On the eve of another October 18^th

92^nd year of the Covenant of Love – Why thousands of people will go the Original Shrine tomorrow

La  tapa del suplemento que el Movimiento Schoenstatt Paraguay publica en un diario de circulación nacional, con motivo de las bodas de plata del Santuario de Tupãrenda. Cover of a supplement that the Schoenstatt Movement Paraguay published in a nation-wide newspaper for the jubilee of the Shrine in Tupãrenda. Titel einer Beilage, die Schönstatt Paraguay in einer landesweit erscheinenden Zeitung aus Anlass des Jubiläums des Heiligtums von Tupãrenda veröffentlicht hat Foto: Avezeda/Ultima Hora © 2006
El Santuario Original: a la tarde del 18 de octubre, hay Misa de Alianza The Original Shrine: at the evening of October 18, Covenant Mass is celebrated Das Urheiligtum: am Abend des 18. Oktober ist Bündnisfeier Foto: POS Fischer © 2006
Mil Avemaria en la ermita en Goya Thousand Hail Mary at the wayside shrine in Goya Tausend Ave Maria am Bildstock in Goya Foto: Petiti © 2006
Ermita en Coyhaique, Chile: cumple 20 años el 18 de octubre Wayside shrine in Coyhaique, Chile: 20th anniversary on October 18 Bildstock in Coyhaique, Chile: 20. Jahrestag am 18. Oktober Foto: Saíz © 2006
92 años del Santuario, 92 años de la Alianza de Amor 92 years of the Shrine, 92 years of the Covenant of Love 92 Jahre Heiligtum, 92 Jahre Liebesbündnis Foto: POS Fischer © 2006

INTERNATIONAL, MKF. Tomorrow, October 18^th, hundreds of thousands of people in all of the continents will go spiritually to the small chapel in the Rhine Valley, making October 18^th the largest spiritual pilgrimage day in the world, and it will make the Schoenstatt Valley the most international of all the Marian pilgrimage places. All of them firmly believe that 92 years ago the MTA transformed this place into a place of grace, that attracts young hearts of all cultures, and from here she goes out to encounter those who need her presence on their pilgrimage to the Father. Throughout the entire world, in wayside shrines and Shrines, October 18^th is celebrated –since it is the anniversary of the Shrine – there will be at least 50,000 pilgrims.

"As I wait for the 18^th I unite myself to you to once more celebrate our Covenant in the Original Shrine, and I pray that you place me in the intentions of the Mass", writes Clara Bianco from Herbón, from Villa Angostura, Argentina. "A Mass will not be held here since the Eucharist is not held on Wednesdays since our pastor is not here; he is visiting other rural communities that are 60 kms. from the city". – "I am looking at the possibility of departing tonight (10/16) or tomorrow morning, depending on the train schedule. It seems to be the providence of God and of the Blessed Mother that our meeting scheduled for today and tomorrow ended earlier so I will have a day "off"; therefore, I will be able to be in Schoenstatt a little longer", advises Enrique Morales, from Paraguay, who is participating in a Congress in Geneva, Switzerland. Since I cannot be among the thousands who will go on pilgrimage to Tuparenda, I will represent all of them in the Original Shrine.

Tuparenda: Everything is prepared for the thousands of pilgrims

"O Lord, you mete out peace to us, for it is you who have accomplished all we have done" Is. 26.12 wrote Father Antonio Cosp, Director of the Schoenstatt Movement, to the Schoenstatt Family of Paraguay one week before October 18^th. "We are a week away from the great events. The novena began in Tuparenda on Monday, October the 9^th with a "super full" pavilion: three of the newest groups of couples along with their leaders, the first ring, the covenant and home shrine teams, and a few others came from Caacupé. The altar was beautiful and a path illuminated by candles led to the Shrine. More than 30 people from the exterior arrived by plane, and there was a bus from the area of Varela and beyond. There were also some autos. Thank you oh God for you kindness! You will give peace…in the times of impatience, trials, weariness, we want to sit for a moment, to look at the eyes of the Blessed Mother and to pray this phrase from a psalm that comes from Isaiah and that is frequently used in the liturgy. This 18^th we want to hear more than ever: disciple, here is your mother. And the disciple made her his, he takes her in his heart and to his home. Thank you to each one of the teams". On October 16^th, the day on which the great pastoral congress of the Shrine of Tuparenda began, a supplement appeared in the national newspaper, "Ultima Hora" that was published by the Schoenstatt Movement in Paraguay, on the occasion of the Silver Anniversary of the founding of the Shrine of Tuparenda. www.ultimahora.com.py On the same day, the jubilee in Paraguay and the stamp issued in honor of the Blessed Mother, and the Shrine were the news of the Catholic News Agency, ACI Press.

On October 18^th all the Schoenstatt Family of Asunción and beyond will be at the service of the pilgrims – and with the participants of the congress from the exterior. There will be four Masses: at (900 a.m., for work (Celebrant: Father Antonio Cosp), at 11:30 a.m. for the Youth (Celebrant: Father Cruz Viale, at 4:00 p.m. for health (Celebrant: Monsignor Adalberto Martinez) with a special blessing for the sick with the Blessed Sacrament at the end of the Mass, and at 8:00 p.m. the Mass for the family, whose celebrant is Monsignor Claudio Jiménez, bishop of Caacupé. (latest news about the jubilee of Tuparenda Photos)

Uniting their voices along with the international family to say My Queen, my mother…

Since October 9^th, many Shrines and wayside shrines have made a Novena to the Blessed Mother. The affection for her awakens enormous creativity, for example, in Goya, one of the poorest cities in Argentina, from where Inés Petiti writes: "Since October 9^th at 7:00 p.m. a Novena to the Blessed Mother was held in the wayside shrine of Our Lady. The beads of the holy rosary on the lips of her family are crowned by guitar music at the hands of José and the warm voice of Lila, who invite us to say to Mary: Blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus, blessed are you because you believed.

On October 17^th at 9:30 a chamamecera cantata will be held at the wayside shrine, where groups from Goya will sing to the Mother of God, uniting their voices to say: My Queen, my mother…along with the international family, awaiting Covenant Day.

On October 18^th, Covenant of Love Day, the holy rosary will be prayed at dawn at 6:00 a.m. at the wayside shrine of the Blessed Mother.

Beginning at 4:00 p.m. twenty rosaries will be prayed, whose beads will form a crown of a Thousand Hail Marys, a crown of gratitude to Mother of God for choosing this little place at the Avenues of Perón and El Trabajo, as a dwelling place, through the love of María Delia and Juan Carlos Ferruchi, demonstrating that she truly loves us and that she has established herself her as the queen and lady of the Holy Rosary.

A Holy Mass will be celebrated between 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., a gift of the Covenant of Love that She made with men: Father Rodolfo will celebrate the Eucharist in this place of the Blessed Mother. All the communities are invited to bring their pictures to share this beautiful experience with the Mother of God.

Rosary, number 18, will be illuminated so that the light of the Lord a holy source of grace will crystallizing spring forth from the Shrine. We ask for your cooperation in providing merchandise that will be taken to the parish of Our Lady of Iratí. This October 18^th the 92^nd Anniversary of the Covenant of Love will be celebrated! Thank you Father Joseph Kentenich, for making it possible for the Mother of God to work this miracle and that it was extended to the entire world".

Anniversaries will be celebrated in other places besides Tuparenda

In Coyhaique, in southern Chile, the family will celebrate the 20^th anniversary on October 18^th, of their place of grace, their wayside shrine., on October 18^th. Anita Sáiz writes: "For us, it will be a blessing and an honor to receive a greeting from the Original Shrine". In Tandil, Argentina, the 20^th Anniversary of the enthronement of the picture of the MTA in the largest parish of the city will be celebrated. The picture was enthroned in 1986 with the commitment of the Schoenstatt Family to contribute to the Capital of Grace so that this place will be a small "spiritual Shrine" where the Blessed Mother can give the graces of Schoenstatt to those who come to Tandil…and also that the picture will not be taken away from this place.

Many Shrines and thousands of waysides shrines were blessed on October 18^th, beginning with the first Daughter Shrine of the world: 1943 Nuevea Helvecia, Uruguay; 1952 Villa Maria/CapeTown, South Africa; 1954 Fribourg (Pallotines), Switzerland; 1954 Milwaukee’Wisconsin, USA; 1958 Munster –Gievenbeck, Germany; 1959 Lamar (Rociport) (TX) USA; 1961 Gossau Pallotine Proivincial) Switzerland; 1963 Belgrano, Buenos Aires, Argentina; 1969 Pozuelo/Madrid, Spain; 1975 Johannesburg-Berdfordview, South Africa; 1980 Queretaro, Mexioc; 1981 Tuparenda, Paraguya, 1986 Mar del Plata, Argentina; 1994 Salta, Argentina; 1997 Baracelona, Spain; and 1998 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

October 18^th is a celebration for the entire world! In Brazil, there will be Covenant Masses on this day. In Salgueiro/PE, all the missionaries of the city will meet in the city center at 4:00 p.m., from where they will go in procession to the main church where Mass will be celebrated. A video about the life of Joao Pozzobon will be shown after the Mass and the rosary will be prayed. In other cities there will be processions throughout all the neighborhoods, there will be walks, rosaries – all of this is a manifestation of faith in the Covenant of Love.

One million children pray the rosary

It is the second time that it is carried out, through the initiative of the Schoenstatt Movement in Venezuela and it was strongly supported by the National Council of the Laity from Venezuela, the initiative "One million children pray the rosary" – will be October 18^th at 9:00 a.m.! There are many who with gather and there can still be more. All the children of the world are invited:

Dear friend,

You do not know me, but you have a family and a school like mine, a heart like mine, and some dreams like mine and great desires of making them come true. Friend, I want to share a dream with you, our Mother of Heaven who loves us and takes care of us, who needs all of us, so that united to her and with her help we pray to God the Father for the Unity and Peace within ourselves, in our country and in the entire world. I want to invite you to unite with our prayers to pray the rosary together on October 18^th at 9:00 a.m. at your school, in the street, in your home or in any other place where you are. Your teachers and friends or your family will be at your side. Many children like you from several countries united themselves to the campaign of One Million Children Praying the Rosary of the Year 2005.

Thank you to all of them. This year, God willing, we will be many more. Several years ago Saint Pio said: "Just think if one million children would pray the Rosary the world would change." Unite yourself! If you want peace, let’s pray together.

More information can be downloaded from the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference. www.cev.org.ve The crusade for prayer "ONE MILLION CHILDREN PRAYING THE ROSARY ON OCTOBER 18^TH AT 9:00 A.M., WILL BECOME A REALITY THROUGH THE National Council of Laity from Venezuela, an entity that gathers all the lay and religious movement of Venezuela.

October 18^th at the Original Shrine

At the place where everyone goes, where everything started, Schoenstatt, the Original Shrine, the day will begin peacefully. It is a work day, and since the delegates for October Week, the National Journey of the Schoenstatt Movement from Germany, will arrive that night, no pilgrimages or journeys will be held on this day. There will be a Covenant Mass at 7:30 p.m. at the Pilgrims Church, with Father Heinrich Walter, President of the Schoenstatt General Presidency, as the main celebrant. After the Mass everyone will go on pilgrimage to the Original Shrine where the Covenant of Love will be renewed along with all the international family. But the Blessed Mother does not have to wait until evening in silence! Father Angel Strada will celebrate a Holy Mass for some girls from Latin America who will seal their Covenant on this day, and everyone is invited!

Why do so many people from all the continents go on pilgrimage to this Shrine, to the Shrine or wayside shrines? If you ask them, they say: We come for an encounter with God on earth. "all of Paraguay a Tuparenda", reads the cover of the Schoenstatt supplement in Paraguay. All of Paraguay a dwelling place of God. No, all the world a Tuparenda, a dwelling place of God, from the Shrine. That is why they come, and that is why they return from the Shrine to their world.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA

Note: this article meant to be published before October 18, could not be translated into English earlier. But is may still be interesting