Joy and gratitude to the Child who is again born in our hearts every year

Christmas impressions from the Schoenstatt Shrines

Presentacion del Niño Jesús Presentation of Baby Jesus Verehrung des Jesuskindes
Misa de Nochebuena en Lima Christmas Mass in Lima Christmette in Lima Fotos: Espinoza  © 2006
Misa de Nochebuena en La Loma, Paraná, Argentina Christmas Mass in La Loma, Paraná, Argentina Christmette in La Loma, Paraná, Argentinien
La Loma, Argentina La Loma, Argentina La Loma, Argentinien Foto: Ríos © 2006
Santuario Campanario, Chile Campanario Shrine, Chile Heiligtum Campanario, Chile Foto: Cintolesi © 2006 Album de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

INTERNATIONAL, MKF. Your Shrine is our Bethlehem: is what was experienced this Christmas in all the Schoenstatt Shrines of the world. Impressions from Chile, Paraguay, Argentina and Peru.

In Paraguay we also felt the presence of the Child Jesus…and Father Antonio Cops told us during the Mass on Saturday, December 23^rd, that we had to imagine ourselves in the manger, taken care of by the MTA and Saint Joseph…we are to imagine that we are part of the manger", Estela Frutos relates. "From the Young Shrine we also remembered the Schoenstatters throughout the entire world", added Miria Zuccolillo. The Boys’ and Girls’ Youth invited all the youth to participate in the Mass at 1:30 a.m. on the 25^th at the Young Shrine of Asunción, Paraguay, they were to bring sweet bread or non-perishable food to present at the offertory and then it was taken to the most needy.

Christmas Eve at the Schoenstatt Shrine of Lima Peru

The celebration of the Birth of the Child Jesus began at 8:00 p.m. on the 24^th at the Shrine of La Molina, Lima, Queca Espinoza relates. Before this the greetings and photos that arrived from the Original Shrine had already been placed in the showcase of greetings of the Shrine. "Father José Luis Correa greeted all the people who had congregated, entire families, especially the neighbors of the place; everyone had a different joy on their face. The choir began singing the carol, Adeste Fideles, followed by the procession of children who were part of the manger with the instructions of a very excited father. Then, two little girls sang a beautiful song to the Child, and then the Eucharist was celebrated, asking for pardon for our faults and singing the Gloria to adore the Child. Everyone approached the Child Jesus, with devotion, to kiss the feet of this Child who is again born in our hearts every year, accompanied by the song, Silent Night which was sung solo by a member of the Professionals, whose voice touched many.

After the Eucharist groups entered the Shrine to pray and to express gratitude to Jesus and his beloved Mother for so many blessings.

Attachment with the Original Shrine

In the Shrine of Campanario, Las Condes, Santiago de Chile, Christmas was celebrated with a multitude of people who attended Mass. This event was marked by 15^th Anniversary of the Shrine that was celebrated some time ago with presence of Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz, and to reinforce the attachment with the Original Shrine the framed "Ave Maria" was placed in the Shrine.

In the Shrine of La Loma Paraná, parents enjoyed Christmas in the Shrine with their children, where the figures of the manger told the little ones about the Child who came to save all mankind…

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA