2006. On 4th August, 2006, Anthony Fernando participated in a special "Holy Hour Adoration Program" from 4.00p.m. to 5.00p.m. by placing the Pilgrim MTA at the foot of the "Altar" where the Blessed Sacrament was kept exposed throughout the day for the devotees to pray. "It was a unique scene to witness the mother and the son united at this moment where special rosaries were offered", he said.

The annual pilgrimage to the Grotto of Our lady of Lourdes, Heritage Park Mission B.C. was held on 19th August 2006. Anthony Fernando joined hands with his family by carrying the picture of the Pilgrim Mother and placing her at the foot of the Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Mass was presided by Archbishop Raymond Roussin SM; at the end he payed homage to Our Lady Of Lourdes and to Pilgrim MTA. Two families that attended the Pilgrimage agrees to join the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign

"As a thanksgiving for the appointment as the coordinator of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign in Vancouver, and as the approval of the Archbishop of Vancouver was received for me to begin with the Schoenstatt Rosary Camoaign, I have translated the prayer for the beatification of Father Joseph Kentenich in to Singhalese, and arrangements are made to translate in Indian Tamil Language too", Anthony Fernando said.

Visiting in the hospital

At the end of August, five families were receiving the Pilgrim MTA in their houses, and gathering to pray the rosary. "Gradually, we will be increasing the numbers," Anthony Fernando is convinced. In the meantime, he has been making arrangements to keep the Pilgrim MTA in different hospital wards at the Surrey Memorial Hospital commencing 8th September 2006, on the Blessed Mother's birthday. Every week the Pilgrim MTA will be placed in different wards for the people to pray. "And I will be taking the Pilgrim Mother to every patient in that ward, before it is transferred to another ward. In this manner, she will continuously be visiting the sick ones!"