The Shrine that we know and to which we always return…

Encounters in the Original Shrine – October 2006

Dia de la cosecha en la Iglesia de Peregrinos Harvest Day in the Pilgrims’ Church Erntedankaltar in der Pilgerkirche Foto: Brück © 2006
Eduardo de Zavalia, Tucumán, Argentina, en el Santuario de Colonia Eduardo de Zavalia, Tucumán, Argentina, in the Shrine in Cologne Eduardo de Zavalia, Tucumán, Argentinien, im Heiligtum in Köln
Eduardo de Zavalia, Tucumán, Argentina: Gracias por todo lo recibido en Schoenstatt Eduardo de Zavalia, Tucumán, Argentina: thanks for all I received in Schoenstatt Eduardo de Zavalia, Tucumán, Argentinien: Danke für alles, was ich in Schönstatt empfangen habe
Jardin de Marienau: colores de otoño Garden of the Marienau: fall colors Garten der Marienau: Herbstfarben
Peregrinos de Miami, Florida, Estados Unidos Pilgrims from Miami, Florida, USA Pilger aus Miami, Florida, USA Fotos: POS Fischer © 2006

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. Sun, blue sky, cool breeze, ideal temperature, and reddish foliage, what Europe knows as "golden autumn", is what was experienced in Schoenstatt during the first half of the month of October. A man with a backpack was concentrating on gathering red leaves from among the tiles that surround the Original Shrine: "What a better gift to take home and to my friends than this", he says. "Something that comes directly from the Original Shrine". He is Gerardo Saldes, of the Family Federation from Chile who along with his wife coordinates the Schoenstatt Family in Puerto Montt, "the southernmost Shrine of Chile". After participating in a congress in Norway, and since he was returning to Chile via Frankfurt, he took time to visit Schoenstatt for some three or four hours on Sunday the 15^th.

"I was here once, but today it was complicated to arrive and I did not find anyone who spoke Spanish", he relates. The only ones that I encountered at the entrance were some German tourists having a picnic in front of the Original Shrine, who did no know about the holy place..."But in the end the MTA took care of everything: I found a place to eat, I encountered Father Claudio Martinez, and I was even able to participate of a Mass in Spanish in Schoenstatt!"

Two visits in one year

Erick Perea, from Costa Rica, arrived from Frankfurt on the morning of the 16^th. While participating in a congress in Frankfurt, he escaped to Schoenstatt for a few hours to visit the Original Shrine, to buy a picture of the MTA for a wayside shrine and many holy cards…He had already been in Schoenstatt during the month of June, and although this time he did not have much time nor did he find the person he wanted to meet, "before anything it is blessing to be able to visit the Shrine twice in one year". In the process of looking for information about Schoenstatt and how to spread it in Costa Rica, he made contact with the family of Costa Rica, which he did not know about. "I have already contacted Gonzalo Vega by mail and I hope that my wife and I can join this wonderful movement and to add a grain of sand in the expansion of Schoenstatt in Costa Rica", he says, and with overflowing joy he adds: I will return to Costa Rica on October 23^rd, where he sealed the Covenant of Love on October 28^th!"

Impressions of a councilman

The week before, taking advantage of a promotional tour through Spain during October 9^th -23^rd, Eduardo de Zavalía from the province of Tucumán, Argentina, and a member of the Family Work and councilman of the city of San Miguel of Tucumán (link al art.) came on pilgrimage to Schoenstatt on October 7^th, also visiting the cities of Frankfurt and Cologne. He was totally impressed with the Father Kentenich House, and "with the time that he could speak with Father Ángel Strada". He brought a CD of tribute to John Paul II with photos, videos and texts to Schoenstatt.. Whatever is collected will be used to place a statue of John Paul II in the square recently named – through the initiative of Eduardo de Zavalía –John Paul II Square. God willing, the inauguration will take place on April 2^nd the anniversary of death of this Giant. After spending an extremely intensive day in Schoenstatt, he traveled to Cologne, where he visited the Shrine of the Covenant with God the Father during the afternoon. "All the Shrines are the same, it is always the Shrine that we know and to which we always return…", he reflected.

Events, pilgrimages and others

During the first two weeks of October there were several Branch journeys: those of Mothers, the Family Work, the Girls’ Youth and the Boys’ Youth, and there were also groups of pilgrims from Brazil and Chile that came to visit. On October 1^st Harvest Day was celebrated; enormous and colorful pumpkins, apples, pears and other fruits were seen at the altar of the Pilgrims’ Church.

On October 12^th 14 pilgrims from Miami, Florida, USA arrived – it was their first time in Schoenstatt and they are all missionaries of the Rosary Campaign! Sara Ycaza, pilgrimage leader, relates: My husband Marcelo and I announced that we were coming to Germany, and suddenly one after another of the missionaries wanted to join us! After some complications because of lack of previous organization –that were resolved as if by magic after receiving a visit from the Pilgrim MTA of Serenity and Confidence –they experienced unique moments at Father’s tomb, the Father Kentenich House, the Original Shrine…On the morning of October 18^th they will depart to Munich and Rome, asking the Blessed in all of those places for so desired Shrine in Miami.

Golden autumn, reddish leaves, Harvest Day, journeys, pilgrimages...a Schoenstatt that is born and always reborn anew, that takes root and flourishes in the hearts of everyone, a Schoenstatt that is life, and life in abundance.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA